"And how do you propose to manage? " asked Altamont.
"See! By hauling in this rope we lower the post which props up the roof, and make it give way, and bring up the dead fox to light, and I think you will agree with me that the bears are so famished with their long fasting, that they won't lose much time in rushing towards their unexpected meal. Well, just at that very moment, I shall set fire to the mine, and blow up both the guests and the meal."
"Capital! Capital!" shouted Johnson, who had been listening with intense interest.
Hatteras said nothing, for he had such absolute confidence in his friend that he wanted no further explanation. But Altamont must know the why and wherefore of everything."
" But Doctor," he said, " can you reckon on your match so exactly that you can be quite sure it will fire the mine at the right moment ? "
"I don't need to reckon at all; that's a difficulty easily got over."
"Then you have a match a hundred feet long?"
"No."
"You are simply going to lay a train of powder."
"No, that might miss fire."
"Well, there is no way then but for one of us to devote his life to the others, and go and light the powder himself."
"I'm ready," said Johnson, eagerly, "ready and willing."
"Quite useless, my brave fellow," replied the Doctor, holding out his hand. "All our lives are precious, and they will be all spared, thank God!"
"Well, I give it up!" said the American. "I'll make no more guesses."
"I should like to know what is the good of learning physics," said the Doctor, smiling, "if they can't help a man at a pinch like this. Haven't we an electric battery, and long enough lines attached to it to serve our purpose ? We can fire our mine whenever we please, in an instant, and without the slightest danger."
"Hurrah!" exclaimed Johnson.
"Hurrah!" echoed the others, without heeding whether the enemy heard them or not.
The Doctor's idea was immediately carried out, and the
