en I got down amongst the whalers
and explorers, at the sight of _an iceberg under sail_!

I have nothing more to tell of my adventures in the arctic seas. About
the middle of September, I had reached the more frequented parts of the
ocean, and every day was on the lookout for some friendly barque, to
liberate me from my dreary solitude. For months I had not heard the
sound of a human voice, and I began to long for the society of my
fellow-men. Every morning I posted myself, with a spy-glass, on the
highest peak of the berg, searching the horizon for a sail. My situation
on the deck was becoming every hour more and more precarious. The
melting of the ice underneath had already caused the stern to incline
very decidedly towards the inclined plane that led down to the ocean;
and I felt that the slightest jar might, at any time, precipitate the
whole concern, myself included, into the sea. I suppose, indeed, that
nothing but the counteracting influence of the sails, which filled in
the opposite direction, had prevented this catastrophe.

At last, after many a long and weary watch, I descried, in the far-off
distance, a sail; but the vessel moved off towards the horizon, and was
soon lost to sight. It was a bitter disappointment; and still I thought
that wherever _one_ ship was sailing, others would be likely to come in
sight before long. I kept the flag flying now all the time, and hardly
ventured to sleep at all, lest some vessel might pass by unnoticed. On
the twenty-fifth of September, as I woke from a short and broken
slumber, I descried, not more than two miles off, a ship, heading
directly for the berg. As soon as she was near enough for the signal to
be observed, I lowered and hoisted my flag five or six times in quick
succession; and, to my joy, I saw the signal answered. It was all right
now: the only question to be solved was, as to the manner in which I
would get on board the vessel. I anticipated that they would not venture
to bring the ship alongside of the berg, but would probably put out a
long-boat for my rescue. As soon as that came within hailing distance, I
would establish communication with the crew; and, between us all, I did
not doubt but some way would be found for me to escape. In a short
time, as I had foreseen, the ship lay to; and the boat came off, and was
rowed to the foot of the inclined plane. I never saw a more astonished
set of men in my life. They were staring at me and my extraordinary
c