CHAPTER XL 



THROUGH MELVILLE AND RETURN DISPUTES WITH THE 



WEST LAND ESQUIMAUX ASTONISHMENT AND ENDURANCE 



OF THE NATIVES THEIR KINDNESS TO THE AMERICANS 



STRUCK BY A WHALE RETURN HOME. 



IN 1858 I again joined the Emma as mate. The fitting 

 out and the passage across the Atlantic was similar to the 

 previous voyage until we entered the Straits. One evening, 

 after a fresh gale, the wind suddenly lulled, and the sails 

 flapped to the masts. The Aurora Borealis burst out in 

 magnificent array, enveloping the ship in light vapour of 

 various colours. It lighted up the vessel so that the smallest 

 print was quite discernible. This display continued two 

 hours, after which a heavy swell began to rise from the S.W. 

 The barometer fell rapidly. We furled the topgallant sails, 

 and put the ship under close reefed topsails, and preparations 

 were made for a coming gale, which was soon upon us, and 

 ran us as far as the Arctic Circle. Then the gale ceased as 

 quickly as it came, leaving a very heavy swell. We were 

 surrounded with innumerable icebergs. Our sails were 

 frozen stiff, and we now required all canvas set to keep us 

 clear of them, also the heavy pieces of ice, on to which the 

 swell was drifting us. All hands were called to set sail, 

 which took us a long time, on account of their frozen 

 condition. We were in a most serious predicament, the 

 seas reaching half-way up the bergs. Fortunately a fine 

 breeze sprang up, which enabled us to thread our way 

 among them and take an inshore passage. I believe it was 

 this gale which liberated the Fox, Captain McClintock, 



