50 FEARFUL INCIDENT IN THE FROZEN SEAS, 



cession of thundering, grinding, and crashing noises gave 

 fearful evidence that the ice was in motion. The vessel re- 

 ceived violent shocks every moment, for the haziness of the 

 atmosphere prevented those on board from discovering in 

 what direction the open water lay, or if there was actually 

 any at all on either side of them. The night was spent in 

 tacking as often as any case of danger happened to present 

 itself, and in the morning, the storm abating, he found, to his 

 great joy, that his ship had not sustained any serious injury. 

 He remarked with surprise that the accumulated icebergs, 

 which had the preceding evening formed an impenetrable 

 barrier, had been separated and disengaged by the wind, 

 and that in one place a canal of open sea wound its course 

 among them as far as the eye could discern. 



It was two miles beyond the entrance of this canal that a 

 ship made its appearance about noon. The sun shone 

 brightly at the time, and a gentle breeze blew from the 

 north. At first some intervening icebergs prevented the 

 captain from distinctly seeing anything but her masts; but 

 he was struck by the strange manner in which her sails 

 were disposed, and w^ith the dismantled aspect of her yards 

 and rigging. She continued to go before the wind for a few 

 furlongs, and then grounding upon the low icebergs, re- 

 mained motionless. His curiosity was bo much excited that 

 he immediately leaped into his boat, with several seamen, 

 and rowed towards her. 



On approaching, he observed that her hull was consider- 

 ably weather-beaten, and not a soul appeared upon the deck, 

 which was covered with snow to a considerable depth. He 

 hailed her crew several times, but no answer was returned. 

 Previous to stepping on board, an open port-hole near the 

 main chains caught his eye, and on looking in he perceived 

 a man reclining on a chair, with writing materials be- 

 fore him ; but the feebleness of the light made everything 

 indistinct. The party went upon the deck, and having 



