Adventures of the Explorers 145 



times, but no answer was returned. An open port- 

 hole near the main chains caught his eye, and on 

 looking into it he perceived a man reclining back 

 in a chair with writing materials on a small table 

 before him. The party therefore went upon deck 

 and having removed the hatchway they descended 

 to the cabin. Its inmate retained his former 

 position and seemed to be insensible. He was 

 found to be a corpse, and a green, damp mould 

 covered his cheeks and forehead, and veiled his 

 open eyes. He held a pen in his hand, and a log 

 book lay before him, in which the last entry was 

 yet decipherable. It read: 



" 'Nov. 14, 1762. We have now been enclosed in the 

 ice seventeen days. The fire went out yesterday, and 

 our master has been trying ever since to kindle it again 

 without success. His wife died this morning. There is 

 no relief/ 



" Captain Warrens and his seamen hurried from 

 the apartment without uttering a word. On 

 entering the principal cabin the first object that 

 attracted their attention was the dead body of a 

 woman reclining on a bed in an attitude of deep 

 interest and attention. Her countenance retained 



