158 
A VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 
confuse our power of judging tlie distance; nor are 
we alone in our difficulty. We read somewhere of 
one hardy explorer of the early days, who after vain 
attempts to gain the land he saw so distinctly, and 
which always seemed to baffle his attempts, at length, 
in superstitious dread, turned his back upon the scene, 
fearful of being beguiled by some enchanter s trick ; 
and we now do not wonder at his simplicity. All this 
time we watch the harpooner steadily gaining on the 
distant object, the wondrous beauty of the scene before 
us and the sport in hand dividing our admiration and 
combining to fill us with such a sense of enjoyment 
as we have rarely felt. 
The little crowd around us are plunged into the 
same sea of ecstacy. No one breathes a whisper as the 
eyes are strained to observe every motion of the 
pursuers and pursued. The boat seems to glide 
rather than creep upon its prey, who lies all regardless 
of the impending danger, and at the distance we are, 
the suspense grows painful. Suddenly, like lightning, 
something has happened, and the shout is raised, 
“ A fall! a fall! ” Before the echo dies away, the 
crowd, as if released from some enchanter s spell, is 
now a confused mass of bustling, hurrying men, as 
they rush to assist the crew in the first boat. Men 
come tumbling up from below, half clad, clutching in 
