THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 717 



provisions left. We came down still lower on our allowance this 

 morning. Bather weakening work, but it must be done to save 

 life in the end. The idea that cannibalism can be contemplated 

 by any human being troubles me very much." 



April 28th was a day, or rather a night, which can never be 

 forgotten by Tyson or any of his party, for, from 9 p. M. to 7 

 A. M., the whole night, each one was compelled to face a fuiy 

 and fight death with a nerve and endurance which only a des- 

 perate love of life could inspire. Resting on a small floe, a gale 

 came up, lashing the ocean into tempestuous billows that rolled 

 over them and swept away their tent, skins, and nearly every- 

 thing but the boat ; this the men held on to with a death-grip, 

 for it was the only thing between them and destruction. All night 

 long they held the boat, which a hundred times was nearly dashed 

 from their weakened grasps by the mad waves, while they were 

 assailed by a battery of loose ice of all sizes, which bruised their 

 legs in a shocking manner; but they bravely held on throughout 

 the night and until the storm abated, when all were bundled into 

 the boat and rowed away to a more secure floe, where they had 

 the extraordinary good fortune to kill a bear. 



April 28th the joyful sight of a steamer burst upon their view, 

 but it was afar off, and vanished like fleeting hope in the dark- 

 ness, which was near. All the party were now embarked in the 

 boat, watches were posted, and there was an intense nervous 

 strain excited by the hope of seeing another vessel. In the after- 

 noon smoke was descried eight miles to the east, and soon a 

 steamer hove in sight. They pulled with a will toward the 

 vessel, until so beset with ice that they could go no further. They 

 landed on a small piece of ice, hoisted their colors, and fired three 

 volleys from the guns. The sound of three shots was wafted 

 back to them in response, and the vessel. headed for them ; every- 

 one's heart is leaping with rapture, for rescue seems nt hand, 

 but, like a will-o'-the-wisp, the ship changed her course and 

 faded away. ; f . .- 



They were now in latitude 53 35' N., where they might expert 

 Lo see frequent s^. as fishing vessels are numerous off the Lab- 



