uted, making the little boat rock and
tremble,--"hurrah! This, now, is the 'adventurous travel' we were
promised. Now I am content, if we get no more."

"Cool; you'll have us over."

"Pooh! Who's cooler?"

We went leisurely around this glacial cathedral. The current set with
force about it, running against us on the eastern side. At the front we
found the "cornice" again, about twenty feet up, sloping to the water,
and dipping beneath it on either side; below it, a crystal surface;
above, marble fretwork. This cornice indicates a former sea-level,
showing that the berg has risen or changed position. This must have
taken place, probably, by the detachment of masses; so an occurrence of
this kind was not wholly out of question, after all. There is always,
however,--so I suspect,--some preliminary warning, some audible crack or
visible vibration. I had kept in mind the possibility of such changes,
and at the slightest intimation should have darted away,--a movement
favored by the lightness of the skiff, and the extreme ease with which,
under the advantage of a beautiful model, she was rowed.

A sense of awe, almost of fear, crept over me now that the adventure was
over, and I looked up to the mighty towers of the facade with a somewhat
humbled eye; and so, pulling slowly and respectfully along the western
side, made away, solemn and satisfied, to the ship.

I expected a storm of criticism on our return, but found calm. The boat
was hoisted in silently, and I hurried below, to lie down and enjoy the
very peculiar entertainment which vigorous rowing was sure to afford me.

Released after a half-hour's toasting on the gridiron, I went on deck
and found the Parson surrounded by a cloud of censure. The words "boyish
foolhardiness," catching my ear, flushed me with some anger,--to which
emotion I am not, perhaps, of all men least liable. So I stumped a
little stiffly to the group, and said,--

"I don't feel myself altogether a boy, and foolhardiness is not my
forte."

"Well, success is wisdom," said the Colonel, placably. "You have
succeeded, and now have criticism at a disadvantage, I own."

Another, however,--not a braver man on board,--stood to his guns.

"Experienced men say that it is dangerous; I hear to them till I have
experience myself."

"Right, if so it stands in your mind. You judge thus: you follow your
judgment. I judge partly so, and partly otherwise, and I follow my
judgment. Mere experience is but a