NINE MONTHS IN THE ARCTIC. 69 



mingled with the floating wreck, or cast with 

 it upon the shore. The roll was called by the 

 captain, and thirty-three answered to their names ; 

 five were numbered with the dead. 



The few hours of the past had been full of 

 painful and distressing interest. The majority 

 of our number had been mercifully rescued; but 

 w T e were cast shelterless, with a small supply of 

 provisions, with no clothing, only what was upon 

 our backs, upon the most barren and desolate 

 region of the earth. 



What were our present prospects ? They were 

 dark and ominous indeed. A new voyage, in 

 effect, was just opening before us, with dimin- 

 ished numbers, of the progress and termination 

 of which we could not even entertain a reasonable 

 conjecture; yet one thing was certain — its com- 

 mencement was inauspicious. And, though 

 hope might measurably sustain our minds, still 

 the prospective view before this company of cast- 

 away seamen — the rigors of the arctic winter be- 

 fore us, wholly unprepared with clothing to with- 

 stand the merciless and long-continued cold of 

 the north, uncertain whether there would be any 

 deliverance for us by any friendly sail, or what 

 would be our reception among the natives, — in- 

 deed, the prospect before us was any thing but 

 cheering and encouraging. 



