Part I: The English at the North Pole
The secret captain of the expedition, revealed later; his identity is hinted at through the dog Duke and the letter.
Captain Hatteras
Revealed as the mysterious captain; a man of fierce English pride and obsessive ambition to reach the North Pole, who has financed and led previous failed expeditions.
The Captain's Plans
Reveals his plan to reach the Pole, presents evidence of an open polar sea, and demonstrates decisive leadership by freeing the Forward from ice using a powder charge and cannon concussion.
XIV: The Expeditions in Search of Franklin
Captain of the Forward, determined to push north despite obstacles; discusses the history of Arctic exploration with the doctor.
XV: The Forward Driven Southward
Forced to retreat southward, he grows increasingly anxious and silent, refusing to leave any trace of the expedition at Leopold Harbor.
The Magnetic Pole
Anxious and determined, Hatteras personally examines the coast, orders full steam, and later expresses frustration about the crew's ill-will and his resolve to push north.
The Fate of Sir John Franklin
Interrupts the doctor to declare that safety lies to the north, and later delivers an impassioned speech that motivates the crew to continue northward.
XVIII: The Way Northward
Drives the ship northward under steam despite fuel concerns; uses monetary incentives to secure crew loyalty.
A Whale in Sight
Commands the Forward with coolness during the storm, orders the whale hunt.
XX: Beechey Island
Determined to find coal at Beechey Island; devastated by the pillaged stores but resolves to push north.
The Death of Bellot
Hatteras orders sail set despite crew hostility, pushes forward through Wellington Channel, and resolves to reach the open sea at any cost.
The First Signs of Mutiny
Quells mutiny by threatening Pen with a revolver and ordering him in irons; continues driving the ship northward despite crew discontent.
Attacked by the Ice
Obsessively charts position and seeks the open polar sea; orders the ship onward despite growing peril; displays brilliant seamanship during the ice attack.
Preparations for Wintering
Resolves to face the terrible winter with energy; supervises all winter preparations and regulates life on board with caution.
One of James Ross’s Foxes
Ascends an iceberg to reconnoiter the surrounding plains, calculating the length of their imprisonment.
The Last Piece of Coal
Remains stoic and unaffected by the extreme cold, walking the deck without extra clothing. He is indifferent to the crew's suffering and focuses on the expedition.
The Great Cold at Christmas
Hatteras struggles to maintain authority as the crew demands fuel; he nearly kills Pen with an axe but restrains himself; he refuses to burn the ship but eventually allows the crew to take wood; he weeps as the ship is dismantled.
Preparations for Departure
Keeps the northward drift secret; feels joy at being 150 miles farther north; selects the expedition team and leaves Johnson in command.
Across the Ice-Fields
Leads the expedition across the ice-fields, remains determined and vigilant.
XXX: The Cairn
Remains impassible and determined, insisting the party continue despite the loss of supplies and Simpson's illness.
The Death of Simpson
Hatteras is uneasy upon finding the document about the Porpoise, and he remains determined and stern throughout the journey, even as Simpson dies accusing him.
The Return to the Forward
Decides to return to the ship after the failed expedition; discovers Altamont; finds the Forward burning and resolves to press on to the North Pole.
Part II: The Desert of Ice
Drives the expedition forward with relentless determination despite the growing danger.
The Doctor's Inventory
Silent and contemplative after the explosion, still determined but deeply affected by the loss of his ship.
Altamont's First Words
Struggles with the decision to abandon his polar quest; hesitates and pleads for more time; finally asks his companions for their opinions.
III: Seventeen Days of Land Journey
Leads the group toward the Porpoise, but grows anxious and suspicious of Altamont's intentions.
IV: The Last Charge of Powder
Pushes the group forward despite exhaustion and hunger, insisting they must reach the Porpoise in three days.
The Seal and the Bear
Disguises himself as a seal to hunt a polar bear, demonstrating his courage and resourcefulness.
The Porpoise
Leads the exploration of the Porpoise and the construction plans; shows scorn toward the American ship and Altamont.
A Discussion About Charts
Struggles to control his anger during the naming dispute; refuses to have his name on what he considers American soil.
Excursion to the North of Victoria Bay
Stays behind to explore the coast and take bearings during the hunt.
Cold and Heat
Hatteras steers the conversation toward the dangers of extreme cold, showing his focus on survival and the expedition's challenges.
X: The Pleasures of Winter-Quarters
Pensive and lying on his bed, he rarely speaks to Altamont, and the doctor fears his rivalry with the American will lead to conflict.
Disquieting Traces
Hatteras is determined to continue toward the North Pole, refuses to use American ship timbers for a boat, and holds a private meeting with the English crew to discuss plans without Altamont.
The Ice Prison
Leads the hunt and later defends the fort, showing determination and quick thinking with the hot poker.
The Mine
Commands the group, trusts the doctor's plan, and embraces him upon his return.
The Polar Spring
Reluctantly agrees to use the American wreck for a launch after Clawbonny's persuasion, but remains suspicious and hostile toward Altamont.
XV: The Northwest Passage
Engages in a heated debate with Altamont over national exploration achievements, defending English explorers and asserting his captaincy.
XVI: Northern Arcadia
Explores lands beyond Cape Washington, participates in the hunting trip, agrees to let the hares live.
Altamont's Revenge
Nearly killed by musk-oxen, saved by Altamont; reconciles with his rival and invites him to share the glory of the North Pole.
The Last Preparations
Hatteras is determined to start the journey on June 25th, hurrying preparations and showing impatience to leave New America.
The Journey Northward
Leads the northward journey with determination, leaving behind mutiny and despair on the ship, now focused on reaching the Pole.
Footprints on the Snow
Filled with wrath at the prospect of rivals ahead; orders the party forward despite the troubling signs.
XXI: The Open Sea
Stands at the bow, gazing north with intense desire, hoping to find land at the Pole.
The Approach to the Pole
Hatteras is the first to spot land and insists on sailing toward it, even as a storm and bears endanger the launch.
The English Flag
Lost overboard during the storm, presumed dead, but found alive on the shore of Queen Island, wrapped in the English flag.
Polar Cosmography
Proposes a toast to the North Pole, shows great nervous excitement, and remains absorbed in his own thoughts during the conversation.
Mount Hatteras
Driven by polar madness, he insists on climbing the volcano to reach the exact Pole, and loses his reason after being saved.
Return to the South
Now mad, he lies unresponsive in the boat, a 'poor body without a mind,' accompanied by his dog Duke.
Conclusion
Now mad, lives at Starr Cottage, walking northward each day with his dog Duke.
