1 62 Chapter Y. 



rushing aft and threw out the buoy in our direction. 

 One more cry to my mates that we must put our last 

 strength into the work. There were only a few boat 

 lengths to cover, and we bent to our oars with a will. 

 Now there were three boat lengths. Another des- 

 perate spurt. Now there were two-and-a-half boat 

 lengths presently two then only one ! A few 

 more frantic pulls, and there was a little less. " Now 

 boys, one or two more hard pulls and it's over ! 

 Hard ! hard ! ! Keep to it! Now another! Don't give 

 up ! One more ! There we have it ! ! ! " And one 

 joyful sigh of relief passed round the boat. " Keep 

 the oars going or the rope will break. Row, boys ! ' 

 And row we did, and soon they had hauled us along- 

 side of the Fnun. Not till we were lying there getting 

 our bearskins and flesh hauled on board, did we really 

 know what we had had to fight against. The current 

 was running along the side of the ship like a rapid river. 

 At last we were actually on board. It was evening by 

 this time, and it was splendid to get some good hot food 

 and then stretch one's limbs in a comfortable dry berth. 

 There is a satisfaction in feeling that one has exerted 

 one's self to some purpose. Here was the net result of four 

 and twenty hours' hard toil we had shot two reindeer, 

 which we did not get, got two bears that we had no use 

 for, and had totally ruined one suit of clothes. Two 

 washings had not the smallest effect upon them, and 

 they hung on deck to air for the rest of this trip. 



