THE ARCTIC SEAS. 



121 



that is perceptible for miles. When a boat or even a 

 ship is in immediate proximity to an iceberg in such 

 circumstances, the danger is imminent ; but if viewed 



Swell among Ice. 



from a secure distance, the sight is a very interesting 

 one. The first iceberg I ever saw, and one of large 

 size, thus rolled about one-third over while I beheld 

 it, entirely altering its apparent form. Sometimes 

 the effect of the wave's action is to cause a large 

 fragment to fall off, or a crack will extend through 

 the whole mass with a deafening report, or the entire 

 iceberg will fall to pieces, and strew the ocean with 

 the fragments, like the remnants of a wreck. Late 

 in the siimmer they often become very brittle, and 

 then a slight violence is sufficient to rupture them. 

 Seamen avail themselves of the shelter afforded by 



