350 WHALE-FISHEHY. 



and a di\ision in opinion ensued. Some were wish"- 

 ful to remain by the ice, but the ice could afford 

 them no slielter from the piercing v/ind, and would 

 probably be soon broken to pieces by the increasing 

 swell ; others were anxious to attempt to join their 

 ship while she was yet in sight, but the force of the 

 wind, the violence of the sea, the smallness of the 

 boat in comparison of the number of men to be con- 

 veyed, were objections which would have appeared 

 utterly insurmountable to any persons but men in 

 a state of despair. Judging that, by remaining on 

 the ice, death was but retarded for a few hours, as 

 the extreme cold must eventually benumb their 

 faculties, and invite a sleep which would overcome 

 the remains of animation, — they determined on ma- 

 king the attempt of rowing to their ship. Poor 

 souls, what must have been their sensations at thi« 

 moment, — when the spark of hope yet remaining 

 v/as so feeble, that a premature death even to them- 

 selves seemed inevitable. They made the daring 

 experiment, when a few minutes trial convinced 

 them that the attempt was utterly impracticable. 

 They then, with longing eyes, turned their efforts 

 towards recovering the ice they had left, but their 

 utmost exertions were unavailing. Every one no^t 

 viewed his situation as desperate ; and anticipat- 

 ed, as certain, the fatal event which was to put 

 a period to his life. Kow great must have 



