148 ELISHA KENT KANE. 



of generosity in conveying some food to the starv- 

 ing adventurers. 



o 



In truth, the future safety of the expedition de- 

 pended upon the recapture of Godfrey, or upon the 

 signal punishment of his mutiny. Accordingly, 

 when he approached the vessel, and his presence 

 was discovered, he was ordered by the commander 

 to come on board. Neither threats nor persuasions 

 produced any effect upon him. During a short in- 

 terval which ensued, in which Dr. Kane attempted 

 to procure the necessary irons with which to re- 

 strain him, he turned and fled. Then it was that, 

 while he was still within practicable range, Dr. 

 Kane sent a bullet vainly whizzing past his head. 

 The irons in question were indispensable, inasmuch 

 as the crew were all so much disabled with scurvy 

 at that time, that it would have been impossible for 

 them to control Godfrey without some additional 

 means. 



Such are the unvarnished facts which appertained 

 to this transaction. The justification of Dr. Kane 

 in the premises must be clearly evident to every 

 impartial observer ; especially when the bearings of 

 the great law of self-preservation in the case are 

 taken into consideration ; for the commander greatly 

 feared the influence which Godfrey might exert 

 upon his indispensable allies at Etah. It is also 



