26 NEARING HARBOR. 



rency of the emerald; while, in strange contrast, a 

 broad streak of cobalt blue ran diagonally through 

 its body. 



The bewitching character of the scene was height- 

 ened by a thousand little cascades which leaped into 

 the sea from these floating masses, — the water being 

 discharged from lakes of melted snow and ice which 

 reposed in quietude far up in the valleys separating 

 the high icy hills of their upper surface. From other 

 bergs large pieces were now and then detached, — 

 plunging down into the water with deafening noise, 

 while the slow moving swell of the ocean resounded 

 through their broken archways. 



I had been watching this scene for hours, lost in 

 reverie and forgetfulness, when I was brought sud- 

 denly to my senses by the master's mate, who came 

 to report, " Ice close aboard, sir." We were drifting 

 slowly upon a berg about the height of our topmasts. 

 The boats were quickly lowered to puU us off, and, 

 the schooner once more in safety, I went to bed. 



I awoke after a few hours, shivering with the cold. 

 The "bull's-eye" above my head was open, and a 

 chilly fog was pouring in upon me. Hurrying on 

 deck, I found the whole scene changed. A dense 

 gray mist had settled over the waters and icebergs 

 and mountains, blending them all in chaotic gloom. 



Twenty-four days at sea had brought the water 

 very low in our casks, and I took advantage of the 

 delay to send off to a neighboring iceberg for a fresh 

 supply. The water of these bergs is pure and clear 

 as crystal. 



Gettino^ at last a slant of the wind, we ran in amons: 

 the low islands which line the coast above Svarte 

 Hiik : and Sonntarc, who had i*:one ahead in a boat to 



