"But what then?" said Hobson, suddenly changing countenance.
"Why," said Black, "we are not after all on the seventieth parallel !"
"Only fancy !" cried Mrs Barnett.
"We can soon prove it," said the astronomer whose eyes flashed with rage and disappointment. "The sun will pass the meridian in a few minutes. . . . My sextant-quick . . . make haste !"
One of the soldiers rushed to the house and fetched the instrument required.
The astronomer pointed it upon the sun; he watched the orb of day pass the meridian, and rapidly noted down a few calculations.
"What was the situation of Cape Bathurst a year ago when we took the latitude?" he inquired.
"Seventy degrees, forty-four minutes, and thirty-seven seconds," replied Hobson.
"Well, sir, it is now seventy-three degrees, seven minutes, and twenty seconds! You see we are not under the seventieth parallel !
"Or rather we are no longer there !" muttered Hobson.