DR. KANE'S FAMOUS ARCTIC VOYAGE 295 



sight produced an almost hysterical impression, for she had on 

 board all their stores. Happily, before they could fully realize all 

 the consequences of her probable loss, a flat cake of ice eddied into 

 the vicinity of the floe. McGary and Dr. Kane sprang upon it, and 

 succeeded in floating it across the chasm in time to secure the boat. 

 Then the rest of the crew rejoined her, with emotions of thankful- 

 ness which the reader may well imagine. 



In this extremity, the discovery of a seal asleep upon a field 

 of ice filled them with joy. They approached it with extreme care, 

 and as it raised itself in its fore-flippers, preparatory to a plunge, 

 a well-aimed rifle shot brought it down. 



With a wild shout both boats charged full upon the floes. 

 Eager hands seized the precious booty, and lifted it upon safer ice. 

 The men, as if lost in a delirium of joy, ran over the ice, crying, 

 laughing and brandishing their knives. Never was animal more 

 quickly prepared for the table; never were viands more keenly rel- 

 ished. A grand cooking fire was kindled, and the famished voy- 

 agers enjoyed that night a strange, almost a savage orgie. 



It is unnecessary to dwell minutely on the later incidents of the 

 journey. On the ist of August Dr. Kane sighted the Devil's 

 Thumb, and was soon in waters that are familiar to every whaler. 

 Passing to the south of Cape Shackleton, the voyagers followed up 

 the quiet water channels that run parallel to the coast, occasionally 

 killing a seal or some birds, and at night encamping upon the rocks. 



Two days later, as they were slowly rowing through the mist, 

 a familiar sound the cadence of a "halloo" came to them over 

 the waters. With joyous hearts they pulled in the direction of the 

 sound, and in about half an hour could make out the single mast of 

 a small shallop. "'Tis the Upernavik oil-boat!" cried Petersen, 

 half laughing, half crying. And such, indeed, it proved to be. In 

 a few minutes they were on board of her, and in the embraces of 

 old friends. 



"Here," says Kane and the conclusion of his narrative is best 



