to the deck again, ready for a more arduous service.
The boats had, meanwhile, been got forward, and into
these the sailors sprang, with an alacrity that could
scarcely have been expected from men who had passed not
only the preceding night, but many before it, in utter
sleeplessness and despair. But the imminence of the
danger, and the evident necessity existing for exertion,
aroused them to new energy; and the hitherto motionless
vessel was now made to obey the impulse given by the tow
ropes of the boats, in a manner that proved their crews
to have entered on their toil with the determination of
men, resolved to devote themselves in earnest to their
task. Nor was the spirit of action confined to these.
The long sweeps of the schooner had been shipped, and
such of the crew as remained on board laboured effectually
at them,--a service, in which they were essentially aided,
not only by mine host of the Fleur de lis, but by the
young officers themselves.

At mid-day the headlands were seen looming largely in
the distance, while the immediate shores of the ill-fated
fortress were momentarily, and in the same proportion,
disappearing under the dim line of horizon in the rear.
More than half their course, from the spot whence they
commenced towing, had been completed, when the harassed
men were made to quit their oars, in order to partake of
the scanty fare of the vessel, consisting chiefly of
dried bear's meat and venison. Spirit of any description
they had none; but, unlike their brethren of the Atlantic,
when driven to extremities in food, they knew not what