DANGERS OF THE FISHERY.— ANECDOTES. 353 



aympatlietic gloom appeared in every countenance, 

 which progressively darkened and kept pace with 

 tlie dismalness of the night. The loss of one-half 

 of the Ii^swich's crew, on a similar occasion, was 

 yet fresh on our minds, and involuntary shudder- 

 ings indicated our dread of a similar fate to our 

 comrades. At length, hap])y moment, a little after 

 8 A. M. a shout of joy announced the approach of 

 the boats, and a few minutes afterwards their crews 

 received the most heartfelt greeting from their ship- 

 mates. Being much affected with long exposure to 

 cold, they were not suffered to approach a fire, until 

 by an exertion as violent as they were capable of, 

 in chasing each other round the decks, they had 

 excited a genial glow of heat in their bodies, and 

 fitted themselves for the change of temperature. 

 A stout Shetland boy wa« very near falling a sacri- 

 fice to the severity of the exposure. He expressed 

 a great wish for sleep, and earnestly entreated the 

 men to allow him to compose himself for half an 

 hour ; which indulgence he procured in part, by de- 

 claring with confidence that he should dream of the 

 situation of the ship. After a few minutes repose, 

 he was awoke with difficulty, and it required con- 

 stant attention on the part of his companions to 

 preserve him from a sleep, which they well knew 

 was, under such circumstances, the harbinger of 

 death. 



VOL. II. Z 



