HOAR-FROST. 



171 



better in his, the wizard's possession, than the present holder's. 

 Accordingly, with great reluctance, Ugarng unwound it from his 

 neck and cast it on shore to his master. Mingumailo swung it 

 proudly in the air, wound it around his waist, and expanded it 

 between his outstretched hands, all the time making his way to- 

 ward the village like a conqueror, followed by his people ! 



After this we were allowed to depart, and in due time I got on 

 board. 



" November 19th, 1860. Last night the ice from the head of the 

 bay set down upon the ship, completely closing us in. We are 

 now cut off, for the present, from all the world. We can not ap- 

 proach the land, nor can any one from the shore approach us. 

 This will continue until the ice becomes solid enough to make a 

 pathway upon it." 



Such is the record in my journal under that date, and I here 

 transcribe it to note the day when we were first "beset." 



The temperature at this time was +5°, and the weather mod- 

 erate and clear. In the day it was cloudy, but we had the sun 

 shining upon us for a few moments, to show me how prettily its 

 soft light could play with the crystal white of the ship's rigging. 

 Again and again did I look upon the scene. It was truly beauti- 

 ful ! Hoar-frost crystals — piles upon piles of crystals standing out 

 boldy to windward, six inches from the masts and rigging ! 



Two days afterward the ice had hardened sufficiently to form a 

 good protection to the ship during a heavy gale that came on, and 

 which probably would have driven us from our anchorage had we 

 not been thus guarded. The next day, however, we had open wa- 

 ter all around us, the ice having been broken and driven out to 

 sea by a change of.wind when the gale abated. But toward even- 

 ing it again came in, though not strong enough to inclose us. 

 Thus it continued setting in from seaward until, on the 23d, we 

 were again fast bound and firmly fixed by a solid pack for the 

 winter. To me the change seemed almost magical. At noon of 

 Wednesday, 21st, we had been bedded in ice that seemed fast for 

 the winter. At 6 P.M. of that day, in some places the ice began 

 to give way. During the ensuing night all of it had left the har- 

 bor and bay. 



Morning of the next day saw us clear. At 3 P.M., the wind 

 being southerly, some pieces of ice were seen floating toward us 

 from sea, but still we were free. This morning of the 23d, how- 

 ever, the harbor and bay, save a narrow channel of water, was one 



