human
What's to become of us?
gpt
Who can tell!
human
Anyhow, said Clawbonny,
gpt
Yes, Mr. Clawbonny, you are right. Now is the time to show our mettle. We are in a bad plight, and how to get out of it, that is the question.
human
Poor old brig! exclaimed the Doctor.
gpt
I had grown so attached to her. I loved her as one loves a house where he has spent a life-time.
human
Ay! it's strange what a hold those planks and beams get on a fellow's heart.
gpt
And the long-boat--is that burnt?
human
No, Mr. Clawbonny. Shandon and his gang have carried it off.
gpt
And the pirogue?
human
Shivered into a thousand pieces? Stop. Do you see those bits of sheet-iron? That is all that remains of it.
gpt
Then we have nothing but the Halkett-boat?
human
Yes, we have that still, thanks to your idea of taking it with you.
gpt
That isn't much,
human
Oh, those base traitors! exclaimed Johnson.
gpt
Heaven punish them as they deserve!
human
Johnson, returned the Doctor, gently,
gpt
We left it about a mile off,
human
In charge of Simpson?
gpt
No, Simpson is dead, poor fellow!
human
Simpson dead!
gpt
Yes, his strength gave way entirely, and he first sank.
human
Poor Simpson! And yet who knows if he isn't rather to be envied?
gpt
But, for the dead man we have left behind, we have brought back a dying one.
human
A dying man?
gpt
Yes, Captain Altamont.
human
An American!
gpt
Yes, everything goes to prove that. But I wonder what the Porpoise was, and what brought her in these seas?
human
She rushed on to her ruin like the rest of foolhardy adventurers; but, tell me, did you find the coal?
gpt
No coal! not a vestige! No, we did not even get as far as the place mentioned by Sir Edward Belcher.
human
Then we have no fuel whatever?
gpt
No.
human
And no provisions?
gpt
No.
human
And no ship to make our way back to England?
gpt
Well, at any rate we know exactly how we stand. The first thing to be done now is to make a hut, for we can't stay long exposed to this temperature.
human
Yes, we'll soon manage that with Bell's help, replied the Doctor.
gpt
Then we must go and find the sledge, and bring back the American, and have a consultation with Hatteras.
human
Poor captain, said Johnson, always forgetting his own troubles,