"Well, I will do what I can," said he; "that is, providin' our chickens are hatched." "Oh, they'll come out all right," said Sarah.

"I haven't the least doubt of it, now that you are to be the chief figure in the hatchin'." Shortly after the ordinary hour for rising, an order was issued by Captain Hubbell, and enforced by Samuel Block, that no one should be allowed to come on deck who had not eaten breakfast.

There were those on board that vessel who would have stayed on deck during all the hours which should have been devoted to sleeping, had it not been so cold.
There would probably be nothing to see when they reached the pole, but they wanted to be on hand, that they might see for themselves that there was nothing to see..