Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-02-05

berg was no longer to be seen. The
boat, however, driftsd ashore and was
picked up by Captain Inman. who still
hoped through the agency Of some fav-
voring wind to reach and save his COM
panions. But for two days he had
been beating about in vain, and now
that he did not know in what direction
to sail nor how to recognize the ice
fields upon which they were. even If he
should see them, he believed the case
hopeless. -'''-f j" -. '
Hopeless also were oil plans that were
proposed for returning to the ships.
But to stay where they were was death
by starvation within q very short period.
Necessity often drives us toward our
higher destiny, in spite Of all our little
plans, and SO it came to pass upon this
occasion. Making a hasty breakfast
upon the remains Of the bear killed the
day before, the six men embarked in
the small boat and set out with the ebb-
ing tide, to go they knew not where.
Anywhere, anywhere, out of the
world" sang the young man with the
turn for poetry. 49,
Anyway, anyway, into the world, :"
said Captain Cannon. ,....... t.t.... r.
Inman agreed that by sailing less
than % hundred miles in a direction
as nearly west as the ice would al
low, passage might be found opening
into Melville Bay, and that fortune fav-
oring them, they might be able to reach
the deserted Hyack, and because no
better plan was proposed this became
the intention of the party. But they
were sailing upon unknown waters,
whose currents were swift beyond all
comparison with anything ever heard
of before. They were in a boat unfit
for long journey by reason of its size,
and loaded beyond its capacity. A
strong wind would prove certain des-
truction; without a strong wind they
aoated helpless upon the current. y And
last but not least, they were hungry
and without provisions. ...-.
It is said that there are special prov
licences for the helpless aud the deserv-
ing in this life. Whether there is
special Intervention outside of law max
ing nice determinations in favor of
the deserving, OF whether the simple
fact of feeling helpless makes the help
that comes through natural law seem o
miracle, are questions we may safe
ly leave to psychologists and theolo-
gians. AS it will probably take them
centuries to settle them, we will content
ourselves with statement Of facts.
Our little crew for q day and o night
drifted steadily northward and finally
entirely out of sight of land or ice.
Early the next morning as if by a mira
Gle they suddenly found themselves in
the midst of o school of the golden
salmon that they had formerly seen
further to the south. The beautiful
fish were leaping about them in every
direction and soon three or four had
leaped into the boat. To three of the
hungry men this seemed miraculous, to
the other three it seemed accidental, to
all il seemed exceedingly fortunate.
Another day on calm waters and still
drifting northward and then suddenly
cold blast Of wind struck them from
the west aad they feared that the end
Of their long and perilous, journey was
near at hand. To add to their fears,
they had for, more than twelve hours
observed % biue black mountainous look
ing cloud rising in the north. The sun
sunk out Of sight behind it on the, third
day at three o'clock in the afternoon,
aud soon after the wind arose, and the
night shut down about them as It rnigh'
have been expected 10 do two months
later in the season. Arthur said I" Jus
as I expected" but hs had no time t.
explain the theory which led him t.
| such an expectation. Captain Gam
mon remarked that expectations tina
nobody heard Of beforehand were 9
little account, and then turning sud
denly cried out s'iSay now did yon ex
pset 10 see Aat critter right about here?
AS he spoke he pointed directly ahea'
where BY the dim light they were abl
to see an immense iceberg. Quieklyl q
/, possible the boat was pat upon tn
starboard tack, and Arthur took th
helm. Hs SOON called 1nnan to assii
him with an oar he the fudaey wan in
c,t ont Il, nail Ana stoaf Il, ia f,,1rssf