246 A VOYAGE IN THE NORTH SEAS. 



away ; and the Albatross, which a few minutes ago had been bounding 

 gallantly from sea to sea, lay wallowing in the trough like a creature 

 of sense in its last agonies. 



It is long before the fury of the elements to which a seaman has 

 been accustomed from his childhood, can force despair into his heart. 

 The remainder of the crew soon cut away the rigging, and in some 

 measure eased the vessel, and the wind in a short time fortunately lul- 

 ling, they were able to execute the requisite measures for the comfort 

 if such a word could be used at such a time of themselves and their 

 unhappy passengers. It is unnecessary to detail their dreadful suffer- 

 ings from cold, hunger, and thirst, during nearly three weeks, in which 

 they were driven helplessly over the waters. Supported by the hope 

 of meeting some of the whaling ships, which they knew must about 

 that time be crossing in their track, they had till the very last given a 

 liberal share of the food which remained, to Flora and her infirm re- 

 lative. At length they were reduced to live on the most loathsome 

 diet,^and the old merchant the night before the Labrador relieved them, 

 had died in a state of the most horrid insanity from famine, and the 

 (as it seemed to him) still more dreadful torture of being torn from 

 his beloved wealth. They were now driven to their last resource ; 

 one must perish to preserve the lives of the rest a little longer. They 

 were obliged to keep one hand at the pump continually, and this con- 

 sideration alone, independently of others sufficiently obvious, caused 

 them at once to fix on Flora as the first victim. 



Brutal is the heart of man, even when it might be thought that 

 adversity had chastened it to humility and the fear of God. One of 

 the wretches had attempted to gratify another appetite, before they 

 butchered the helpless maiden for food. It was the seaman who 

 had died in howling madness after being brought on board the 

 Labrador. The old man who was found dead near the unfortunate 

 girl with the knife in his grasp, had gathered together his dying ener- 

 gies to prevent this diabolical deed ; and, with a sentiment as noble 

 as that of the Roman father of old, had been about to plung his knife 

 into her body, to save her from dishonour. It had been at this critical 

 moment that, a stream of sunshine piercing through the clouds had 

 discovered the Labrador, she having approached within a short league 

 of them, concealed by the haziness of the atmosphere. 



The effect of the sudden joy was such as we have already described, 

 the old man having sunk down in death, even while his hand was 

 uplifted to strike the insensible girl, and the energy which despair 

 had communicated to the others having left them, they became motion- 

 less as statues. 



Such was the story which was gathered from the distressed girl 

 herself and the rescued seamen of the Albatross. It will readily be 

 imagined, that the fact of their having been engaged in the contra- 

 band, would by no means prevent the wrecked crew from receiving 

 every kindness from the seamen of the Labrador, and that the suffer- 

 ings of the unfortunate Flora, combined with her beauty and fortitude, 

 would cause her to be looked on with the gentlest and most respectful 

 feelings, by those among whom she was thrown. She had caused a 

 handsome gratuity to be given to the men, and had, in as delicate a 



