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by Refraction ^[[insertion]] wh. was then going on & [[/insertion]] wh. made the small sails loom up higher even than [[strikethrough] a [[/strikethrough]] those of a 300 ton vessel. On they came - every eye of the "George Henry" was now strained to discover who they were that now approached. Hour after hour passed - at length the sails were taken down & we lost sight of the "phantom ^[[insertion]] ship" [[/insertion]] as some pronounced it, that had ^[[insertion]] so strangely [[/insertion]] danced before our vision. Our telescopes & Marine glasses were turned here & there, but they refused to give us any satisfaction. Capt. B. who has the best eyes of any man I ever saw finally exclaimed: 'I now see the Boat though a speck. I believe it ^[[insertion]] is [[/insertion] one of mine left here [[strikethrough]]on [[/strikethrough]]] in my last voyage & that it is manned by the Esquimaux. I looked long & determinedly. I [[strikethrough]] too [[/strikethrough]] ^[[insertion]] now [[/insertion]] saw the Boat,, [[strikethrough]] every time the vessel [[/strikethrough]]or rather the 5 oars. (a Whale Boat has ^[[insertion]][[strikethrough]] [[illegible]] [[/strikethrough]] one steering & 5 rowing [[/insertion]] oars) as they were lifted from the waters ^[[insertion]] mirror like [[/insertion]] reflecting the dazzelling rays of the Western Sun. I could see nothing else but [[end page]] [[start page]] these oars. They played quickly, even as I thought, [[underlined]] desperately! [[/underlined]] The excitement among us became hotter and hotter as time passed. Capt. B. was sure that it was an Esquimaux crew while Mate Rog^[ers] maintained that it was a White crew. I thought [[strikethrough]] of [[/strikethrough]] ^[[insertion]] them Americans or English that they were ^ ^[[insertion]] perhaps [[/insertion]] some poor, ship wrecked souls & pulling for life. Mr. Rogers [[strikethrough]] bet [[/strikethrough]] staked 20 cigars against 10lbs tobacco that the crew was white Capt. B. took a long look through his glass & accepted the ^[[insertion]]wager [[/insertion]] challenge. The men, whoever they were, worked manfully. The boat drew near - & yet, [[strikethrough]] through [[strikethrough]] ^ when within the length of the "George Henry", Capt. B. was sanguine that it was an Esquimaux crew with "Myert??" as ^ Boat Steerer. He even swung his hat enthusiastically. They [[ hooked?]] along side. They [[underlined]] were white men! [[/underlined]] Capt. B. Hailed them: 'Who are you? [[strikethrough]] where from ? [[/strikethrough]] The Steersman answered