We received all manner of kindness from the Danes of Upernavik. They gave us many details of the expeditions in search of Sir John Franklin, and added the painful news that my gallant1 friend and comrade, Bellot, had perished in a second crusade to save him. We knew each other by many common sympathies: I had divided with him the hazards of mutual2 rescue among the ice-fields; and his last letter to me, just before I left New York, promised me the hope that we were to meet again in Baffin’s Bay, and that he would unite himself with our party as a volunteer. The French service never lost a more chivalrous3 spirit.
The Danish vessel4 was not ready for her homeward journey till the 4th of September; but the interval5 was well spent in regaining6 health and gradually accustoming7 ourselves to in-door life and habits. It is a fact, which the physiologist8 will not find it difficult to reconcile with established theories, that we were all more prostrated9 by the repose10 and comfort of our new condition than we had been by nearly three months of constant exposure and effort.
Home, Sweet Home!
On the 6th I left Upernavik, with all our party, in the Mariane, a staunch but antiquated11 little barque, under the command of Captain Ammondson, who promised to drop us at the Shetland Islands. Our little boat, the Faith, which was regarded by all of us as a precious relic12, took passage along with us. Except the furs on our backs, and the documents that recorded our labours and our ? 228 ? trials, it was all we brought back of the Advance and her fortunes.
On the 11th we arrived at Godhavn, and had a characteristic welcome from my excellent friend, Mr Olrik. The Mariane had stopped only to discharge a few stores and receive her papers of clearance13; but her departure was held back to the latest moment, in hopes of receiving news of Captain Hartstene’s squadron, which had not been heard of since the 21st of July.
We were upon the eve of setting out, however, when the look-out man at the hill-top announced a steamer in the distance. It drew near, with a barque in tow, and we soon recognised the stars and stripes of our own country. The Faith was lowered for the last time into the water, and the little flag which had floated so near the poles of both hemispheres, opened once more to the breeze. With Brooks14 at the tiller, and Mr Olrik at my side, followed by all the boats of the settlement, we went out to meet them.
Never did the men lay to their oars15 more heartily16. We neared the squadron and the gallant men that had come out to seek us; we could see the scars which their own ice-battles had impressed on the vessels17; we knew the gold lace of the officers’ cap-bands, and discerned the groups who, glass in hand, were evidently regarding us.
Presently we were alongside. An officer, whom I shall ever remember as a cherished friend, Captain Hartstene, hailed a little man in a ragged18 flannel19 shirt, “Is that Dr Kane?” and with the “Yes!” that followed, the rigging was manned by our countrymen, and cheers welcomed us back to the social world of love which they represented.
The End
点击收听单词发音
1 gallant | |
adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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2 mutual | |
adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的 | |
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3 chivalrous | |
adj.武士精神的;对女人彬彬有礼的 | |
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4 vessel | |
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
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5 interval | |
n.间隔,间距;幕间休息,中场休息 | |
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6 regaining | |
复得( regain的现在分词 ); 赢回; 重回; 复至某地 | |
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7 accustoming | |
v.(使)习惯于( accustom的现在分词 ) | |
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8 physiologist | |
n.生理学家 | |
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9 prostrated | |
v.使俯伏,使拜倒( prostrate的过去式和过去分词 );(指疾病、天气等)使某人无能为力 | |
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10 repose | |
v.(使)休息;n.安息 | |
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11 antiquated | |
adj.陈旧的,过时的 | |
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12 relic | |
n.神圣的遗物,遗迹,纪念物 | |
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13 clearance | |
n.净空;许可(证);清算;清除,清理 | |
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14 brooks | |
n.小溪( brook的名词复数 ) | |
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15 oars | |
n.桨,橹( oar的名词复数 );划手v.划(行)( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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16 heartily | |
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很 | |
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17 vessels | |
n.血管( vessel的名词复数 );船;容器;(具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的)人 | |
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18 ragged | |
adj.衣衫褴褛的,粗糙的,刺耳的 | |
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19 flannel | |
n.法兰绒;法兰绒衣服 | |
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