Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 2.djvu/385

 and Bell, and Hatteras, too, had to harness themselves to the sledge with the dogs. Constantly jolting over the uneven ground had broken the front part, and it was necessary to stop and repair it. Delays like these soon became frequent.

The three men were jogging along through a deep ravine, where the snow was up to their waists, and the perspiration was streaming from every pore in spite of the intense cold, when Bell, who was nearest the Doctor, looked at him in alarm, and, without saying a word, caught up a handful of snow, and began rubbing his worthy friend's face as vigorously as possible, to the great bewilderment of the Doctor, who tried to push him off, exclaiming:

"What now, Bell?"

But Bell still went on rubbing, till the little man's eyes, nose, and mouth were all full of snow, and he called out again:

"I say, Bell, what's all this? Are you mad? What do you mean?"

"I mean this, that you have me to thank for it if you still have a nose."

"A nose?" replied the Doctor, putting up his hand to his face.

"Yes, Mr. Clawbonny, you were completely frost-bitten. Your nose was quite white when I looked at you, and without my rough treatment you would have lost an ornament that is very necessary in life, though rather inconvenient in traveling."

Bell was right. A few minutes longer, and the Doctor's nose would have been gone, but, happily, friction had restored the circulation, and the danger was past.

"Thanks, Bell; I'll do as much for you some day, perhaps."

"I quite reckon on it, and Heaven grant we may have no worse misfortunes to come!" replied the carpenter.

"Ah! you refer to Simpson; the poor fellow is in great pain."

"Have you any fear for him?" asked Hatteras, quickly.

"I have captain."

"What is it you apprehend, Doctor?"

"A violent attack of scurvy. His legs are swelling already, and his gums are affected. There he lies wrapped up