342 THE LIFE OF E. J. PECK 



here, who now know the Lord, thank God for this 

 Mission, and for His kindness and love in sending 

 to them the Gospel. The very kindly spirit of my 

 brethren was also a comfort to me, for to leave this 

 hallowed spot, this place of spiritual conflict and 

 triumph in the Lord, was a sore wrench. And what 

 does the Lord will now ? What is the desire which 

 lives day by day and hour by hour in my soul ? 

 Simply this. To spread the knowledge of Christ over 

 these Polar wastes. The time seems to have come 

 now when a younger brother should finally take 

 my place at Cumberland Sound, leaving my hands 

 free to press to the " regions beyond " in the way 

 the Lord shall through His providential leadings 

 indicate." 



" Thursday, September 18. Heavy wind sprang up, 

 also heavy snow. The funnel and weather shrouds 

 of ship were coated with a kind of icy covering. 

 Everything gloomy in the extreme. Continually is 

 my heart lifted up to God for spiritual power. 

 Truly it is needed. Went to the forecastle to see the 

 men. Was most kindly received. There are over 

 forty hands on board. The vessel is fitted with six 

 ' whale boats.' These are always kept ready for 

 use, and a sharp look-out is kept in the * crow's 

 nest * for a ' fish,' which means, in whaler's 

 idiom, a whale. This vessel, like other whaling craft, 

 is most strongly built, and is fitted with masts and 

 sails, the engines being used more as an auxiliary 



