70 THE WHALEMAN ] OR, 



But here we were, in the providence of God, 

 vessel and boats gone, at an unknown distance 

 from civilized life and from the settlements of 

 the natives ; this was our present lot. Self-pres- 

 ervation, therefore, prompted us to make imme- 

 diate efforts, in anticipation of what we might 

 need in the future. A common misfortune united 

 all our interests and exertions. 



The captain ordered that every thing of value 

 to them in their present circumstances found 

 among the wreck — such as provisions, casks of 

 sails, pieces of canvas, ropes, broken spars, tools, 

 whale gearing, &c. — should be selected, and 

 brought out of the reach of the surf and the ac- 

 cumulation of ice upon the shore. More than a 

 thousand barrels of oil had drifted ashore, and 

 could have been saved had some vessel arrived 

 about that time. A temporary tent was erected 

 as soon as possible, in which various articles 

 could be stored, as well as afford some protection 

 to us from the inclemency of the weather. 



There were two circumstances exceedingly 

 favorable in our disaster. It might have been 

 much worse, and no one might have lived to 

 relate the sad event. We realized, upon the re- 

 view, that this would have been our certain fate, 

 had the ship gone ashore in the night time. It 

 was, however, daylight, and thus we had a clear 



