A FLO A T IN THE BOA TS. 319 



brought tliem into open water, and near the eastern shores of the inlet at 

 three in the afternoon. " Thus," says Ross, " in a few hours we had at 

 length effected that for which we had formerly waited in vain so many days, 

 and which it is likely could not have been effected in any of the years that 

 we had been imprisoned in this country." 



How must this sudden change from their icy exile to open water, from 

 a living death to active life, and to the near prospects of restoration to home 

 and friends, have reawakened a whole world of thoughts, interests, affections, 

 in the breasts of these men, who for over four years had been lost to name and 

 fame ! Eoss partly reveals to us his own feelings, and in giving expression to 

 them he no doubt represents the feelings of his companions. " Accustomed 

 as we were to the ice," he says — " to its caprices, and to its sudden and 

 unexpected alterations, it was a change like that of magic to find that solid 

 mass of ocean which was but too fresh in our memories, which we had 

 looked at for as many years as if it was fixed for ever in a repose which 

 nothing could hereafter disturb, suddenly converted into water ; navigable, 

 and navigable to us, who had almost forgotten what it was to float at freedom 

 on the seas. It was at times scarcely to be beheved : and he who dosed to 

 wake again, had for a moment to renew the conviction that he was at length 

 a seaman on his own element ; that his boat once more rose on the waves 

 beneath him, and that when the winds blew it obeyed his will and his 

 hand ! " 



On the 17th the boats ran merrily before the rising breeze along the 

 eastern shores of the mouth of the inlet, and were obliged, as the wind rose 

 into a gale, to take shelter on a beach near Cape York, after having made 

 seventy-two miles. On the 18th the explorers, having been deserted by the 

 wind, recommenced rowing, and made their way laboriously to the east- 

 ward, past Admiralty Inlet. On the 19th, after having rowed for twenty 

 hours, the men were utterly exhausted, and Eoss thought it best to land, 

 and pitch the tents for a night's rest. In this neighbourhood they were 

 detained by stormy weather until the 25th, when, again launching the boats, 

 the men rowed to the eastward, across Navy Board Inlet, when, the men 

 being exhausted with twelve hours' labour, it was found again necessary to 

 land and pitch the tents. "At four in the morning" (of the 26th), writes 

 Eoss, " when all were asleep, the look-out man, David Wood, thought he dis- 

 covered a sail in the offing, and immediately informed Commander Eoss, who 

 by means of his glass soon saw that it was in reality a ship. All hands were 

 immediately out of their tents and on the beach, discussing her rig, quality, 

 and course ; though there were still some despairers who maintained that it 

 was only an iceberg. No time, however, was lost ; the boats were launched, 

 and signals made by burning wet powder ; when, completing our embarka- 

 tion, we left our little harbour at six o'clock. Our progress was tedious. 



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