CHAPTER XVI 



THE DEEDS OF HEROES 



SOME 18,000 people cluster around the shores ol 

 Trinity Bay, their scattered villages and fishing 

 hamlets nestling on its creeks and coves. It was in 

 February. The Ice King had laid his iron hand 

 even on the giant ocean, and the floe ice of the 

 frozen sea stretched far beyond the eye's horizon. 

 Yet these boldest among England's sea-loving sons 

 were adding to their scanty stock of this world's 

 goods by venturing far out among the treacherous 

 ice in pursuit of seals. 



The morning of the 27th broke bright and beau- 

 tiful, enhanced by a clear space of deep blue water 

 between the shore and the inner edge of the ice. 

 The eager hunters were early astir, and snatching 

 a hasty breakfast, were soon off in their little boats, 

 being but lightly clad, to give their limbs freer 

 play in the various vicissitudes of their calling. 



From Trinity, Green Bay, Ireland's Eye, boat 

 glided out after boat, as the crack of the guns of 

 those first afloat told of a prospect of success, until 



over 220 men were out. " 'Tis a strange and awful 



194 



