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thrill, sharp and quick, communicated itself to the timbers of our vessels, and we felt it like an electric shock; but still we abode in our places. Cracks became visible around us, extending connectedly for sweeping spaces, but no consequent fissure, for long, was detected in our neighborhood. The ice around our vessel was thick and land-locked, and would not budge before a clearance was effected in the offing. A survey from the masthead, however, soon set us astir. Open sea in the gulf!" was the sentence proclaimed one morning, potent-more potent than the cry of "To prayers! To prayers!" echoing from the summit of a minaret in some mosque of Islam; and, with latent energies, called suddenly by it into play, we prepared to "seize time by the forelock," according to the illustrious example of the Arabian seer, who, when the mountain failed to come to Mahomet, Mahomet condescended to waive ceremony and hesitation alike, and went to it.

About eight miles ahead, the gulf was clear; and, in that clear space there, many signs of the presence of whales were soon manifested. Thither at once we prepared to proceed in the light skirmishing array of our boats, until such time as the ships, being freed, could join us in the full panoply and the appurtenance of war. Considerable disadvantages might be anticipated from this mode of operatious; but it was leaving to the future development of events to decide whether or no a miscarriage in

our designs would be a sequitur bringing regret, and we much preferred risk every way, to lying inertly in wait for tardy liberation from the ice.

Our company of migration consisted of eight boats' crews; and with the boats and the necessary trappings for capturing the animal, securing its blubber, transporting it to the ship, etc., etc., we accordingly set forth in our journey over the ice to the clear water. The boats, with accoutrements and utensils inside, were strapped firmly on the large, flat dog-sledge, with an Esquimau seated in the bow of each for driver. The men went generally afoot, walking or jogging along by the sledges, which were drawn at a slow pace to suit the pedestrians, and in case of accident to secure assistance. But we went steadily on without any hindrance till, before we got to the flaw-edge, a violent storm of snow suddenly came on, wreaking itself upon us and staying our march. It became dreadfully cold. I felt as if I were freezing, and a drowsiness fell upon me. I grew stupid, and benumbed in my senses, as I wearily dragged along. I knew very well that, if given way to, these sensations were the prelude to an eternal repose, so I buffeted them as well as I could. Some others were likewise in the same predicament.

We came before long to a dead halt, and having got our boats in a position near enough to the flaw for an easy launch next day, our arrangements for

camping out were soon finished. The dogs were unharnessed and the sledges unburdened. The boats were placed parallel, with broadside to the wind; and crouching down on their lee-side-their windward being tipped up- we awaited supper, each boat's crew having with them their own cooking-stove-a small stove-pipe sort of arrangement, similar to what is used by plumbers for soldering. This was now lit-the fuel used being seal-fat-and coffee was got ready. This, with eight days' rations of cooked pork frozen, and hard tack in no stinted quantity, was what we had to depend on. So when the coffee was poured out we had such a meal as put new mettle into us.

With what hearty gusto we did relish that coffee! Never to me was a mug of any beverage so palatable and generally acceptable. After a weary march, lying out of a biting cold night, in an open field, with the gate torn off its hinges and the fences swept away, or doing guard in a muddy trench, or standing picket on a chilly river-bank, I have had opportunity of discovering the exhilarating effects, on the human system, of the grateful decoction ; but never in all my former, nor indeed, later experience, have I found equal occasion to know its emollient properties, and so be thankful for inaterial comfort. A man has, in fact, to suffer hardship in order to have his eyes opened to many enjoyments and blessings which ordinarily crowd his path un

noticed. Asperity is the best trainer for luxury, though it is scarce one that luxury would spontaneously engage to act in any capacity about her, save as a looker-on. It is the original manufactory, within itself, of the prime sauce so much valued as a condiment, and so much beyond the reach of those who most esteem it for its digestive properties, etc., viz: hunger.

After this reflection I fastened the hood of my cooltang tightly about my head and face, crept into my little bed, consisting of a sealskin bag, drew its folds closely together, fastening it up, at the neck, and went to sleep, with a small clump of snow, by the gunwale of the boat, for a pillow. The others, either giving or taking the example, we all resembled shortly, as the snow-drift settled around and over us, so many hummocks of that powdery matter dotting the bleak waste, like graves covered by one great white shroud.

That is what is called "bagging out," this characteristic phrase being, in the nomenclature of seamen, a substitute for "camping out," in the phraseology of soldiers. It is to be unqualifiedly recommended to hypochondriacs as an excellent tonic and restorative for all visionary ailments.

I have no precise idea how long we remained in that situation, for there are times when coffee is an excellent soporific, particularly so when abundant exercise is had before it, and plenty is eaten along with

it. We were awakened by some "thundering loud " reports, and an agitation of all around like the heavings of an inceptive chaos. Every one quickly re-. leased himself of his "sacking"-every one except myself, I believe; for I struggled hard with my "fixings" and could not untie them. The stupor of sleep, the confusion of the scene and the trepidation it caused, the penetrativeness of the cold, all conspired against me. A dark fate seemed then to me somewhat imminent. The ice from the storm was being broken up into floes and fragments, when I might speedily be separated from my companions, by being carried off by one or tipped into the water among the debris. Isolation or immersion were, either of them, dreadful to contemplate. A vision to that effect, just in time, I think, floated across the disc of my mental camera, and I promptly surrendered the pride of selfreliance by calling lustily for help. There was quite a din and my voice could not far be heard; but as good luck would have it the rest were yet all round, and the captain hearing me, stooping down, did not wait to extricate in any other way, than by lifting me as he would a carcass, and heaving me into the boat, at the bottom of which, I, a little more leisurely, got myself unloosed, when out I jumped again, taking my station along with the others to grapple the emergency we were facing.

We had to cogitate what best had to be done. The waves, as they came surging up to, and sweep