268 SALMON FISHING IN CANADA. 



a ship made its appearance about noon. The sun shone 

 brightly at the time, and a gentle breeze blew from the 

 north. At first some intervening icebergs prevented 

 Captain Warrens from distinctly seeing anything but her 

 masts ; but he was struck with the strange manner in which 

 her sails were disposed, and with the dismantled aspect of 

 her yards and rigging. She continued to go before the 

 wind for a few furlongs, and then grounding upon the low 

 icebergs, remained motionless. Captain Warrens's curiosity 

 was so much excited that he immediately leaped into his 

 boat with several seamen and rowed towards her. 



" On approaching he observed that her hull was miserably 

 weatherbeaten, and not a soul appeared on the deck, 

 which was covered with snow to a considerable depth. He 

 hailed her crew several times, but no answer was returned- 

 Previous to stepping on board, 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 table before him, but the feebleness of the 

 light made everything very indistinct. The party went 

 upon deck, and having uncovered the hatchway which they 

 found closed they descended to the cabin. 



" They first came to the cabin which Captain Warrens 

 viewed through the port-hole. A tremor seized him as he 

 entered it. Its inmate retained his former position, and 

 seemed to be insensible to the presence of the strangers. 

 He was found to be a corpse, and a green damp mould had 



