LEAK DISCOVERED. 31 



numerous instances would probably occur in 

 which the services of the crew could very ill be 

 spared for this extra duty, it did appear to all on 

 board to be a most unfortunate occurrence, and 

 it cannot be denied that, to the seamen especially, 

 it in some degree diminished the pleasure with 

 which we contemplated our future proceedings. 



The inhabitants of Lerwick, however, took a 

 still more serious view of the case, and considered 

 the service in which we were engaged suffi- 

 ciently hazardous in itself, without incurring fur- 

 ther risk, by commencing the performance of it 

 in a leaky vessel ; and there is no doubt that 

 this conviction, in a great measure, influenced 

 some of their community who had been bred 

 to the sea, and who would otherwise, probably, 

 have accompanied us, for we were short of com- 

 plement ; as many of these people were in the 

 habit of making voyages in our whale ships, 

 where their services have always been considered 

 valuable, especially in boats. 



On the 10th May, having completed the busi- 

 ness for which we put into Lerwick, we sailed 

 out by the Western Channel; and, when clear 

 of the land, had the good fortune to meet with 

 a fair wind, with which we pursued our course 

 towards the island of Spitzbergen ; and crossed 

 the arctic circle on the 14th. 



