Chapter 39 Chapter 7 Discussion of Maps

During the preparations for the winter, Altamon recovered his strength and health so completely that he could even take part in the unloading of ships.His strong constitution finally prevailed, and his pale complexion could not resist the freshness of blood for long. In him was seen to be reborn a strong, sanguine American, a man of grit and intelligence, with a determined character, a man of action, boldness, and courage, who came from New York and was born in childhood Sailing, so he told his companions; his ship was outfitted and launched by a wealthy society of wholesale merchants in the United States, headed by the famous Grinnell.

Between Hatteras and him there is a certain connection, a similarity in character, but not the same sympathy.This similarity does not inherently make two people friends, quite the opposite.For an observant man would have discerned a serious dissonance between them, and thus it appears that Altamon, though outwardly more frank, was not so frank as Hatteras; It was integrity; his outgoing nature could not win as much confidence as the captain's dour nature.The latter speaks his opinion once and then keeps silent.The other talked a lot, but often couldn't say anything. Such was the character of the American, as the doctor came to know it, and he was quite justified in foreseeing a future animosity, or hatred, between the Perle Boise and the captain of the Forward.

However, only one of the two commanders should command.After all, Hatteras has the right to subject Americans in every way, from first come first to first serve and in terms of strength.But one is the head of his own, and the other is in his own ship.You can feel it. From tact or instinct, Altamon first leaned over to the doctor's side, to whom he had saved his life, but his inclination to the venerable man was not so much out of gratitude as out of sympathy.Such was the inevitable result of the character of the venerable Crawford; friends gathered about him like wheat in the sun.One can make enemies of oneself by citing people who get up at five o'clock in the morning; a doctor cannot do that by getting up at four o'clock.

But he decides to use Altamon's friendship to find out the real reason for his presence in the polar sea.But what the Americans said was all empty words, and the answer was tantamount to no answer. As usual, they talked about the topic of the Northwest Route. The doctor suspected that the voyage had some other purpose, which was what worried Hatteras.He resolved never to bring these two opponents together on the same subject, and the simplest conversation was in danger of being involuntarily sidetracked, every word setting off a clash of gunpowder between competing interests. This happened very quickly.When the igloo was finished, the Doctor resolved to inaugurate it with a good dinner; Mr. Croubney's brilliant idea to bring to this continent the habits and pleasures of European life.Bell had just shot some large waterfowl and the white hare, the first herald of another spring.

The feast was held on the 14th of April, the second Sunday after Easter, and the weather was fine but very dry, but the cold could not enter the igloo, for obvious reasons, as the fires were burning brightly. They ate well; fresh meat gave them a change from patties and bacon, and the doctor's own pudding was so delicious that they asked for another; scholars wore chef's hats and waists With an apron on his waist and a knife in his belt, he was no less a cook than a British Lord Chancellor. When dessert was served, the wine appeared, the American does not abide by the British rule that strictly prohibits any alcoholic beverages, he has no reason not to have a glass of gin or brandy, other guests usually do not drink, can do no harm I freely allowed myself to violate this rule, so everyone could clink glasses at the end of the merry dinner, as ordered by the doctor.While toasting the United States.Hatteras simply remained silent.

At this moment, the doctor put an interesting question on the table. "My friends," said he, "having come here through channels, floes, and ice-fields, and come here without success, I come to propose to you a name for this friendly land, where we rest. and salvation; this is the custom observed by all navigators all over the world, and no one misses such an opportunity; when we return, we will report these capes, bays, Names of headlands and headlands, to distinguish them. It is entirely necessary." "Well said," exclaimed Johnson, "after all, when one calls all these places by a peculiar name, which gives them a serious aspect, one has no right to think one is left on a strange continent. .”

"Not to mention," replied Bell, "that it makes the nautical password easier and the execution of the order more convenient. We have to be separated in the middle of some expedition or a hunt, and there is nothing better than to find our way again. It would be easier to know its name." "Well," said the doctor, "since we have agreed on this, let us name as much as we can, without forgetting our country or our friends in terms of technical vocabulary. For me, when I Nothing gives me greater pleasure in looking at a map than seeing the name of a fellow man at the end of a promontory, beside an island, or in the middle of an ocean. It is the expression of geographically charming friendship."

"You have a point," replied the American. "Besides, you say these things in a way that increases their value." "Let's see," replied the doctor, "in order." Hatteras didn't join in the conversation, he was thinking.But the eyes of his companion were fixed on him, and he rose and said: "Unless I have a better idea, no one here will disagree with me, I thought," and now Hatteras looked at Altamon--"I think it would be better for us to have a good architect for our dwelling, and one of us The best man's name is called the doctor's house."

"That's it," Bell replied. "Good!" cried Johnson. "The doctor's house!" "Can't find a better name," Altamon replied. "Long live Dr. Crawford!" Three Ullas yelled at the same time, and Dak yelled in agreement. "So," said Hatteras again, "this house will be called that, until another new piece of land will allow us to give it our friend's name." "Ah!" said old Johnson, "if heaven on earth should have a name, it's Crawford's name!" The doctor was so excited that he wanted to decline out of modesty, but he couldn't help it, and it should have been passed.It is certain that the merry supper was taken in the great drawing-room of the doctor's house.It was previously prepared in the kitchen of the doctor's house and they are going to sleep happily in the bedroom of the doctor's house.

"And now," said the doctor, "come to the most important point of our discovery." "And," answered Hatteras, "the wide sea that surrounds us has not a single ship cleaving it." "Not a single ship! But in my opinion," said Altamont, "the Perle Boise should not be forgotten, unless it came by land," he added jokingly. "It can be believed," retorted Hatteras, "just see the rocks that float on it." "Indeed, Hatteras," said Altamon angrily, "isn't it better to take everything for oneself than to rob in broad daylight, as the Forward did?"

Hatteras was about to protest violently when the doctor intervened. "My friends," said he, "this is not a ship, but a new sea." "Not new," Altamon replied. "It has a name on all the polar maps. It's called the Arctic Ocean, and I think it would be a bad omen to change the name; and in a while, if we find it's only a strait or a bay, we'll see what to do." something." "Good," said Hatteras. "That makes it clear," replied the doctor, regretting that he had almost provoked a great discussion of national rivalry. "Then look at this land we're stepping on now," continued Hatteras, "I don't know what it's called on the nearest maps!" Having said that, he looked straight at Altamon, who did not bow his head and replied: "You may be mistaken, Hatteras." "I was mistaken! What! This strange land, this new region..." "It already has a name," the American replied calmly. Hatteras was silent, his lips trembling. "What's the name?" asked the doctor, feeling a little strange about the American. "My dear Crawford," answered Altamont, "it is the custom, if not the right, of any navigator to name the continent he first sets foot on, and it seems to me that in this case I can, I should use this indisputable right..." "But . . . " said Johnson, offended by Altamon's determined calm. "It seems difficult to me," said the latter, "that 'Perboise' did not land on this coast, and even if it were admitted that it came by land," he added, looking at Hatteras, "it would not be possible. question." "I cannot accept that statement," Hatteras answered gravely, restraining himself. "To get a name, at least to discover something, that's not what you do, I suppose. Where are you without us, sir, to make an offer of us? You're in twenty feet of snow!" "Without me, sir," retorted the American vehemently, "without my ship, what would you be? Frozen and starved!" "My friends," said the doctor, trying to mediate, "well, calm down, everything will work out, listen to me." "Sir," continued Altamon, pointing to the captain, "he may name all the other lands he discovers, if he finds them; but this land belongs to me! I cannot even bear him to be called by two names, such as Grinne Prince Albert's Land, also called Prince Albert's Land, because an Englishman and an American discovered it almost at the same time. Here, it's a different matter; I come first, and the right is unquestionable. Before me, there was no A man set foot on this land, so I named it, and its name will live on.” "What name?" asked the doctor. "New America," Altamon replied. Hatteras clenched his fists under the table.However, he had a hard time controlling himself. "Can you prove to me," continued Altamon, "that an Englishman set foot on this land before an American?" Johnson and Bell fell silent, though they were as indignant at their opponent's swaggering certainty as the captain.But I can't answer. After a moment of embarrassing silence, the doctor took over: "My friends," said he, "the first law of mankind is the law of justice; it subsumes all other laws. Let us be just and let no evil be born. I think the priority of Altamon is indisputable. , there is nothing to discuss, we will make up for it later, and England will have a large part of our future discoveries. Let this land be called New America. But after Altamon is so named, I think, you are right The bays, promontories, headlands, and headlands it includes have no right to use, and I don't think anyone will prevent us from calling this bay Victoria Bay?" "No," answered Altamon, "except that headland that goes out into the sea and is called Cape Washington." "Johnson you should, sir," cried Hatteras, who could no longer restrain himself, "choose a name that sounds less English-sounding?" "But Americans don't sound too genial," Altamon said triumphantly. "Well! Well!" replied the doctor, who had much to do to keep the peace of this little world, "don't discuss it! An American should be proud of his greatness! Places are named after men of genius, for Altamon had his choice, and now tell us and our names. Let our captain..." "Doctor," replied the latter, "this is an American landmass, and I don't want my name to appear here." "Is this an irreversible decision?" said the doctor. "Absolutely," Hatteras replied. The doctor didn't insist anymore. "Well, it's our turn," he turned to the old sailor and carpenter, "to leave here the traces of our passage. I propose to call an island three miles away Johnson's Island, in honor of our boatswain!" "Oh!" said the latter, a little ashamed, "Mr. Crawburn!" "As for the mountain we see to the west, we'll call it Bear's Mountain, if our carpenter will agree!" "I can't afford that honor," Bell replied. "That makes sense," replied the doctor. "There's nothing better," Altamon said. "Only our castle remains without a name," continued the doctor, "and in that respect we have nothing to discuss, and it is neither the benevolence of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, nor Washington's favor, that we now dwell here, but By the grace of God, He has brought us together and saved us. Call this castle God's fortress!" "Just the right one!" Altamon continued. "God's Fortress," said Johnson, "what a name! So it seems that we answered from the northern expedition, passed Cape Washington, and came to Victoria Bay, where God's Fortress was, and we rested and fed in the doctor's house. !" "So it is settled," answered the doctor, "and later on, as we gradually discover new places, we shall have other names, and it is best not to cause any controversy, I hope, because, my friends, here Should support each other, love each other, we represent the whole of humanity on this shore; don't indulge in the disgusting desires that disturb society, we are united, strong, unshakable, against the enemy. Who knows before we return to the motherland , will God still let us risk and suffer! Let the five be united, put aside those gratuitous rivalries, here more than anywhere else. Do you understand, Altamon? And you, Hatteras ?” Neither of them answered, but the doctor acted as if they had. Then they talked about something else.There was talk of organizing a hunt for a variety of meat, and with the coming of spring hares and partridges and even foxes and bears were coming back; America's land.