NINE MONTHS IN THE ARCTIC. 203 



statement .now. The native came again and 

 again to the captain with the same report, and 

 manifested so much earnestness and interest that 

 the captain said to Mr. Osborn, who was near 

 him, " There must be something in this fellow's 

 statement ; get up, and see if it is so." Besides, 

 there was increasing stir, loud talk, and running 

 hither and thither in the settlement — all of 

 which convinced the doubtful that the ships were 

 indeed in sight, and that the joyous day of de- 

 liverance had surely arrived. 



Well, we went out of the settlement to see, 

 and it was too true to doubt any longer; the 

 ships were in sight, and standing in towards the 

 land. By this time every man in our company 

 had been aroused, and was on the lookout ; and 

 the natives also seemed to partake of the com- 

 mon joy in anticipation of our deliverance being 

 so near. 



How feeble are words to express the emotions 

 of gratitude and joy that thrilled through every 

 mind ! If tears of sorrow had been shed in 

 months past over prolonged disappointment and 

 subsequent suffering, — - if our spirits had become 

 hardened by repeated misfortunes and depriva- 

 tions, which no language can depict, — tears 

 now fell, prompted by far different feelings ; our 

 hearts were no longer indurate, but dissolved 



