Jules Verne

“ The last supplies of the sledge, a little biscuit and some hot tea, gave them some comfort. Hatteras did not speak: every one respected his silence. When the meal was finished the doctor made a sign for Johnson to follow him outside.
“Now,” he said, “we are going to make an inventory of what is left. We must know exactly what things we have; they are scattered all about; we must pick them up; it may snow at any moment, and then it would be impossible to find a scrap.”
“Don't let us lose any time, then,” answered Johnson; “food and wood is what we need at once.” ”

“ Thus, on the Nautilus, which was lying at anchor near her, a group of sailors were trying to make out the probable destination of the Forward.
“What do you say to her masts?” said one; “steamers don't usually carry so much sail.”
“It must be,” answered a red-faced quartermaster, “that she relies more on her sails than on her engine; and if her topsails are of that size, it's probably because the lower sails are to be laid back. So I'm sure the Forward is going either to the Arctic or Antarctic Ocean, where the icebergs stop the wind more than suits a solid ship.” ”

“ They went at once to the bed of ice where the Forward had lain; each examined with care all the fragments of the ship beneath the dim light of the moon. It was a genuine hunt; the doctor entered into this occupation with all the zest, not to say the pleasure, of a sportsman, and his heart beat high when he discovered a chest almost intact; but most were empty, and their fragments were scattered everywhere.
The violence of the explosion had been considerable; many things were but dust and ashes; the large pieces of the engine lay here and there, twisted out of shape ”

“ The day after the launching of the brig her machinery arrived from the foundry of R. Hawthorn at Newcastle.
The engine, of one hundred and twenty horse-power, with oscillating cylinders, took up but little space; its force was large for a vessel of one hundred and seventy tons, which carried a great deal of sail, and was, besides, remarkably swift. Of her speed the trial trips left no doubt, and even the boatswain, Johnson, had seen fit to express his opinion to the friend of Clifton in these terms,—
“When the Forward is under both steam and sail, she gets the most speed from her sails.” ”

“ So, in consequence of these disasters, Hatteras found himself not only without any coal, but also short of provisions.
As to the fuel supplied by the fragments of the ship, the pieces of the masts and the keel, they might hold out about three weeks; but then the doctor, before using it to heat their new dwelling, asked Johnson whether out of it they might not build a new ship, or at least a launch.
“No, Doctor,” answered the boatswain, “it's impossible; there's not a piece of wood large enough; it's good for nothing except to keep us warm for a few days and then---”
“Then?” asked the doctor. ”

“ He was immediately joined by Johnson; the old sailor's face bore signs of his recent sufferings; he had been obliged to struggle against his revolted companions, defending the ship which had been intrusted to his care. The doctor sadly pressed the boatswain's hand.
“Well, my friend, what is going to become of us?” asked the doctor.
“Who can say?” answered Johnson.
“At any rate,” continued the doctor, “don't let us give way to despair; let us be men!”
“Yes, Doctor,” answered the old sailor, “you are right; it's when matters look worst that we most need courage; we are in a bad way ”

“ Mark my words, Johnson, that man will be able to save us!“
Thereupon the doctor wrapped himself up as well as he could, and, staff in hand, walked away towards the sledge in the midst of a fog which the moonlight made almost bright. Johnson and Bell set to work immediately; the old sailor encouraged the carpenter, who wrought on in silence; they did not need to build, but to dig into the solid ice ”

“ Every care was taken to have the brig made exceedingly strong; it was evidently intended to withstand enormous pressure, for its ribs of teak, an East Indian wood remarkable for its solidity, were further strengthened by thick iron braces. The sailors used to ask why the hull of a ship, which was intended to be so strong, was not made of iron like other steamers. ”