632 THE DESTRUCTIVE SWELL. 



If I had ray way, with the consent of all hands, I would 

 call out and shoot down that two-legged dog who has since 

 been at them. I see most of the men have their facea 

 swollen, but not so badly as mine. All well, but growing 

 very weak." 



On the morning of the 18th, on "turning out," a sight 

 met the gaze of the party that caused them to return 

 hearty thanks to God : it was laud not very distant. A 

 little later the atmosphere thickened and the land itself 

 vanished from sight for a time, but there were not want- 

 ing evidences of its proximity. A crow, two smaller 

 land-birds, and a flock of about one hundred and fifty 

 canvas-back ducks, were seen ; they came within range of 

 vision, but not of shot, and hence our friends had to be 

 content with the treat of seeing these signals from the 

 ghore. Though not fortunate enough to secure a meal of 

 canvas-backs, thanks to Joe's quick eye, his daring and 

 his skill, their hunger was relieved by a fine seal, which 

 also enabled them to replenish their lamps and obtain 

 some water by melting ice. The prize was carefully 

 divided. Herron says, " We then cooked some good soup 

 from what, at other times, I should have called offal ;" 

 they had learned to utilize every part of a seal except the 

 gall. " The mess was highly relished." They then 

 " turned in for the night, thanking God for his protection 

 and goodness, to dream of friends and of happy days to 

 come." On the night of the 19th, a rough sea, with a 

 very heavy swell from the northeast, gave token of a gale 

 in that quarter, though a light wind from the northwest 

 prevailed in their immediate vicinity. The terrible effect 

 f the swell is forcibly depicted in the diary : 



"April 20. The wind here from the northwest. Blow- 

 ing a gale in the northeast. The swell comes from there, 

 and is very heavy. The first warning we had the man 

 on watch sang out at the moment a sea struck us, and 

 washing over us, carried away everything that was loose. 



