198 SPIRITS OF CREW IMPROVE. [CHAP.IV. 



coloured and rigid leg, but whose health in other 

 respects had been good, was suddenly seized 

 with syncope as he was walking ; and though he 

 recovered in the course of a few minutes, yet in 

 his case, as in that of the other patients who 

 were similarly affected, it seemed to aggravate 

 the disease, or rather to reduce the pow r er of 

 struggling against it. That the rest of the crew, 

 and the few who were affected but slightly, had 

 rather gained than lost on the score of cheerful- 

 ness and good spirits, I was to-day agreeably con- 

 vinced ; for, while taking my accustomed evening 

 exercise within the snow-wall inclosure, I was sur- 

 prised at hearing the sound of music somewhere 

 on the floe, and before I could get outside the 

 gallery, the whole crew, headed by the armourer, 

 playing the fife, and under the orders of Mr. 

 Vaughan, the boatswain, marched up in file, sing- 

 ing the song of the " Southern Breezes." They 

 halted with a hearty laugh at the word of com- 

 mand, as given out by some one in military 

 fashion, Halt, front! and gave three hearty cheers ; 

 then placing the fifer on a hummock, they 

 finished with a country dance, in which the 

 slipping, sliding, and falling of the performers 

 gave occasion to much mirth. It may be ima- 

 gined that this was to me a most agreeable 

 sight, and that I did not fail to pronounce my 

 commendations, and to encourage a repetition. 



