“No, sir,” said the Norseman firmly; “and you know that I do not deserve those words. Jakobsen and our two Nordoe brothers have done all they can to keep up the men’s spirits, and we shall do this, whether we live or die, to the end.”
“Of course you will, Johannes,” said Steve warmly, as he was aware of a peculiar sensation in his eyes; and then felt brighter than he had for days, for the captain made a quick movement and snatched off the thick fur glove he was obliged to wear in the heated cabin, even while he wrote, for the ink still froze at a short distance from the fire.
Captain Marsham’s movement was to hold out his hand to the Norseman, and have it seized in a grip of iron.
“I beg your pardon, Johannes,” he said. “My words were unjust.”
“Say no more, sir,” said the man, smiling. “You are the captain, and have a right to speak words to bring your men up to their work.”
“But they are not needed with you, my lad,” said the captain warmly. “But the others, what can we do to stir them out of this depressed state?”
“Work them, sir. We want some great thing to draw them out of thinking about themselves. Walks and ordinary work depress them. We want some great call made upon them for their help.”
“Yes; and how can that call be made?”
Johannes shook his head. The suggestion was excellent, but it seemed to be impossible to carry out; for it was madness to attempt toilsome expeditions over the ice when at any hour they were liable to be overtaken by one of the terrible, blinding snowstorms of which they had had several examples since the darkness had set in; so after much consideration Captain Marsham came to the conclusion that it was hard enough work to preserve existence with the ship as a place of refuge, always within touch, without running risks which might prove fatal to the whole party.
“You are quite right,” said the doctor, who had remained silent. “I do not doubt our power to make long expeditions, but they would always be terribly risky; and unless there was some object in view that warranted the work, I should not venture.”