The doctor then began to speak.
"Now," he said, "all our efforts should be directed to finding the Porpoise; instead of struggling to Baffin's Bay, we may, by means of a journey only two thirds as long, reach a ship which will offer us all the resources necessary for wintering."
"There's nothing more to be done," said Bell.
"I should add," said the boatswain, "that we should not lose a moment; we should calculate the length of our journey by the amount of our supplies, instead of the other and usual way, and be off as soon as possible."
"You are right, Johnson," said the doctor; "if we leave to-morrow, Tuesday, February 26th, we ought to reach the Porpoise March 15th, at the risk of starving to death. What do you think of that, Hatteras?"
"Let us make our preparations at once," said the captain, "and be off. Perhaps we shall find the way longer than we suppose."
"Why so?" asked the doctor. "This man seemed certain of the situation of his ship."
"But," answered Hatteras, "supposing the Porpoise has been drifting as the Forward did?"
"True," said the doctor, "that's not unlikely."
Johnson and Bell had nothing to urge against the possibility of a drift of which they had themselves been victims.