90 
A VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 
relief; but in the April following, when they were 
once more set free, they learned that the man who 
might have saved them all this woe by one short 
hour's help, had informed every anxious inquirer that 
the Diana was secure from danger, and needed no 
assistance from without. Most of the crew survived 
their difficulties, but the captain and nine of the men 
were unable to cope with the sufferings of their 
enforced exile, and died during the winter. The 
remainder of the men, with tattered clothes, ill-suited 
to the severity of the climate, reduced to mere skele¬ 
tons from want of food, and by reason of the sickness, 
induced by their miserable condition, managed some¬ 
how to work their tottering bark, crazy and liable 
every minute to go to the bottom by reason of her 
injuries; drifting rather than sailing as far south as 
the Shetlands, some fishermen at length fell in with her 
in the month of May. These worthy fellows, struck 
by the miserable appearance of the unfortunate Diana , 
ventured on board, and found the nearly worn-out 
survivors, some in their beds incapable of helping 
themselves, others on deck in nearly as sad a plight.. 
They brought the leaky vessel safely into harbour, 
devoted themselves to the task of restoring the poor 
fellows to health and to their friends ; and we now 
had two of these Diana men on board with us, who,. 
