Part 34 (2/2)

There was such a pathos of entreaty in his tone that Altamont felt moved to his inmost soul

”I'll save him yet!” he exclaimed; and before Clawbonny could hinder him, he had cleared with a bound the torrent of fire, and was out of sight a the rocks

Meanti the crater, and stood waving his flag amidst showers of stones which rained down on hi dizzy in such close proximity to the abyss

Hatteras balanced his staff in one hand, and with the other sought to find the precise lobe meet, the point on which it was his subliave way, and he disappeared A cry of horror broke fro to the top of the ht his friend had perished, and lay buried for ever in the depths of the volcano A second--only a second, though it see holding the ill-fated Hatteras! Man and dog had caught him at the very moment when he disappeared in the abyss

Hatteras was saved! Saved in spite of himself; and half-an-hour later be lay unconscious in the ar companions

When he cauish, for there was no glance of recognition in his eye It was the eye of a blind

”Good heavens!” exclaimed Johnson; ”he is blind!”

”No,” replied Clawbonny, ”no! My poor friends, we have only saved the body of Hatteras; his soul is left behind on the top of the volcano His reason is gone!”

”Insane!” exclaimed Johnson and Altamont, in consternation

”Insane!” replied the Doctor, and the big tears ran down his cheeks

CHAPTER XXV

RETURN SOUTH

Three hours after this sad denouement of the adventures of Captain Hatteras, the whole party were back once rotto

Clawbonny was asked his opinion as to as best to be done

”Well, friends,” he said, ”we cannot stay longer in this island; the sea is open, and we have enough provisions We ought to start at once, and get back without the least delay to Fort Providence, where we must winter”

”That is my opinion, too,” said Altaet to sea”

The day passed in profound dejection The insanity of the captain was a bad oe, their hearts failed them for fear They missed the intrepid spirit of their leader

However, like brave men, they prepared to battle aneith the eleive way

[Illustration: ]

Next ht the tent and all its belongings on board

But before leaving these rocks, never to return, the Doctor carrying out the intentions of Hatteras, had a cairn erected on the very spot where the poor fellow had jureat blocks placed one on the top of the other, so as to be a landmark perfectly visible while the eruptions of the volcano left it undisturbed On one of the side stones, Bell chiselled the simple inscription--

JOHN HATTERAS

The duplicate of the docu the discovery of the North Pole was enclosed in a tinned iron cylinder, and deposited in the cairn, to re those desert rocks