"Was broken into a thousand pieces. See, those sheets of tin are all that's left of her."
"Then we have nothing but the Halkett-boat?"*
* Made of india-rubber, and capable of being inflated at pleasure.
"That is all, and it is because you insisted on our taking it, that we have that."
"It's not of much use," said the doctor.
"They were a pack of miserable, cowardly traitors who ran away!" said Johnson. "May they be punished as they deserve!"
"Johnson," answered the doctor, mildly, "we must remember that their suffering had worn upon them very much. Only exceptional natures remain stanch in adversity, which completely overthrows the weak. Let us rather pity than curse them!"
After these words the doctor remained silent for a few minutes, and gazed around uneasily.
"What is become of the sledge?" asked Johnson.
"We left it a mile back."