PREFACE ix 



news which was not very encouraging. The ship 

 Heimdal, which had been chartered from Scotland, 

 and on board of which was the Rev. E. W. T. Green- 

 shield, was in difficulties. She had suffered much 

 on the voyage, and was vainly endeavouring to 

 reach Blacklead Island. The Nefitune had brought 

 off some letters, and Commander Low had very 

 kindly offered to take Mr. Greenshield on board 

 his own vessel and land him at his destination. 

 But he would not desert his ship. 



At last the Heimdal stuck fast in a vast ice-floe, 

 measuring some 40 miles long and 30 miles broad, 

 and was carried right away. 



Not until Christmas week was anything known 

 for certain at the station. Then Mr. Noble made 

 his way over from Kikkerton on the north coast 

 of Cumberland Sound, and reported that the Heim- 

 dal had reached that place. Nearly three months 

 later, in March, 1905, Mr. Greenshield arrived at 

 Blacklead Island. 



All this meant, of course, a considerable amount 

 of privation as to food. 



On January i, 1905, we read of the little congre- 

 gation in church, " What a sickly, anaemic band 

 we looked ! What with the loss of the sun's heat, 

 want of proper food, and the heavy strain of late, 

 we seem at times more dead than alive." Fuel 

 was scarce, and this was a harder trial than short- 

 ness of provisions. The slender stock of coal re- 



