en could be seen
walking about on the bare rocks, and every symptom was that of settled
spring.

This was cheering news; and the torrents having much diminished in size,
some having disappeared altogether, Roswell set out for the cape, leaving
the second mate in charge of the wreck. Lee, the young Vineyarder, who had
been rescued from freezing by the timely arrival of our hero, accompanied
the tatter, having joined his fortunes to those of the Oyster Ponders. The
two reached the house before dark, where they found Hazard and his
companions in a good deal of concern touching the fate of the party that
was out. A deep impression was made by the report of what had befallen the
other crew; and that night Roswell read prayers to as attentive a
congregation as was ever assembled around a domestic hearth. As for fire,
none was now needed, except for culinary purposes, though all the
preparations to meet cold weather were maintained, it being well known
that a shift of wind might bring back the fury of the winter.

The following morning it was clear, though the wind continued warm and
balmy from the north. No such weather, indeed, had been felt by the
sealers since they reached the group; and the effect on them was highly
cheering and enlivening. Before he had breakfasted, Roswell was down in
the cove, examining into the condition of his vessel, or what remained of
her. A good deal of frozen snow still lay heaped on the mass, and he set
the hands at work to shovel it off. Before noon the craft was clear, and
most of the snow was melted, it requiring little more than exposure to the
air in order to get rid of it.

As soon as the hulk was clear, Roswell directed his men to take
everything out of it; the remains of cargo, water-casks, and some frozen
provisions, in order that it might float as light as possible. The ice was
frozen close to every part of the vessel's bottom to a depth of several
feet, following her mould, a circumstance that would necessarily prevent
her settling in the water below her timbers; but, as there was no telling
when this ice might begin to recede by melting, it was deemed prudent to
use this precaution. It was found that the experiment succeeded, the hulk
actually rising, when relieved from the weight in it, no less than four
inches.

A consultation was held that night, between Gardiner, his officers, and
the oldest of the seamen. The question presented was whether the party
should attempt to quit t