CHAPTER XVIII 
ATURDAY,i8/A^.— Home! Home! Hurrah! we 
are off to the North again. To and fro we swing into 
The men are whistling, and talking in an interested way 
now. How the old ship enjoys the freedom, plunging her 
nose into the soft sea, tossing the white spray over her 
bows, swishing the salt sparkling water to and fro, across 
her deck with a silky rustling, till the least speck of flesh 
or blood is cleansed out of nook and cranny, and swept 
through the flowing scuppers. 
Only five hours ago we were still in the loose pack-ice, 
steaming up to each of our consorts in turn, dipping our 
ensign in farewell, and answering their cheers. In two or 
three more days they will follow us on the same road. 
We left them some thirty miles N. by E. of Joinville 
the sea-way, already 
out of the still ice-sea, 
plunging along over 
1 the rough highway 
to Freedom and to 
Peace/ It is as if we 
had broken from the 
woof of an eerie,beauti- 
ful dream,and wakened 
in the broad day. 
v 
