434 Chapter VII. 



out their edo-es. One could almost imagine one's self in 



o o , 



more southern latitudes. But all around is wreathed 

 with ice, towering aloft in its ever-varying fantastic 

 forms, in striking contrast to the dark water on which 

 a moment before the eye had rested. Everlastingly is 

 this shifting ice modelling, as it were, in pure, grey 

 marble, and, with nature's lavish prodigality, strewing 

 around the most glorious statuary which perishes, with- 

 out any eye having seen it. Wherefore ? To what end 

 all this shifting pageant of loveliness ? It is governed by 

 the mere caprices of nature, following out those ever- 

 lasting laws, that pay no heed to w r hat we regard as aims 

 and objects. 



"In front of me towers one pressure- ridge aftei 

 another, with lane after lane between. It was in June 

 the Jeanne tie was crushed and sank ; what if the Frai 

 were to meet her fate here ! No, the ice will not get 

 the better of her. Yet, if it should in spite of every- 

 thing ! As I stood gazing around me I remembered it 

 was Midsummer Eve. Far away yonder, her masts 

 pointed aloft, half lost to view in the snowy haze. The] 

 must, indeed, have stout hearts those fellows on boarc 

 that craft. Stout hearts, or else blind faith in a man's 

 word. 



"It is all very well that he who has hatched a plan, 

 be it never so wild, should go with it to carry it out ; he 

 naturally does his best for the child to which his thoughts 

 have given birth. But they they had no child to tend, 



