106 THE LIFE OF E. J. PECK 



the one hand, and the mighty power of God's grace 

 on the other. 



" Neppingerok was an Eskimo of much intelli- 

 gence, and always showed considerable desire for 

 instruction, though until he was laid low with 

 sickness and affliction, he had never evinced any 

 special spiritual desires. 



" One day in the autumn, when the sea began to 

 freeze over, he ventured out upon the ice (which 

 was not very thick yet), bent upon the capture of 

 seals for food for his wife and little ones. 



" When some distance from the land a gale of 

 wind arose, and the ice was shattered by the fury 

 of the storm, and Neppingerok was carried away 

 on a floating island of ice. 



" Every moment he expected the frozen piece 

 upon which he stood would break. But God 

 kept him from this awful fate. 



" The wind suddenly abated, then began again 

 to blow, but this time in an opposite direction, 

 urging the floe on which he stood towards the land. 

 Tossed to and fro for twenty hours upon that floe, 

 he succeeded at last in reaching the shore. But 

 this fearful voyaging had been too much for him, 

 hardy as he was by nature, and rapid consumption 

 set in. 



" I could see," says Mr. Peck, " that he had not 

 long to live, and patiently, prayerfully tried to lay 

 before him the Gospel scheme. 



