Under the Sea to the North Pole Read Online Free PDF Page B

a tone in which anger and contemptuous irony were only too apparent.

CHAPTER III
    THE ANTE-CHAMBER OF THE POLE.

    T HE three chief witnesses of the drama were silent as to this last episode in a singularly exciting adventure. But Isabelle, who was much impressed by it, saw Hubert and Guerbraz exchange looks.
    The two men had known each other for many years. Guerbraz, although older than Hubert, had been at sea under him when he was a midshipman. It was evident that their companion’s clumsiness appeared suspicious. Schnecker had fired when there was no reason for it. The Breton’s danger had been ended by Isabelle’s carbine, and the two surviving beasts had time to disappear behind a low hill..
    The naturalist, however, advanced, cap in hand, bowing very low, and with his most obsequious smile.
    He sought to excuse himself.
    “It seems I might have been the cause of a misfortune! Pardon me, pray. I am very short-sighted. I will not use a gun again.”
    “Then you will do well, sir!” said the young man, who was not of a very patient nature. And turning his back on the chemist, he quickened his pace so as to return to the station in Isabelle’s company.
    Attracted by the reports of the guns, De Keralio was already on the way towards them, as were also Doctor Servan and the five other sailors.
    To these was given the task of skinning and cutting up the beasts, so as to leave no time for the flesh to contract the odour of musk which would have made them uneatable. This task was promptly accomplished, and four hundred kilos of fresh meat were taken into store.
    On their return to Fort Esperance, Hubert immediately went to his future father-in-law, with the doctor and Guerbraz, in order that they might talk over together the serious occurrence which had just taken place.
    The conference was an exciting one. De Keralio, who was very good-natured, could not believe in an act of malevolence. It appeared to him so unlikely.
    “I know,” he said, “that our companion is remarkably shortsighted.”
    “ Bah!” said Hubert, “when a man is as short-sighted that he does not venture to shoot; and I really do not understand how you can send a bullet within a foot of a man’s face, and take the man for an ox.”
    And he added, with that animation which always distinguished him,—
    “We shall have to keep our eyes open, or the worthy Schnecker will be taking us all for beasts.”
    His companions laughed. But the subject was too serious to be lost sight of so easily. De Keralio could not help exclaiming,—
    “But what motive could he have for committing such a crime? We have never done him any harm. None of us has shown the slightest suspicion of him.”
    “Pardon!” said Hubert, “there is one who has borne witness against him from the very first day. That is our brave Salvator.”
    “Certainly,” said the doctor, seriously, “there is some weight in that argument. I consider the instinct of animals, and particularly
    of dogs, infallible.”

    He stopped, and addressing De Keralio, he said,—
    “Whence came this bad shot of a chemist?”
    ”He came to me from Paris,” said De Keralio. “He came to me with the highest recommendations from well-known men, members of the institute or learned societies in the departments.”
    “In that case,” said the thoughtful doctor, “if there was any criminal intention it can only be explained by a violent jealousy, one of those strangely low and vile sentiments which can be found in the human soul. A large measure of intelligence is no guarantee of a good heart or a fine character.”
    “We must watch him all the same,” said De Keralio.
    “I will take care of that,” said Guerbraz, quietly.
    And thereupon they separated with an appointment for the study of the coasts and an examination of the maps.
    To tell the truth these were most incomplete, and the expedition in its present quarters was really in face of the unknown. What they knew they only knew by supposition. The