and, urging the sledge forward, soon came up to his faithful beast at the bottom of a ravine.
Duk was standing motionless in front of a sort of cairn, and barking violently.
"This time it is a cairn, at all events," said the Doctor.
"What's that to us?" asked Hatteras.
"Hatteras, if it is a cairn, it may contain some valuable document for us, or perhaps it is a depot of provisions, and that is worth our while to look at."
"And what European can have been this way?" said the captain, shrugging his shoulders.
"But though no European has been, may not the Esquimaux have been here and made a hiding-place for the spoils of their hunting and fishing? It is quite in keeping with their habits."
"Well, well, Clawbonny, examine it if you choose, but I question if you get anything for your pains."
By the help of mattocks the cairn was soon demolished, and a box was discovered, inside which was a paper quite damp with moisture. The Doctor seized it with a beating heart, and handed it to Hatteras, who read as follows:—
"Altam—, Porpoise 13 Dec. 1860 12° longitude, S 55° lat."
"The Porpoise!" said the Doctor.
"The Porpoise!" repeated Hatteras. "I know no vessel of that name that has been in these seas."
"It is quite evident that whatever vessel she is, her crew, or possibly some of her shipwrecked men, passed this way less than two months ago," replied Clawbonny.
"That is quite certain," added Bell.
"What shall we do?" asked the Doctor.
"Continue our journey," replied Hatteras, coldly. "I know nothing of the Porpoise, but I know that the brig Forward is waiting our return."
CHAPTER XXX
THE DEATH OF SIMPSON
The journey was resumed, each of the party absorbed in his own reflections about the unexpected discovery just made. Hatteras knit his brows uneasily, and said to himself:
