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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
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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