258 THE WHALEMAN'S ADVENTURES. 



hopes disappointed ; for in a short time, the 

 usual quietness of the day, with us, was broken 

 in upon by the shout of success from the pur- 

 suing boats, followed by vehement respondings 

 from the contiguous ship. The attack, being 

 followed up with the wonted vigour, was suc- 

 cessful, and the prize, which proved a valuable 

 one, was fully secured by the middle of the night. 



" That such a result should not be exceed- 

 ingly trying to the feelings of our people, who 

 saw that their competitors had won the prize 

 which we had first declined, was more than 

 could be expected. Nevertheless, both the trial 

 of their obedience, and the exercise of their 

 patience, were so sustained as to be at once 

 satisfactory to me, and highly creditable to 

 themselves. Their minds, in general, seemed 

 disposed to admit the principle on which we 

 acted ; for, in addition to the religious sanctions, 

 their repeated experiences had testified that the 

 principle was acknowledged of heaven. 



" It was my intention to have ' cast off, ' in 

 the morning of Monday, to explore the navi- 

 gable spaces of the ice to the westward, with a 



