108 



THE OCEAJSr. 



roll over witli a thundering crash, making the sea 

 to boil into foam, and causing a swell that is per- 

 ceptible for miles. When a boat or even a ship is 

 in immediate proximity to an iceberg in such circum- 

 stances, the danger is imminent ; but if viewed from 



SWELL AMONG ICE.. 



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 waves' action is to cause a large frag- 

 ment 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 summer they often become very brittle, and 



