CHAPTER VII.A DISCUSSION ABOUT CHARTS.
During these preparations for going into winter-quarters, Altamont hadentirely recovered his health and strength; he was even able to aid inunloading the ship. His vigorous constitution at last carried the day,and his pallor soon gave way before the vigor of his blood.
They saw in him a sanguine, robust citizen of the United States, anintelligent, energetic man with a resolute character, a bold, hardyAmerican ready for everything; he was originally from New York, andhad been a sailor from infancy, as he told his companions; his ship,the _Porpoise_, had been equipped and sent out by a society of wealthyAmerican merchants, at the head of whom was the famous Mr. Grinnell.
There was a certain similarity between his disposition and that ofHatteras, but their sympathies were different. This similarity did notincline them to become friends; indeed, it had the opposite effect. Aclose observer would have detected serious discordances between them;and this, although they were very frank with one another. Altamont wasless so, however, than Hatteras; with greater ease of manner, he wasless loyal; his open character did not inspire as much confidence asdid the captain's gloomy temperament. Hatteras would say what he hadto say, and then he held his peace. The other would talk a great deal,but say very little. Such was the doctor's reading of the American'scharacter, and he was right in his presentiment of a futuredisagreement, if not hatred, between the captains of the _Porpoise_and the _Forward_.
And yet only one could command. To be sure, Hatteras had all the rightof commanding, by virtue of anterior right and superior force. But ifone was at the head of his own men, the other was on board of his ownship. And that was generally felt. Either from policy orinstinctively, Altamont was at first attracted towards the doctor; itwas to him he owed his life, but it was sympathy rather than gratitudewhich moved him. This was the invariable effect of Clawbonny's nature;friends grew about him like wheat under the summer sun. Every one hasheard of people who rise at five o'clock in the morning to makeenemies; the doctor could have got up at four without doing it.Nevertheless, he resolved to profit by Altamont's friendship to theextent of learning the real reason of his presence in the polar seas.But with all his wordiness the American answered without answering,and kept repeating what he had to say about the Northwest Passage. Thedoctor suspected that there was some other motive for the expedition,the same, namely, that Hatteras suspected. Hence he resolved not tolet the two adversaries discuss the subject; but he did not alwayssucceed. The simplest conversations threatened to wander to thatpoint, and any word might kindle a blaze of controversy. It happenedsoon. When the house was finished, the doctor resolved to celebratethe fact by a splendid feast; this was a good idea of Clawbonny's, whowanted to introduce in this continent the habits and pleasures ofEuropean life. Bell had just shot some ptarmigans and a white rabbit,the first harbinger of spring. This feast took place April 14, LowSunday, on a very pleasant day; the cold could not enter the house,and if it had, the roaring stoves would have soon conquered it. Thedinner was good; the fresh meat made an agreeable variety after thepemmican and salt meat; a wonderful pudding, made by the doctor's ownhand, was much admired; every one asked for another supply; the headcook himself, with an apron about his waist and a knife hanging by hisside, would not have disgraced the kitchen of the Lord High Chancellorof England. At dessert, liquors appeared; the American was not ateetotaler; hence there was no reason for his depriving himself of aglass of gin or brandy; the other guests, who were never in any wayintemperate, could permit themselves this infraction of their rule;so, by the doctor's command, each one was able to drain a glass at theend of the merry meal. When a toast was drunk to the United States,Hatteras was simply silent. It was then that the doctor broughtforward an interesting subject.
"My friends," he said, "it is not enough that we have crossed thewaters and ice and have come so far; there is one thing left for us todo. Hence I propose that we should give names to this hospitable landwhere we have found safety and rest; that is the course pursued by allnavigators, and there is not one who has neglected it; therefore weought to carry back with us not only a map of the shores, but also thenames of the capes, bays, points, and promontories which we find. Thatis absolutely necessary."
"Good!" cried Johnson; "besides, when one can give all these landstheir own names, it looks like genuine work, and we can't considerourselves as cast away on an unknown shore."
"Besides," added Bell, "that simplifies instructions and facilitatesthe execution of orders; we may be compelled to separate during someexpedition or in hunting, and the best way for finding our way back isto know the names of the places."
"Well," said the doctor, "since we are all agreed, let us try tosettle on some names without forgetting our country and friends."
"You are right, Doctor," answered the American, "and you give what yousay additional value by your warmth."
"Well," continued the doctor, "let us go on in order."
Hatteras had not taken part in the conversation; he was thinking.Still the eyes of his companions were fastened on him; he rose andsaid,--
"If you are all willing, and I don't think any one will dissent,"--atthose words Hatteras looked at Altamont,--"it seems to me proper toname this house after its skilful architect, and to call it 'Doctor'sHouse.'"
"That's true," said Bell.
"Good!" shouted Johnson; "Doctor's House!"
"Couldn't be better," added Altamont. "Hurrah for Dr. Clawbonny!"
Three cheers were then given, to which Duke added an approving bark.
"So," resumed Hatteras, "let this house bear that name until some newland is discovered to bear the name of our friend."
"Ah!" said Johnson, "if the earthly Paradise were to be named overagain, the name of Clawbonny would suit it to a miracle!"
The doctor, much moved, wanted to defend himself by modesty, but hewas unable. It was then formally agreed that the feast had been eatenin the grand dining-hall of Doctor's House, after being cooked in thekitchen of Doctor's House, and that they would go comfortably to bedin the chamber of Doctor's House.
"Now," said the doctor, "let us take the more important points of ourdiscoveries."
"There is," said Hatteras, "this immense sea which surrounds us, andin which no ship has ever floated."
"No ship!" interrupted Altamont; "it seems to me the _Porpoise_ shouldnot be forgotten, unless indeed it came by land," he added jestingly.
"One might think it had," retorted Hatteras, "to see the rocks onwhich it is now resting."
"Indeed, Hatteras," answered Altamont with some vexation; "but, on thewhole, isn't even that better than blowing up as the _Forward_ did!"
Hatteras was about to make some angry reply, when the doctorinterrupted him.
"My friends," he said, "we are not talking about ships, but about thenew sea--"
"It is not new," interrupted Altamont. "It already bears a name on allthe charts of the Pole. It is the Arctic Ocean, and I don't see anyreason for changing its name; if we should find out in the future thatit is only a sound or gulf, we can see what is to be done."
"Very well," said Hatteras.
"Agreed," said the doctor, regretting that he had aroused a discussionbetween rival nationalities.
"Let us come to the land which we are now in," resumed Hatteras. "I amnot aware that it bears any name on the most recent maps."
"I am not aware that it bears any name on the mostrecent maps."]
At these words he turned to Altamont, who did not lower his eyes, butanswered,--
"You may be mistaken again, Hatteras."
"Mistaken! this unknown land, this new country--"
"Has a name already," answered the American, quietly.
Hatteras was silent. His lips trembled.
"And what is its name?" asked the doctor, a little surprised at theAmerican's statement.
"My dear Clawbonny," answered Altamont, "it is the custom, not to saythe habit, of every explorer to give a name to the continent which heha
s discovered. It seems to me that on this occasion it was in mypower and that it was my duty to use this indisputable right--"
"Still--" said Johnson, whom Altamont's coolness annoyed.
"It seems to me hard to pretend," the American resumed, "that the_Porpoise_ did not discover this coast, and even on the suppositionthat it came by land," he added, glancing at Hatteras, "there can't beany question."
"That is a claim I can't admit," answered Hatteras, gravely, forciblyrestraining himself. "To give a name, one should be the discoverer,and that I fancy you were not. Without us, besides, where would yoube, sir, you who presume to impose conditions upon us? Twenty feetunder the snow!"
"And without me, sir," replied the American, "without my ship, wherewould you be at this moment? Dead of cold and hunger?"
"My friends," said the doctor, intervening for the best, "come, alittle calm, it can all settle itself. Listen to me!"
"That gentleman," continued Altamont, pointing to the captain, "cangive a name to all the lands he discovers, if he discovers any; butthis continent belongs to me! I cannot admit of its bearing two names,like Grinnell Land and Prince Albert's Land, because an Englishman andAmerican happened to find it at the same time. Here it's different. Myrights of precedence are beyond dispute! No ship has ever touched thisshore before mine. No human being before me has ever set foot upon it;now, I have given it its name, and it shall keep it."
"And what is its name?" asked the doctor.
"New America," answered Altamont.
Hatteras clinched his fists on the table. But with a violent effort hecontrolled himself.
"Can you prove to me," Altamont went on, "that any Englishman has everset foot on this soil before me?"
Johnson and Bell were silent, although they were no less angry thanthe captain at the haughty coolness of their opponent. But there wasnothing to be said. The doctor began again after a few moments ofpainful silence.
"My friends," he said, "the first law of humanity is justice; itembraces all the rest. Let us then be just, and not give way to evilfeelings. Altamont's priority appears to me incontestable. There is noquestion about it; we shall have our revenge later, and England willhave a good share in future discoveries. Let us leave to this land,then, the name of New America. But Altamont, in giving it this name,has not, I imagine, disposed of the bays, capes, points, andpromontories which it encloses, and I don't see anything to preventour calling it Victoria Bay."
"None at all," answered Altamont, "provided that the cape jutting intothe sea over there is named Cape Washington."
"You might have chosen, sir," cried Hatteras, beside himself, "a nameless offensive to an English ear."
"But none dearer to an American ear," answered Altamont, with muchpride.
"Come, come," continued the doctor, who found it hard to keep thepeace in this little world, "no discussion about that! Let an Americanbe proud of his great men! Let us honor genius wherever it is found,and since Altamont has made his choice, let us now speak for ourselvesand our friends. Let our captain--"
"Doctor," answered Hatteras, "since this is an American land, I don'tcare to have my name figure here."
"Is that opinion unchangeable?" asked the doctor.
"It is," answered Hatteras.
The doctor did not insist any further.
"Well, then, it's our turn," he said, addressing the old sailor andthe carpenter; "let us leave a trace of our passage here. I proposethat we call that island about three miles from here Johnson Island,in honor of our boatswain."
"O," said the latter, a little embarrassed, "O doctor!"
"As to the mountain which we have seen in the west, we shall call itBell Mountain, if our carpenter is willing."
"It's too much honor for me," answered Bell.
"It's only fair," said the doctor.
"Nothing better," said Altamont.
"Then we have only to name our fort," resumed the doctor; "there needbe no discussion about that; it's neither to Her Royal Highness QueenVictoria nor to Washington that we owe our protection in it at thismoment, but to God, who brought us together and saved us all. Let itbe called Fort Providence!"
"A capital plan!" answered Altamont.
"Fort Providence," added Johnson, "that sounds well! So, then, inreturning from our excursions in the north, we shall start from CapeWashington to reach Victoria Bay, and from there to Fort Providence,where we shall find rest and plenty in Doctor's House."
"Then that's settled," answered the doctor; "later, as we makediscoveries, we shall have other names to give, which I hope will notgive rise to discussion; for, my friends, we ought to stand by oneanother and love one another; we represent humanity on this distantshore; let us not give ourselves up to the detestable passions whichinfest society; let us rather remain unattackable by adversity. Whocan say what dangers Heaven has in store for us, what sufferings wemay not have to support before we return to our own country? Let usfive be like one man, and leave on one side the rivalry which is wronganywhere, and especially here. You understand me, Altamont? And you,Hatteras?"
The two men made no reply, but the doctor did not seem to notice theirsilence. Then they talked about other things; about hunting, so as toget a supply of fresh meat; with the spring, hares, partridges, evenfoxes, would return, as well as bears; they resolved accordingly notto let a favorable day pass without exploring the land of New America.