"But then the footprints—"
"Our own!" cried the doctor. "We lost our way in the fog! We went around in a circle, and came across our own footprints!"
"But the print of the shoes?" asked Hatteras.
"Bell's, you know, who walked all day in the snow after breaking his snow-shoes."
"That's true," said Bell.
Their mistake was so clear, that they all, except Hatteras, burst out laughing, and he was none the less pleased at the discovery.
"We were stupid enough," said the doctor, when they had stopped laughing. What good guesses we made! Strangers up here! Really, we ought to think before speaking. Well, since we are easy on this point, we can't do better than start."
"Forward!" said Hatteras.
A quarter of an hour later each one had taken his place on board of the launch, which sailed out of Altamont Harbor under mainsail and jib. This voyage began Wednesday, July 10th; they were then very near the Pole, exactly one hundred and seventy-five miles from it. However small the land might be at that point of the globe, the voyage would certainly be a short one. The wind was light, but fair. The thermometer stood at 50°; it was really warm.
The launch had not been injured by the journey on the sledge; it was in perfect order, and sailed easily. Johnson was at the helm; the doctor, Bell, and Altamont were lying as best they might among the load, partly on deck, partly below.