114 THE WHALEMAN ; OR, 



form a splendid arch over our heads. And then, 

 again, as the advancing column of warriors 

 rushes into battle, so the bright line above us, 

 with its moving front and wheeling battalions, 

 would seem to change its hue and position, and 

 thus prepare for a fresh onset. 



The aurora borealis of the arctic and polar 

 region is one of nature's grandest and most sub- 

 lime scenes ever beheld by mortals. 



As we were confined within the huts of the 

 natives during a greater part of our abode with 

 them, and as nothing particular occurred de- 

 manding our exposure out of doors, we had suf- 

 ficient time to sleep, if sleep we could. To pass 

 away time was extremely hard and irksome. Its 

 wheels rolled slowly and heavily along. Some 

 of us would sing to the natives', which tended 

 not only to divert and encourage our own minds, 

 but to please them. We found, however, they 

 were wonderfully pleased with our singing, and 

 so much interested were they in it, that nothing 

 would satisfy them unless some one of us was 

 singing to them. Thus they laid an oppressive 

 task upon us, which we were not able to perforin. 

 What we commenced, therefore, as a sort of pas- 

 time, in order to while away tedious hours, days, 

 and months, finally became, through the constant 

 importunity of the natives, a grievous burden 

 to us. 



