"Stay where you are, then," answered the captain in a strange voice; "I shall go higher!"
"No! that's useless! you are at the Pole here!"
"No, no, higher!"
"My friend, it's I who am speaking to you, Dr. Clawbonny! Don't you know me?"
"Higher! higher!" repeated the madman.
"Well, no, we sha'n't let—"
The doctor had not finished the sentence before Hatteras, by a violent effort, sprang over the stream of lava and was out of their reach. They uttered a cry, thinking Hatteras was lost in the fiery abyss; but he had reached the other side, followed by Duke, who was unwilling to abandon him.
He disappeared behind a puff of smoke, and his voice was heard growing fainter and fainter in the distance.
"To the north!" he was shouting, "to the top of Mount Hatteras! Do you remember Mount Hatteras?"
They could not think of getting up to him; there were twenty chances to one against their being able to cross the stream he had leaped over with the skill and luck of madmen. Nor could they get around it. Altamont in vain tried to pass; he was nearly lost in trying to cross the stream of lava; his companions were obliged to hold him by force.