Jules Verne's Captain Hatteras - Part 2: Ice Desert

Chapter 7 - Cartography of the New Land

While in midst of overwintering preparations, Altamont recovered almost entirely his vitality; he was even capable of taking care of unloading the supplies from the ship. His vigorous constitution helped him in the end and his paleness couldn't resist his energetic blood for so long.

The British saw reborn in him the robust and blooded person, the strong and intelligent man, gifted with a determined character, the enterprising, bold, ready-for-anything American; he originated from New York and navigated even from childhood, like how he made his companions understand; his ship, "Porpoise", was equipped and sent offshore by a society of rich merchants of the United States, in front of which was the famous Grinnel.

Between him and Hatteras existed some similarities in character, but no sympathies. This similarity wasn't so big that it'll make them friends, quite the contrary. Besides, a careful observer would have managed to find great disagreements between the two; thus, while he seemed more sincere, Altamont was less ingenious than Hatteras; being more lenient, he was also less faithful; his open character didn't inspire so much trust like Hatteras's sober temperament. He in turn only said his opinion once, then he closed into himself. The other talked a lot, without saying much of anything.

Here's what the doctor managed to discover little by little in the American's character, being right in foreseeing future disagreements, if not even hatred between the captains of the ships "Porpoise" and "Forward".

And still, between these two commanders, all that was needed was one to give the orders.

Of course, Hatteras had all the rights to demand the American's submission, both the right of the first comer and of force. But if one was in front of his people, the other was aboard his own ship. This fact was felt.

Out of politeness or instinct, Altamont approached, firstly, the doctor; he owed him his life, but sympathy attracted him to this man more than gratitude. That was the dignified Clawbonny's special character; his friends gathered around him like the ears under the sun's caressing. There were people who woke up at 5 AM to make enemies; the doctor wouldn't have managed it even if he woke up an hour earlier.

Still, he decided to take advantage of Altamont's friendship to find out the motive of his presence in the polar seas. But the American, with all his talk, answered without saying something concrete, always mentioning his usual subject, the Northwest Passage.

The doctor suspected his expedition had another motive, the one Hatteras feared. He thus decided not to open this subject in front of two adversaries, but didn't always manage all the time. The most innocent conversations threatened to deviate, without his will, and each talk could be a spark for a future quarrel.

Which eventually happened. Once the house was finished, the doctor decided to make an inauguration of it with a special lunch; Clawbonny's extraordinary idea, who wanted to bring to this continent the European life's customs and pleasures. Bell even hunted some birds and a white rabbit, the first messenger of the new spring.

The feast took place on 14 April, the second Sunday after Quasimodo, on a beautiful and dry weather; not even the cold didn't dare to penetrate the ice shelter; the stoves that roared inside were enough of a motive for this.

They ate with pleasure; the fresh meat was an extremely appreciated replacement for pemmican or the salty meat; the doctor cooked a delicious pudding, of which they all served many times; the master savant chef, with apron and knife, would have done honor to the kitchen of the Great Chancellor of England.

For dessert, the liquors make an appearance; the American wasn't obedient to the regime of "tea drinkers" of the British; so that he didn't a have a reason to be deprived of a glass of gin and brandy; the other guests, men usually of measure, could allow themselves on that day, without problems, a break in the rules; so, at the doctor's recommendation, each could toast a glass at the end of lunch. During the toasts in the honor of the United States, Hatteras was silent.