one."

Archy forgetting his hunger, and no longer feeling his weakness, rushed
back to the hut, shouting, "a sail! a sail!" Max, and two of the other
men, started as the sound reached their ears, but before they had gained
their feet they again sank down on the ice. After making several
efforts, they were at length able to walk, having in the meantime
aroused their companions, who, sitting up, looked around with bewildered
glances, as if not comprehending the news they heard. Archy again ran
back, Max and the rest, with tottering steps, trying to follow him.
They succeeded at length, and as they saw the ship, almost frantic with
joy, they shook each other's hands, and shouted and danced like mad
people, their sufferings, their fears of death, were in a moment
forgotten, and so probably also were any good resolutions they might
have formed. How different was their behaviour to that of Andrew.
Archy remarked it.

The ship came on with a strong breeze, threading her way amid the masses
of ice in her course. She had got within a couple of miles. Still,
unless the eyes of those on board were directed in their direction, the
flag flying from the hummock might not be seen. She came nearer and
nearer.

"She will not pass us now," cried Max.

"We will pray to God that she may not," said Andrew; but at that moment
the vessel was seen to haul her wind, and to stand to the westward. A
loud groan of bitter disappointment was uttered by Max and the other
men.

"God's will be done," said Andrew. "See, mates, she has hove-to, she is
lowering her boat. They are after a fish."

With what eagerness did the eyes of the starving seamen watch the ship.
It was impossible to say in what direction she might next steer. They
no longer felt cold or hunger.

"See, see, what is that?" cried one of the men, as a dark object was
discovered darting out from behind the nearest iceberg.

Directly afterwards a boat was seen fast to a whale, and following in
its wake. The whale approached the floe, but while still at some
distance its flukes were seen to rise in the air, and down it shot into
the ocean. Although those on the ice knew that they were too far off to
be heard, they shouted again and again, their voices sounding strangely
hollow in each other's ears. The first line had apparently been run out
from the boat; a second had been bent on; that, too, came to an end.
They could see the four oars lifted up as a signal for assis