"What can they be doing?" asked the doctor of Johnson.
"I know no more than you, Doctor; I don't understand their gestures."
"They have found the track of some animals," answered Hatteras.
"That's not it," said the doctor.
"Why not?"
"Because Duke would bark."
"Still, they've seen marks of some sort."
"Let us go on," said Hatteras; "we shall soon know."
Johnson urged on the dogs, who quickened their pace.
In twenty minutes the five were together, and Hatteras, the doctor, and Johnson were as much surprised as Bell and Altamont.