"McClure!" exclaimed the American. "Well, if ever chance favoured anyone it was that McClure. Do you pretend to deny it?"
"I do," said Hatteras, becoming quite excited. "It was his courage and perseverance in remaining four whole winters among the ice."
"I believe that, don't I?" said Altamont, sneeringly. "He was caught among the bergs and could not get away; but didn't he after all abandon his ship, the Investigator, and try to get back home? Besides, putting the man aside, what is the value of his discovery? I maintain that the North-West Passage is still undiscovered, for not a single ship to this day has ever sailed from Behring's Straits to Baffin's Bay!"
The fact was indisputable, but Hatteras started to his feet, and said-
"I will not permit the honour of an English captain to be attacked in my presence any longer!"
"You will not permit!" echoed Altamont, also springing erect. "But these are facts, and it is out of your power to destroy them!"
"Sir!" shouted Hatteras, pale with rage.
"My friends!" interposed the Doctor; "pray be calm. This is a scientific point we are discussing."
But Hatteras was deaf to reason now, and said angrily-
"I'll tell you the facts, sir."