Part 10 (1/2)
”Possibly you ain, Hatteras”
”Mistaken! What! This unknown continent, this virgin soil----”
”Has already a name,” replied Altamont, coolly
Hatteras was silent, but his lip quivered
”And what name has it, then?” asked the Doctor, rather astonished at Altamont's affirmation
”My dear Clawbonny,” replied the Aht, of every navigator to christen the soil on which he is the first to set foot It appears to e and duty on this occasion to exercise ative, and--”
”But, sir,” interrupted Johnson, rather nettled at his sang froid
”It would be a difficult matter to prove that the Porpoise did not co she reached this coast by land,”
continued Alta Johnson's protest ”The fact is indisputable,” he added looking at Hatteras
[Illustration: ”I dispute the clai himself by a powerful effort--P72]
”I dispute the clai himself by a powerful effort ”To name a country, you must first discover it, I suppose, and that you certainly did not do Besides, but for us, where would you have been, sir, at thistwenty feet deep under the snow”
”And without me, sir,” retorted Altamont, hotly, ”without me and my shi+p, where would you all be at this er”
”Coet to words, all that can be easily settled Listen to me”
”Mr Hatteras,” said Altamont, ”is welcome to name whatever territories heany; but this continent belongs totwo names like Grinnell's Land, which is also called Prince Albert's Land, because it was discovered allishht of priority is incontestable No shi+p before mine ever touched this shore, no foot before iven it a name, and that name it shall keep”
”And what is that name?” inquired the Doctor
”New America,” replied Altamont
Hatteras trembled with suppressed passion, but by a violent effort restrained himself
”Can you prove to lishman has set foot here before an Ah quite as much offended as the captain by Altamont's imperious tone They felt that reply was impossible
For a few minutes there was an aard silence, which the Doctor broke by saying--
”My friends, the highest human law is justice It includes all others Let us be just, then, and don't let any bad feeling get in a us The priority of Altae by and by, and England will get her full share in our future discoveries Let the name New America stand for the continent itself, but I suppose Altamont has not yet disposed of all the bays, and capes, and headlands it contains, and I i this bay Victoria Bay?”
”Nothing whatever, provided that yonder cape is called Cape Washi+ngton,” replied Altaht choose a name, sir,” exclaimed Hatteras, almost beside hilishman”
”But not one which sounds so sweet to an American,” retorted Altamont, proudly
”Come, come,” said the Doctor, ”no discussion on that subject