SAFE RETURN. 75 



of getting back to the ship ; but when, by the 

 report of the muskets becoming more audible, 

 we found that the party were drifting towards 

 us, the anxiety to rescue them was so great 

 that the Greenland master and mate of the Trent 

 ventured out, with poles and lines, and had the 

 good fortune to fall in with the party, who,, by 

 this time, were drifted nearly within sight of 

 the vessels. They found them seated upon a 

 piece of ice, as already described, cold, wet, and 

 so overcome that, in a few hours more, the 

 greater part of them must have perished. Their 

 joy at unexpectedly beholding their companions 

 come to their relief, and still more at finding* 

 themselves so near their ship, may readily be 

 imagined, and inspired them with fresh vigour, 

 which enabled them, with the assistance of their 

 shipmates, to effect the remainder of their 

 journey. After eighteen hours' absence, they all 

 got safely on board, fully determined, in future, to 

 rest satisfied with the view of the shore which 

 was afforded them from the ship, and without the 

 slightest desire to attempt to approach it again 

 by means of the ice. 



The evening of the 14th being very fine, and 

 everything quiet, we set on fire some sea-horse 

 fat, in order to entice within reach of our muskets 

 any bears that might be ranging the ice, as 



