And when they looked for the mountain of ice, it had disappeared; the pa.s.sage was free, and beyond, a long channel, lit up by the sun, allowed the brig to continue her advance.
"Well, Dr. Clawbonny," said Johnson, "can you explain that?"
"It"s very simple, my friend," answered the doctor. "It happens very often; when these floating ma.s.ses get detached in a thaw, they float away in perfect equilibrium; but as they get towards the south, where the water is relatively warmer, their base, eaten away by running into other pieces, begins to melt, and be undermined; then comes a moment when the centre of gravity is displaced, and they turn upside down.
Only, if this had happened two minutes later, it would have fallen on the brig and crushed us beneath it."
[Ill.u.s.tration]
CHAPTER IX.
ANOTHER LETTER.
The Polar Circle was crossed at last; on the 30th of April, at midday, the _Forward_ pa.s.sed by Holsteinborg; picturesque mountains arose in the east. The sea appeared almost free of ice, or, more exactly, the ice could be avoided. The wind was from the southeast, and the brig, under foresail, staysail, and topsails, sailed up Baffin"s Bay.
That day was exceptionally calm and the crew was able to get some rest; numerous birds were swimming and flying about the ship; among others, the doctor noticed some wild birds which were very like teal, with black neck, wings, and back, and a white breast; they were continually diving, and often remained more than forty seconds under water.
This day would not have been marked by any new incident, if the following extraordinary fact had not taken place.
At six o"clock in the morning, on returning to his cabin after his watch was over, Richard Shandon found on his table a letter, addressed as follows:--
_To_ COMMANDER RICHARD SHANDON, On board the _Forward_, BAFFIN"S BAY.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
Shandon could not believe his eyes; but before reading it, he summoned the doctor, James Wall, and the boatswain, and showed them the letter.
"It"s getting interesting," said Johnson.
"It"s delightful," thought the doctor.
"Well," cried Shandon, "at last we shall know his secret."
He tore open the envelope rapidly, and read the following:--
COMMANDER: The captain of the _Forward_ is satisfied with the coolness, skill, and courage which the crew, officers, and you, yourself, have shown of late; he begs of you to express his thanks to the crew.
Be good enough to sail due north towards Melville Bay, and thence try to penetrate into Smith"s Sound.
K. Z., _Captain of the Forward_.
Monday, April 30, OFF CAPE WALSINGHAM.
"And is that all?" cried the doctor.
"That"s all," answered Shandon.
The letter fell from his hands.
"Well," said Wall, "this imaginary captain says nothing about coming on board. I don"t believe he ever will."
"But how did this letter get here?" asked Johnson.
Shandon was silent.
"Mr. Wall is right," answered the doctor, who had picked up the letter, and who was turning it over with hands as well as in his mind.
"The captain won"t come on board, and for an excellent reason."
"What is it?" asked Shandon, quickly.
"Because he"s on board now," answered the doctor, simply.
"Now!" exclaimed Shandon, "what do you mean?"
"How else can you explain the arrival of this letter?"
Johnson nodded approvingly.
"Impossible!" said Shandon, warmly. "I know all the men in the crew; can he have smuggled himself into their number since we left? It"s impossible, I tell you. For more than two years I"ve seen every one of them more than a hundred times in Liverpool; so your conjecture, Doctor, is untenable."
"Well, what do you admit, Shandon?"
"Everything, except that. I admit that the captain or some tool of his, for all I know, may have taken advantage of the darkness, the mist, or whatever you please, to slip on board; we are not far from sh.o.r.e; there are the kayaks of the Esquimaux which could get through the ice without our seeing them; so some one may have come on board the ship, left the letter,--the fog was thick enough to make this possible."
"And to prevent them from seeing the brig," answered the doctor; "if we didn"t see the intruder slip aboard the _Forward_, how could he see the _Forward_ in the fog?"
"That"s true," said Johnson.
"So I return to my explanation," said the doctor; "what do you think of it, Shandon?"
"Whatever you please," answered Shandon, hotly, "except that the man is on board."
"Perhaps," added Wall, "there is some man in the crew who is acting under his instructions."
"Perhaps," said the doctor.
"But who can it be?" asked Shandon. "I"ve known all my men for a long time."
"At any rate," resumed Johnson, "if this captain presents himself, whether as man or devil, we shall receive him; but there"s something else to be drawn from this letter."
"What is that?" asked Shandon.
"It is that we must go not only into Melville Bay, but also into Smith"s Sound."