"Smith's Sound," was the reply.
"The same that we could not get through last April?"
"The same."
"Well, captain, now we know our actual situation, we are in a better position to determine our course of action."
"Speak your minds, then," said Hatteras, again burying his head in his hands.
"What do you say, Bell?" asked the Doctor.
"It strikes me the case doesn't need long thinking over," said the carpenter. "We must get back at once without losing a single day or even a single hour, either to the south or west, and make our way to the nearest coast, even if we are two months doing it!"
"We have only food for three weeks," replied Hatteras, without raising his head.
"Very well," said Johnson, "we must make the journey in three weeks, since it is our last chance. Even if we can only crawl on our knees before we get to our destination, we must be there in twenty-five days."
"This part of the Arctic Continent is unexplored. We may have to encounter difficulties. Mountains and glaciers may bar our progress," objected Hatteras.