"No, he is not," said the doctor; "he is a man! a man like you, Hatteras!"
"And like me he shall share the glory which is awaiting us!"
"The glory of going to the North Pole?" said Altamont.
"Yes," said the captain, haughtily.
"I had guessed it!" exclaimed the American. "So you dared conceive of this bold design! You dared try to reach that inaccessible point! Ah, that is great! It is sublime!"
"But you," asked Hatteras, hurriedly, "were you not on your way to the Pole?"
Altamont seemed to hesitate about replying.
"Well?" said the doctor.
"Well, no," answered the American,—"no; tell the truth, and shame the Devil! No, I did not have this great idea, which has brought you here. I was trying simply to sail through the Northwest Passage, that is all."
"Altamont," said Hatteras, holding out his hand to the American, "share our glory, and go with us to the North Pole!"