A CORN OF WHEAT 



269 



the island, and that already some of her people had 

 come ashore. 



The steamer proved to be the Hope, with 

 Lieutenant Peary and his Arctic exploring party on 

 board. When the leader of the expedition learned 

 the position of affairs, he very kindly offered Mr. Peck 

 a passage in the Hope, which was bound for Sydney 

 Harbour, Nova Scotia. 



From thence the traveller would be able easily 

 to get to Halifax or some other large port, and from 

 there could ship by liner for home. 



After renewed prayer, careful consideration, and 

 a final consultation with Mr. Sampson, Mr. Peck 

 decided to take Lieutenant Peary's offer and 

 return home, three special considerations weighing 

 with him in all his deliberations over the matter : 

 First, the absolute and pressing need for the Gospels 

 to be seen through the press, that the people might 

 have the Word of God in their hands ; second, the 

 condition of Mrs. Peck's health ; and, third, the 

 critical condition of his own throat, which, if not 

 treated, threatened to stop all his work by actually 

 rendering him unable to live in the land. 



It was on Thursday that the Hope arrived off 

 Blacklead Island, and on the same afternoon she 

 steamed into Nanyaktalik harbour. 



On the Friday, Mr. Peck, having now decided to go 

 home, went to Nanyaktalik to see Lieutenant Peary 

 and the commander of the Hope, Captain Bartlett. 



