"This time," said the doctor, detaching his harness, "it's a cairn, there's no doubt of that."
"What's that to us?" asked Hatteras.
"Hatteras, if it is a cairn, it may contain some document of value for us; perhaps some provisions, and it would be worth while to see."
"What European could have come as far as this?" asked Hatteras, shrugging his shoulders.
"But in lack of Europeans," answered the doctor, "cannot Esquimaux have made it here to contain what they have fished or shot? It's their habit, I think."
"Well, go and look at it," continued Hatteras; "but I'm afraid it will be hardly worth your while."
Clawbonny and Bell walked to the cairn with picks in their hands. Duke continued barking furiously. The limestones were firmly fastened together by the ice; but a few blows scattered them on the ground.
"There's something there, evidently," said the doctor.
"I think so," answered Bell.
They rapidly destroyed the cairn. Soon they found a bundle and in it a damp paper. The doctor took it with a beating heart. Hatteras ran forward, seized the paper, and read:—