96 THE WHALEMAN ; OR, 



for the shore. As we looked, never before with 

 more exhilarated spirits and reviving hope, on, 

 on the vessel came, approaching nearer and 

 nearer, nntil her davits were plainly seen, and 

 men walking to and fro on deck. The ship now 

 was not more than two miles distant* She came 

 to, main yard hauled back, and lay in that posi- 

 tion a quarter of an hour or more. 



With these indications, all doubt had nearly 

 or quite left our minds that the intentions of 

 those on board were to take us off. Still, no 

 boat was lowered, nor was there any answering 

 signal. This surely was mysterious, and be- 

 tokened fear. And yet could it be that within 

 so short a distance no deliverance would be ex- 

 tended ? It was contrary to reason to believe 

 so ; the thought must not be cherished a single 

 moment. We should soon tread a friendly deck, 

 and share again a sailor's home on the deep. 

 Thus whispered hope, suddenly revived in all 

 our hearts. 



But in order to make the case doubly sure, 

 and remove all suspicion in the minds of those 

 on board that those on shore were not all na- 

 tives, two colors, one white and the other blue, 

 were raised upon poles to the height of full 

 thirty feet. It was plainly seen by those on 

 board, as subsequent testimony from the officers 



