BESET IN THE ICE. 107 



winding among the floes, and reflecting the 

 bright blue colour of their banks; the vessels 

 in various positions, trimming their sails to main- 

 tain their course ; groups of figures, busily occu- 

 pied upon the ice; and many other objects 

 which would have presented themselves to a 

 practised eye, would have supplied materials for 

 a picture which I shall not spoil by attempting 

 to describe. 



Noon came, and still the prospect was favour- 

 able even from the most elevated point of our 

 mast-head. As the day advanced, however, we 

 had our misgivings : some occasional closing of 

 the canals, and other obstructions, foreboded 

 disappointment ; and, toward evening, it became 

 too evident that we had overrated the advantages 

 of the morning. The scene was indeed changed ; 

 the channels by degrees disappeared, and the ice, 

 with its accustomed rapidity, soon became pack- 

 ed, encircled the vessels, and pressed so closely 

 upon them, that one boundless plain of rugged 

 snow extended in every direction. Even the 

 sea, in which we had sailed but a few hours 

 before, was now far beyond our horizon, and 

 its position could be determined only by a 

 dark lowering sky that overhung the southern 

 quarter. 



After a few hours the ice opened, but the 



