It was late next morning before Hatteras and his companions woke, for their minds were not burdened now with any solicitudes about the morrow, and they might sleep as long as they pleased. The poor fellows felt like colonists safely arrived at their destination, who had forgotten all the sufferings of the voyage, and thought only of the new life that lay before them.
"Well, it is something, at all events," said the Doctor, rousing himself and stretching his arms, "for a fellow not to need to ask where he is going to find his next bed and breakfast."
"Let us see what there is on board before we say much," said Johnson.
The Porpoise had been thoroughly equipped and provisioned for a long voyage, and on making an inventory of what stores remained, they found 6,150 lbs. of flour, fat, and raisins; 2,000 lbs. of salt beef and pork; 1,500 lbs. of pemmican; 700 lbs. of sugar, and the same of chocolate; a chest and a half of tea, weighing 96 lbs.; 500 lbs of rice; several barrels of preserved fruits and vegetables; a quantity of lime-juice, with all sorts of medicines, and 300 gallons of rum and brandy. There was also a large supply of gunpowder, ball, and shot, and coal and wood in abundance.
Altogether, there was enough to last those five men for more than two years, and all fear of death from starvation or cold was at an end.
"Well, Hatteras, we're sure of enough to live on now," said the Doctor, "and there is nothing to hinder us reaching the Pole."
“The Pole!" echoed Hatteras.
"Yes, why not? Can't we push our way overland in the summer months?"
“We might overland; but how could we cross water?"
"Perhaps we may be able to build a boat out of some of the ship's planks."
"Out of an American ship!" exclaimed the captain, contemptuously.
Clawbonny was prudent enough to make no reply, and presently changed the conversation by saying:
"Well, now we have seen what we have to depend upon, we must begin our house and store-rooms. We have ma-
