188 THE WHALEMAN'S ADVENTURES. 



and whaling on the eastern coast of Greenland, 

 in 1822, gives a touching and characteristic 

 incident respecting one of those sources of 

 peril to the whaleman. The story is to this 

 effect : 



All the boats of the ship (the Baffin of 

 Liverpool) had been sent out in pursuit of 

 some whales, which had been discovered by the 

 glass at the distance of about a league. After a 

 fruitless pursuit of some hours, several of the 

 boats returned, but two, which had separated 

 out of sight, were still abroad. As the ship, by 

 reason of calm weather, could not make the 

 requisite search, four of the boats, after their 

 crews had been refreshed, were sent out to look 

 for their missing comrades. But, after four 

 hours spent in this anxious duty, they returned 

 unsuccessful. 



Captain Scoresby then renewed his exami- 

 nation, by the telescope, of the ice and sea 

 around, from the elevated post of the " crow's 

 nest;" and was at length rejoiced by the sight 

 of the boats in the eastern quarter, pulling 

 towards the ship. 



