صفحة 458 من 483

I mentioned in my last letter the fears I entertained of a

mutiny. This morning, as I sat watching the wan countenance of my

friend-his eyes half closed and his limbs hanging listlessly-I

was roused by half a dozen of the sailors, who demanded admission

into the cabin. They entered, and their leader addressed me. He

told me that he and his companions had been chosen by the other

sailors to come in deputation to me to make me a requisition

which, in justice, I could not refuse. We were immured in ice and

should probably never escape, but they feared that if, as was

possible, the ice should dissipate and a free passage be opened,

I should be rash enough to continue my voyage and lead them into

fresh dangers, after they might happily have surmounted this.

They insisted, therefore, that I should engage with a solemn

promise that if the vessel should be freed I would instantly

direct my course southwards.