In 1364, the Rhone was frozen over as far as Arles; in 1408, the Danube was frozen throughout its entire extent, and the wolves crossed the Cattigut on firm ground; in 1509, the Adriatic and the Mediterranean were frozen at Venice and Marseilles, and the Baltic on the 10th of April; in 1608, all the cattle died in England from the cold; in 1789, the Thames was frozen as far as Gravesend; and the frightful winter of 1813 will long be remembered in France. The earliest and longest ever known in the present century was in 1829. So much for Europe."
"But here, within the Polar circle, what is the lowest degree?" asked Altamont.
"My word!" said the Doctor. "I think we have experienced the lowest ourselves, for one day the thermometer was 72o below zero; and, if my memory serves me right, the lowest temperature mentioned hitherto by Arctic voyagers has been 61o at Melville Island, 65o at Port Felix, and 70o at Fort Reliance."
"Yes," said Hatteras, "for it was the unusual severity of the winter that barred our progress, for it came on just at the worst time possible."
"You were stopped, you say?" asked Altamont, looking fixedly at the captain.
"Yes, in our voyage west," the Doctor hastened to reply.
"Then the maximum and minimum temperatures," said Altamont, resuming the conversation, "are about 200 apart. So you see, my friends, we may make ourselves easy."
"But if the sun were suddenly extinguished," suggested Johnson, "would not the earth's temperature be far lower?"
"There is no fear of such a catastrophe; but, even should it happen, the temperature would be scarcely any different."
"That's curious."
"It is; but Fourrier, a learned Frenchman, has proved the fact incontestably. If it were not the case, the difference between day and night would be far greater, as also the degree of cold at the Poles. But now, I think, friends, we should be the better of a few hours' sleep. Who has charge of the stove?"
"It is my turn to-night," said Bell.
