74 
A VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 
fact, as they are being stowed away with the care and 
attention such things so imperatively demand. 
The water-tanks we brought with us, capable of 
holding forty tons, were soon filled ; these receptacles 
were destined eventually to carry the oil and blubber 
of such animals as we might be fortunate enough to 
capture on our way. On the 28th of May we were 
ready for the sea, but the men seemed evidently 
anxious to linger as much as possible along shore, and 
all our efforts to draw them away from such allure¬ 
ments as held them enthralled proved unavailing, until 
we hit upon a plan which soon brought them to their 
senses. We declared our intention of sailing at a 
certain hour, and without waiting to comply with the 
thousand appeals made to us for further time, we were 
up and off. Strange what alacrity was shown when 
they discovered we were in earnest. 
There was only one poor fellow amongst them who 
manifested the slightest trace of jollity in his com¬ 
position, and he was overcome with drink. From the 
incoherent scraps of the song he sung, we concluded 
he came deeply moved from a recent parting scene 
with some young Shetland lass. We watched him as- 
lie made frantic efforts to keep his legs, and heard 
him endeavour to lilt out a dolorous love ditty at the 
same time. 
