ated
against the sides of the wherry as we cut through them with our sharp
prow. Although we had the tide with us, it was three hours before we
gained the ship. The mate paid the fare, and gave us something to
drink; and we passed an hour or more warming ourselves at the caboose,
and talking with the seamen. At last a breeze sprung up, and the
captain ordered the men to get the ship under weigh. We shoved off, the
tide having flowed some time, expecting to be back to Greenwich before
dark.

But it clouded over, and a heavy snow-storm came on, so that we could
not see in what direction we were pulling; the wind blew very fresh, and
it was piercing cold; however, we pulled as hard as we could, not only
to get back again, but to keep ourselves from freezing. Unfortunately,
we had lost too much time on board of the vessel; and, what with that,
and the delay arising from the snow-storm preventing us pulling straight
back, the ebb-tide made again before we had gained mere than two-thirds
of our way. We were now nearly worn out with the severe cold and
fatigue, but we pulled hard, keeping as close in-shore as we could. It
was necessary, at the end of one reach, to cross over to the other side
of the river; and, in so doing, we were driven by the tide against a
large buoy, when the wherry filled and upset in an instant. We both
contrived to cling on to her, as she was turned bottom up; and away we
were swept down among the drifting ice, the snow-storm still continuing
to beat down on our heads. I was nearly frozen before I could climb on
the bottom of the wherry; which I at last contrived to do, but the
waterman could only hold on. There we both were, shivering and shaking;
the wind piercing through our wet clothes,--the snow beating down on us,
and our feet freezing among the drifting ice--borne away with the tide
towards the mouth of the river--not able to see two yards before us, or
likely to be seen by any one, so as to be assisted. We were too cold to
speak, but remained in silence, looking at each other, and with no
pleasant forebodings as to our fate. The ice now formed in large
masses; the icicles hung from our clothes, and all sense was lost in our
extremities. It was now dark as pitch; and so feeble were we that it
was with difficulty we could keep in our positions. At last the storm
abated, the sky cleared up, and the bright full moon shone in the
heavens; but our case appeared hopeless,--we felt that b