"Captain," said Johnson, "we have only obeyed orders to you alone belongs the honour."
"No, no!" exclaimed Hatteras, with a violent outburst of emotion, "to all of you as much as to me! To Altamont as much as any of us, as much as the Doctor himself! Oh, let my heart break in your hands, it cannot contain its joy and gratitude any longer."
He grasped the hands of his brave companions as he spoke, and paced up and down as if he had lost all self-control.
"We have only done our duty as Englishmen," said Bell.
"Yes, but all did not do it," replied Hatteras "some gave way. However, we must pardon them--pardon both the traitors and those who were led away by them. Poor fellows! I forgive them. You hear me, Doctor?"
"Yes," replied Clawbonny, beginning to be seriously uneasy at his friend's excitement.
"I have no wish, therefore," continued the captain, "that they should lose the little fortune they came so far to seek. No, the original agreement is to remain unaltered, and they shall be rich--if they ever see England again."
It would have been difficult not to have been touched by the pathetic tone of voice in which Hatteras said this.
"But, captain," interrupted Johnson, trying to joke, "one would think you were making your will!"
"And yet you have a long bright career of glory before you!"
No one answered, and the Doctor did not dare to guess his meaning; but Hatteras soon made them understand it, for presently he said, in a hurried, agitated manner, as if he could scarcely command himself--
"Friends, listen to me. We have done much already, but much yet remains to be done."
His companions heard him with profound astonishment.
"Yes," he resumed, "we are close to the Pole, but we are not on it."
"How do you make that out," said Altamont.
"Yes," replied Hatteras, with vehemence, "I said an Englishman should plant his foot on the Pole of the world! I said it, and an Englishman shall."
"We are still 45" from the unknown point," resumed Hatteras, with increasing animation, "and to that point I shall go."
"But it is on the summit of the volcano," said the Doctor.
The tone of absolute determination in which Hatteras pronounced these words it is impossible to describe.
His friends were stupefied, and gazed in terror at the blazing mountain.