CHAPTER XXXIX. 
“April 22. The past week has been one of dis- 
mantling, ruhhish-creating, ship-cleaning torment. 
First, hull’s-eyes were inserted in the deck; and the 
black felt housing, so comfortable in the winter dark- 
ness, hut that now shut out the sunlight like a great 
pall, was triced up fore and aft, remaining only amid- 
ships. Next, the Rescue, with her new bowsprit in, 
received her crew and officers. They slept on hoard 
last night for the first time, hut still walk over the 
ice to their meals. 
“When I saw the little brig through the darkness, 
on the afternoon of the 13th of January, moving 
slowly past us and losing herself in the gloom, while 
sounds like artillery mingled with the shrieking, 
howling, and crashing of the ice, as the great ridges 
rose and fell — and when the India-rubber boat was 
launched, and the men took their knapsacks, and old 
Brooks called out to us to get out of the way of the 
rigging, believing the brig about to topple over — I did 
not think there would he a spring-time for the Rescue. 
“We are now in the midst of those intestine changes 
which characterize the house-cleanings at home. The 
disgusting lamps have done smoking, the hatches are 
