264 ADVENTURES IN THE NORTHERN SEAS. 



years ago floating bottom up, and with two of the 

 harpoon-lines broken, from which it is concluded 

 that a walrus had upset her and drowned the crew. 



On the fourth, while we were busy on deck mak- 

 ing preparations to depart, we saw a tremendous 

 avalanche of rocks, ice, and earth descend from the 

 face of a steep mountain three or four miles distant. 

 I should think the mass consisted of several mil- 

 lions of tons, and the terrific roar and splash with 

 which it descended into the sea baffle all attempts 

 at description. It is fortunate we were not an- 

 chored underneath it at the time. 



We got the two heavy boats in on deck, and se- 

 cured them firmly in case of bad weather, and made 

 every thing else as snug as possible for the return 

 voyage. 



"We have some difficulty in stowing the venison, 

 of which 160 fat quarters now encumber the deck. 

 At an average of 40 lbs. a quarter, this amounted 

 to 6400 lbs. or about three tons of meat ; and the 

 yacht being hung round with it in every possible 

 place, it gives her the appearance of a butcher's 

 shop, full of prize oxen, at Christmas. 



Early in the morning of the 5th of September 

 we got the anchor up, and bade adieu, with profound 

 regret and heartfelt reluctance, to the gloomy "fiords 

 and enchanting ice-floes of Spitzbergen. As those 

 desolate shores faded from our view, I repeated to 

 myself the sublime lines of Longfellow,* 

 • Discoverer of the North Cape. 



