The doctor was silent, and began to think intently. Soon he said to the boatswain,—
"You are sure the bear is following us?"
"Yes, Doctor, he's lying in wait to eat us. He knows we can't escape him!"
"Johnson!" said the doctor, touched by the despairing accent of his companion.
"His food is sure," continued the poor man, who was beginning to be delirious; "he must be half famished, and I don't see why we need keep him waiting any longer!"
"Be quiet, Johnson!"
"No, Doctor; if we've got to come to it, why should we prolong the animal's sufferings? He's hungry as we are; he has no seal to eat! Heaven sends him us men; well, so much the better for him!"
Thereupon Johnson went out of his mind; he wanted to leave the snow-house. The doctor had hard work to prevent him, and he only succeeded by saying, as if he meant it,—
"To-morrow I shall kill that bear!"
"To-morrow!" said Johnson, as if he had awakened from a bad dream.