196 VIKINGS OF TO-DAY 



took the perishing men on board. One of the poor 

 fellows, however, was soon dead from cold and 

 exhaustion. Ice began to form in thick masses on 

 the bow and sides of the deeply-laden boat, and as 

 each wave struck her she rose more 'and more 

 heavily, until all saw the immediate need of lighten- 

 ing the boat. With sad, mute faces the men looked 

 at each other. The dead man lay at the bottom of 

 the boat, his white face and unclosed eyes turned 

 towards the sky. "Come, boys," said the oldest man, 

 " it can't be helped ; Isaac must go overboard or we 

 shall all be drowned." Rapidly they raised the body, 

 now draped in its icy shroud. " In the name of God 

 we commit this body to the deep in sure, and certain 

 hope of resurrection. Amen." A dull plash and the 

 reverent funeral service was over. The boat seemed 

 now to float more buoyantly ; but after another 

 hour's struggle for life, the brother of him whose 

 remains had already been given to the sea, breathed 

 his last. No doubt the horror of the scene had 

 hastened his end. The sad ceremonial had to be 

 repeated at once, for the ice was fast gaining and 

 sinking the boat. 



Benumbed and exhausted in this death battle, all 

 hope was nearly over when from the foremost boat 

 a cry was raised which put fresh courage in their 

 hearts Land, ho ! It was the well-known " Horse 

 Chop " rocks. Another desperate effort, and at last 

 their keels touched the strand. But, alas ! for the 

 poor fellows even then. Some, unable even to leave 



