then gradually--describing the arc of a
circle--came round west into the latitude of Cape Farewell, the
southern point of Greenland.

... Each day, as we got farther north, the sun set later, and rose
earlier; till, on the 28th of June, its bright red disk was scarcely
twenty minutes below the northern horizon.

... On the 3d of July we discerned Cape Farewell,--a mountainous
headland, crowned with snow, at a distance of fifteen or twenty
leagues.

From this point, Cape Resolution, on the north side of the entrance
into Hudson Straits, bears west ten degrees north, and is distant not
far from seven hundred miles. The wind serving, we bore away for it.

... During June and July, Hudson Straits are full of ice driving out
into the Atlantic. This ice forms in the winter in vast quantities in
the myriads of inlets and bays on both sides of the straits. The
spring breaks it up, and the high tides beat it in pieces. It is rare
that a vessel can enter the straits during June for the out-coming
ice; but by July it has become sufficiently broken up and dispersed to
allow of an entrance by keeping close up to the northern side, which
has always been found to be freest from ice in July and August; while,
on coming out in September, it is best to hug the southern main (land)
as closely as possible.

On our voyage up we had taken great pains to read and compare every
account we could find regarding both the ice and the general character
of the straits. Our plan was to make Cape Resolution, wait for a fair
wind, and slip into the straits early in the day, so as to get as far
up as possible ere night came on. A person who has never been there
can form no idea of the tremendous force with which the tide sets into
the straits, the velocity of the currents, and the amazing smash they
made among the ice....

CHAPTER III.

Cape Resolution.--The Entrance into Hudson's Straits.--The Sun
in the North-east.--The Resolution Cliffs.--Sweating among
Icebergs.--A Shower and a Fog.--An Anxious Night.--A Strange
Rumbling.--Singular Noises and Explosions.--Running into an
Iceberg.--In Tow.--A Big Hailstone drops on Deck.--Boarding an
Iceberg.--Solution of the Explosions.--A Lucky Escape.

"Land and ice, land and ice, ho!" sang out our old sea-dog from his
lookout in the bow.

'Twas the morning of the 7th of July. We had expected to make Cape
Resolution the evening before. Kit and I had been on deck till on