The two sailors turned towards the door of the snow-house.
"O Johnson! you! you!" shouted Hatteras. "Well, go! I shall stay!"
"Captain!" said Johnson, stopping in spite of himself.
"I shall stay, I say! Go! leave me like the rest! Go!—Come, Duke, we two shall stay!"
The brave dog joined his master, barking. Johnson looked at the doctor. He did not know what to do; the best plan was to calm Hatteras, and to sacrifice a day to his fancies. The doctor was about making up his mind to this effect, when he felt some one touch his arm.
He turned round. The American had just left the place where he had been lying; he was crawling on the floor; at last he rose to his knees, and from his swollen lips a few inarticulate sounds issued.
The doctor, astonished, almost frightened, gazed at him silently. Hatteras approached the American, and examined him closely. He tried to make out the words which the poor fellow could not pronounce. At last, after trying for five minutes, he managed to utter this word:—
"Porpoise."
"The Porpoise?" asked the captain.
The American bowed affirmatively.