DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0279
PRESERVATION OF TWO MISSIONARIES.
247
way round Kiglapeit, before the sledge, to find a good
track; and about one o’clock, through God’s mercy, they
were out of danger and reached the bay. Here they
found a good track upon smooth ice, made a meal of the
remnant of their provisions, and got some warm coffee.
Thus refreshed they resolved to proceed, without stop-
ping, till they reached Nain, where they arrived at twelve
o’clock at night. The brethren at Nain rejoiced exceed-
ingly to see them return ; for by several hints of the Es-
quimaux who first met them going out to sea, and who
then in their obscure way, had endeavoured to warn them
of the danger of the ground-swell, but had not been at-
tended to, their fellow-missionaries and especially their
wives, had been much terrified. One of the Esquimaux,
whose wife had made some article of dress for Samuel
Liebisch, addressed her in the following manner. ‘ I
should be glad of the payment for my wife’s wrork!’—
‘ Wait a little,’ answered Mrs. Liebisch, ‘ and when my
husband returns he will settle with you ; for I am unac-
quainted with the bargain made between you.’ ‘ Samuel
and William,’ replied the Esquimaux, 1 will not return any
more to Nain.’—‘ How not return, what makes you say
so? After some pause the Esquimaux replied in a low
tone, ‘Samuel and William are no more ! All their bones
are broken, and in the stomachs of the sharks!’ Terrified
at this alarming account, Mrs. Liebisch called in the rest
of the family, and the Esquimaux was examined as to his
meaning; but his answers were little less obscure. He
seemed so certain of the destruction of the missionaries
5
that he was with difficulty prevailed on to wait some time
for their return. He could not believe that they could
have escaped the effects of so furious a tempest, consider-
ing the course they were taking.
Account
247
way round Kiglapeit, before the sledge, to find a good
track; and about one o’clock, through God’s mercy, they
were out of danger and reached the bay. Here they
found a good track upon smooth ice, made a meal of the
remnant of their provisions, and got some warm coffee.
Thus refreshed they resolved to proceed, without stop-
ping, till they reached Nain, where they arrived at twelve
o’clock at night. The brethren at Nain rejoiced exceed-
ingly to see them return ; for by several hints of the Es-
quimaux who first met them going out to sea, and who
then in their obscure way, had endeavoured to warn them
of the danger of the ground-swell, but had not been at-
tended to, their fellow-missionaries and especially their
wives, had been much terrified. One of the Esquimaux,
whose wife had made some article of dress for Samuel
Liebisch, addressed her in the following manner. ‘ I
should be glad of the payment for my wife’s wrork!’—
‘ Wait a little,’ answered Mrs. Liebisch, ‘ and when my
husband returns he will settle with you ; for I am unac-
quainted with the bargain made between you.’ ‘ Samuel
and William,’ replied the Esquimaux, 1 will not return any
more to Nain.’—‘ How not return, what makes you say
so? After some pause the Esquimaux replied in a low
tone, ‘Samuel and William are no more ! All their bones
are broken, and in the stomachs of the sharks!’ Terrified
at this alarming account, Mrs. Liebisch called in the rest
of the family, and the Esquimaux was examined as to his
meaning; but his answers were little less obscure. He
seemed so certain of the destruction of the missionaries
5
that he was with difficulty prevailed on to wait some time
for their return. He could not believe that they could
have escaped the effects of so furious a tempest, consider-
ing the course they were taking.
Account