Part 17 (1/2)

IMPRISONED IN DOCTOR'S HOUSE

The first business next day was to arrange for a hunt It was settled that Altamont, Bell, and Hatteras should foro and explore as far as Isle Johnson, and raphic notes and Johnson should remain behind to keep house

The three hunters soon completed their preparations They armed themselves each with a double barrelled revolver and a rifle, and took plenty of powder and shot Each man also carried in his belt his indispensable snow knife and hatchet, and a sht should surprise theo far, and ht o'clock they started, accoht They went up the hill to the east, across the cone, and down into the plain below

The Doctor next took his departure, after agreeing with Johnson on a signal of alarer

The old boatsas left alone, but he had plenty to do He began by unfastening the Greenland dogs, and letting the, weariso matters He had to replenish the stock of coe the store-houses, to mend several broken utensils, to repair the rents in coverlets, and get new shoes ready for summer excursions There was no lack of work, and the old sailor's ni

[Illustration: ]

While his hands were busy, hisevening He thought with regret over the captain's obstinacy, and yet he felt that there was sorand and even heroic in his determination that neither an American nor an American shi+p should first touch the Pole

The hunters had been gone about an hour when Johnson suddenly heard the report of a gun

”Capital!” he exclai, and pretty quickly too, for uns so distinctly The atmosphere must be very clear”

A second and a third shot followed

”Bravo!” again exclaimed the boatswain; ”they must have fallen in luck's way!”

[Illustration: Hatteras could onlydown one article after another--P120]

But when three more shots came in rapid succession, the old ht crossed his mind, which made him rush out and cliht whichhoe bears!

Their six balls had evidently taken no effect, and the terrible ht up the rear, could onlydown one article after another--first his cap, then his hatchet, and, finally, his gun He knew that the inquisitive bears would stop and exaave him a little time, otherwise he could not have escaped, for these animals outstrip the fleetest horse, and one monster was so near that Hatteras had to brandish his knife vigorously, to ward off a tre and out of breath, the three men reached Johnson safely, and slid down the rock with him into the snow-house

The bears stopped short on the upper plateau, and Hatteras and his co them out

”Here we are at last!” exclaimed Hatteras; ”we can defend ourselves better now It is five against five”

”Four!” said Johnson in a frightened voice

”How?”

”The Doctor!” replied Johnson, pointing to the e-room

”Well, he is in Isle Johnson”

”A bad job for him,” said Bell

”But we can't leave him to his fate, in this fashi+on,” said Altamont