"He's alive!" he shouted.
Bell and he carried this body into the snow-house, while Hatteras stood in silence, gazing at the sunken dwelling.
The doctor stripped the body; it bore no signs of injury; with Bell's aid he rubbed it vigorously with tow dipped in alcohol, and he saw life gradually reviving within it; but the man was in a state of complete prostration, and unable to speak; his tongue clove to his palate as if it were frozen.
The doctor examined his patient's pockets; they were empty. No paper. He let Bell continue rubbing, and went out to Hatteras.
He found him in the ruined snow-house, clearing away the floor; soon he came out, bearing a half-burned piece of an envelope. A few words could be deciphered:—
....tamont
....orpoise
....w York.
"Altamont!" shouted the doctor, "of the Porpoise! of New York!"
"An American!" said Hatteras.
"I shall save him," said the doctor; "I'll answer for it, and we shall find out the explanation of this puzzle."