82 



ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



progress in ship and boat building of civilization, we had nothing 

 in way of rowing with which we could equal the speed of a ky- 

 ack. This is so. One Esquimaux with his kyack can outstrip 

 any man or men among our people — or any other of the enlight- 

 ened world — in rowing our boats. 



" When we got on board they were heaving up the anchor, and 

 had nearly succeeded in getting under way, when, to the general 

 consternation, our windlass broke again in a second place. Here 

 was a dilemma. What to do was for a moment doubtful. To 

 delay longer would be almost giving up the voyage ; to go to sea 

 thus would be unwise. One remedy alone was open to us. Ster- 

 ry declared he could manage it if we had the screw-plate and cer- 

 tain gear in the blacksmith's shop that had been used in the re- 

 pairs before. It was left to me to broach the subject to the gov- 

 ernor, and after a consultation with him he generously granted 

 what was desired. A boat was sent off for the articles, and upon 

 its return sail was made on the ships. A last leave-taking in the 

 cabin took place, and finally the governor, his officials, and all the 

 good people of Holsteinborg left us under repeated cheers. A 

 few minutes later, and Otto and Lars, the two noble pilots, also de- 

 parted, and we were once more alone to ourselves, the Rescue fol- 

 lowing us. 



"After our friends had gone I watched with long and eager 

 gaze the receding mountains, especially the one I had ascended 

 on July 14th. It was midnight, and the northern sky flooded in 

 crimson light — the east and the west tinged with mellower hue — 

 the long ridge of mountains, reaching far south, and far north 

 sharply cutting their contour upon the sky, formed a glorious pic- 

 ture to the eye ! The mountains looked black as Erebus in con- 

 trast with the red and glowing clouds that were behind, so that 

 only a profile could be taken of them. As they faded in the dis- 

 tance, so was shut out the very spot where Holsteinborg lay ; but 

 not so was effaced the memory of it and its generous inhabitants 

 while life exists within me !" 



