nor less than an immense cliff of the clearest crystal
ice, towering some three hundred feet above the water's edge, and
extending so far northward along the coast that its northern extremity
lay far below the horizon. It was the magnificent Humboldt Glacier.
The afternoon sun was shining full upon its rugged face, causing the
enormous mass to flash and gleam like a gigantic diamond. As they
coasted slowly along, at a distance of about half a mile from its face,
the dazzling flashes of light were reproduced one after the other,
changing rapidly from one colour to another through every conceivable
tint of the rainbow, until the beholders' eyes fairly ached with the
contemplation of so much splendour, all of which was reflected with the
most charming variation in the mirror-like surface of the deep still
water below. The wind had died away to a dead calm, as if to give the
bold explorers an opportunity of witnessing this unrivalled sight to the
best advantage; and every now and then the still air resounded with the
sharp rifle-like _crack_ which told that, though apparently so
motionless and solid, hidden forces were at work within the heart of the
glacier, slowly but surely tending to its ultimate dismemberment.

Suddenly a crashing report, so loud that it resembled the simultaneous
discharge of a whole army of rifles, smote upon their ears; and then, as
they stood in a trance of breathless expectation, wondering what was
about to happen, an immense section of the icy cliff was seen to be in
motion. Slowly at first, but with ever-increasing rapidity, it slid
downward into the water, with a continuous roaring reverberating crash,
to which even the awful pealing of thunder was as nothing, until in a
wild turmoil of madly leaping and foaming surges it disappeared entirely
below the water. The sea rushed irresistibly after it from all sides,
pouring like a foaming cataract into the hollow watery basin it had
left, and dragging the _Flying Fish_ helplessly toward the yawning
vortex. Then the inward rush suddenly ceased; a gleaming white crest of
ice reappeared above the foam, and with a mighty upward rush and a
resounding roar the gigantic submerged mass once more upreared itself
above the again maddened waters, swaying heavily to and fro, whilst a
thousand gleaming torrents poured down its sparkling sides. And, as a
fitting _finale_ to the thrilling spectacle, a huge wall of water
suddenly heaped itself up about the r