NINE MONTHS IN THE ARCTIC. 101 



We felt that we had much for which to be 

 thankful to God, and that soon we should be 

 able to send to anxious ones at home the happy 

 intelligence that we were among the saved. 



Such is hope when strongly excited. It enno- 

 bles and invigorates the human soul ; it adorns 

 the horizon with the gorgeous drapery of morn- 

 ing clouds ; it paints the evening with the glories 

 of departing day ; it forgets the past ; it is the 

 elixir of life itself; without it man lives only in 

 the present, and anticipates no future good. 



But that was a day of sorrow too! It seemed 

 as if we should sink into the yery earth, and that 

 we were unable to stand, with such a load and 

 pressure upon our spirits. We were crushed 

 both in body and mind. Contending emotions 

 of indignation, abandoned hope, unmitigated 

 grief, and poignant sorrow, swayed and strongly 

 agitated every bosom. The whole company 

 wept like children. 



It may be asked, " Why did not the officers 

 and crew avail themselves of the canoes of the 

 natives, and go off to the ship ? " It is true there 

 were several canoes near the shore, but the 

 natives were unwilling they should be touched ; 

 from what cause we could not understand. Our 

 acquaintance with them, and theirs with us, had 

 thus far been very slight; and it may be they 



