CHAP. VI.] CREW HARD AT WORK. 408 



sang and worked with that characteristic indif- 

 ference to peril which has been so often admired 

 in British seamen. While we were thus occu- 

 pied, several seahorses came up, and after 

 listening and stretching out their necks with a 

 sort of curious stupidity as they drew them- 

 selves on the ice, they seemed undecided whether 

 to remain or not ; at length, however, they 

 tumbled their uncouth bulks into the water, and 

 disappeared. Meantime, considerable progress, 

 as was imagined, was made with the saw ; but, 

 on sounding, it was found that instead of cutting 

 up and down it had taken a slanting course, and 

 thus obliged us to recommence ; and the lower 

 part, too, proved so hard, that a longer time was 

 required for finishing the half yet undone. 

 Seeing this, and reflecting that the heaviest 

 part was detached, the same process was tried 

 from aft ; and, this being found to be easier, by 

 midnight there remained but twenty-five feet 

 to cut, for connecting the two sections. Again 

 the crew were supplied with food, making the 

 third pound to each man since the commence- 

 ment of the work in the forenoon ; but, on this 

 occasion, hot cocoa was given instead of grog. 

 After one hour's rest the laborious duty was re- 

 sumed, and, stimulated with the desire of seeing 

 the ship once more upright, they did not relax 

 until nature asserted her prerogative. 



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