The old crew to a man acquiesced in his proposals, and pledged themselves to obey his orders implicitly and follow him whithersoever he chose to go.
Three only of the recruits joined those faithful seamen; these were English sailors.

The others were of Hearne's opinion, holding that for them the campaign was ended at Tsalal Island.

They therefore refused to go beyond that point, and formally demanded that the ship should be steered northward so as to clear the icebergs at the most favourable period of the season.
Twenty men were on their side, and to constrain them to lend a hand to the working of the ship if she were to be diverted to the south would have been to provoke them to rebel.

There was but one resource: to arouse their covetousness, to strike the chord of self-interest.
I intervened, therefore, and addressed them in a which placed the seriousness of my proposal beyond a doubt.
"Men of the _Halbrane_, listen to me! Just as various States have done for voyages of discovery in the Polar Regions, I offer a reward to the crew of this schooner.

Two thousand dollars shall be shared among you for every degree we make beyond the eighty-fourth parallel." Nearly seventy dollars to each man; this was a strong temptation.
I felt that I had hit the mark.
"I will sign an agreement to that effect," I continued, "with Captain Len Guy as your representative, and the sums gained shall be handed to you on your return, no matter under what conditions that return be accomplished." I waited for the effect of this promise, and, to tell the truth, I had not to wait long.
"Hurrah!" cried the boatswain, acting as fugleman to his comrades, who almost unanimously added their cheers to his.