Chapter 41—Cold and Heat
Hatteras and Johnson had waited for the three hunters with some uneasiness. When they returned they were delighted to find a warm and comfortable shelter. That evening the temperature had decidedly fallen, and the thermometer outside stood at -31°. The three were very much fatigued and almost frozen, so that they could hardly drag one foot after the other; fortunately the stoves were drawing well; the doctor became cook, and roasted a few walrus cutlets. At nine o’clock they all five sat down before a nourishing supper.
“On my word,” said Bell, “at the risk of passing for an Esquimaux, I will say that food is an important thing in wintering; one ought to take what one can get.”
Each of them having his mouth full, it was impossible for any one to answer the carpe
