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1861 Oct 17 Thurs

of it as I could.  I was astounded at the effect it produced upon him.  Then it was that I 1st began to realize - [[underlined]] to feel [[/underlined]] the overwhelming importance - the momentous character of that Pack.  On getting through my description & telling him that I not only took careful, repeated looks of it through his glass - but had required Shev-ek-koo to do the same, Capt. B. with [[?furrowed]] brow responded:  'Our fate is sealed - Another Winter here!  We are already emprisoned!'  This was now the theme - the all important subject of thought of every one who heard Capt B.'s explanation how it was that all hopes of returning to the States this season were now cut off.  Capt. B. no longer felt to rejoice at the evident capture of another Whale.  His cup of joy was now changed to the bitterness of gall.  To & fro he paced the Cabin - now on deck - another moment back again.  How [[underlined]] great [[/underlined]] are his responsibilities as Commander of the G.H.!  
He says:  'As far as himself is concerned he would not distrust a moment of the issue but it is that he is responsible for others - this makes him feel 

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1861 Oct 17 Thurs.

as if he had too great a load under the present, trying circumstances.
The Innuits (3 crews) were sent off at VII PM to find the 4 Boats of G.H. & assist in towing whale if the G.H.'s men had one.
At hVIII-m00 the "George Henry's" Men (4 Boats) came in announcing the fact that another Whale had been secured.  Smith's Boat was the 1st that came in.  As he (Smith) & crew were coming along up toward the vessel breaking their way through the ice Capt. B. & I were on deck watching their approach.  When even with the bow of the vessel Smith cried out:  'Well, Captain, We have another Whale a large one - for the "George Henry".  At any other time this would have been received by Capt. B. with joyful heart but now, it was pent up in contemplating What he was to do under the present overwhelming foreboding circumstances!  Soon the other 3 Boats were in:  As they came in & were placed in position on their cranes, Capt. B. broke to the officers the subject above all others that now pressed