LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
679 
out to be a ship. All hands were immediately turned out; the 
boats were launched, during which Capt. Ross was busy in letting 
off a quantity of damp powder, firing off a rocket, and making 
every possible signal within his power, but the ship was too 
far off to take any notice of them. The whole of the provisions, 
and other articles, were got into the boats, and, with three 
cheers, the crew hauled away towards the ship. It was at five 
o’clock in the morning, when the boats left the beach, and every 
muscle seemed to be animated with fresh strength, as they 
pulled away, for now it was in reality life or death with them, 
for should this opportunity escape them, they might be obliged 
to retrace their steps, and pass another miserable winter at 
Fury Beach. It was between twelve and one, when, to their 
inexpressible joy, they saw a boat making towards them, and, in 
a short time, it came alongside. Capt. Ross asked the persons 
on board, what ship it was that was in sight, when he answered, 
that it was the Isabella of Hull, the very same ship, which Capt. 
Ross commanded on his first voyage of discovery. Capt. Ross 
then said, I am Capt, Ross, but the man in the boat could hardly 
speak, at last he said, Are you, indeed, Capt. Ross? He then 
informed the Captain, that he was given up by every body. 
There was scarcely a man, that could refrain from shedding a 
tear, for now every feeling was absorbed in the exhilarating 
thought, that their sufferings were nearly at a close, and their 
return to their native country scarcely a matter of doubt. The 
mate of the ship, who was in the boat, hauled away to the vessel, 
for the purpose of informing the captain, whilst the boats of 
Capt. Ross pulled away towards her, cheering each other as their 
oars dashed into the water, and each striving which should be 
the foremost in the chace. On the boats arriving near the ship, 
the crew gave them three hearty cheers, which were returned 
by the crews in the boats, and on arriving alongside, the view of 
a set of new faces, which they had not seen for four years and a 
half, made an impression upon every one of the now joyous crew 
of the Victory, which it w'ere impossible to describe. They 
were received on board like brothers, every one hastening to 
their assistance, and not even allowing them to remain in the 
