636 CASE GROWS DESPERATE. 



the long lost can scarcely be imagined, and certainly can- 

 not be described when, on the morning of the 30th, they 

 saw the Tigress close upon them. They were immediately 

 taken aboard. But we cannot refrain from copying John 

 Herron's account of the last six days : 



"April 25. Wind increased to a gale last night, from 

 the northeast. Raining all night and to-day, with snow 

 squalls. Launched the boat at 5 A. M. The case was 

 desperate running with a light-built boat, damaged as she 

 is, patched and scratched all over. But what were we to 

 do? The piece of ice we were on had wasted away so 

 much it would never ride out the gale. Our danger to- 

 day was very great; a gale of wind blowing, a crippled 

 boat overloaded and a fearful sea running, filled with 

 small ice as sharp as knives. But, thank God, we came 

 safely through it. We are all soaking wet, in everything 

 we have, and no chance of drying anything. We have 

 had neither sun nor moon for over a week. Not a single 

 star have I seen. All is dark and dreary ; but, please 

 God, it will soon brighten up. We have struck the seal- 

 men's grounds. I never saw such an abundance of seals 

 before ; they are in schools like the porpoise. We hauled 

 up on a floe after eight hours' pull ; could make no west- 

 ing. Shot some seals, but they all sunk ; Joe shot them. 

 Hard times. 



"April 26. Joe shot a seal last evening and broke the 

 charm. Hans shot one this morning. Last night and 

 this morning fine. Ice very thick around. Started at 

 6.30 A. M., and were beset two hours afterward. Pulled 

 up on a small piece of ice, the best we could find. Snow- 

 ing all day. Repaired the boat here, which it wanted, 

 aud the weather cleared up in the afternoon. Got some 

 things dried a little, and half of us turned in. Hans shot 

 a seal, making two to-day. 



"April 27. --Yesterday, wind light from southeast. In 

 the evening changed to northeast, blowing strongly. Mr. 



