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COOK IN THE ANTARCTIC 



would collapse under them, when the result of the gunner's blast was made 

 manifest. It had cracked the mass in three places, and the pressure of the 

 ship's stem forced the cracks open. The liberation from the obstacle was at 

 once evident as the mass slowly divided and, falling over, floated off the shoal. 

 The cable holding the vessel to the floe parted as she surged forward and the 

 ice-anchors drew out, while the blocks of ice, as they turned over, lifted her 

 bows up out of the water and heeled her over ; but the cheer which broke from 

 the assembled crew drowned all other noise, for it was as though they had 

 been snatched from the very jaws of death." 



DISCOVERY OF THE NORTH POLE HARD TO PROVE. 



