o the northward, under the oblique rays
of the setting sun. For a considerable space around the vessels, the water
was clear, not even a cake of any sort being to be seen; and the question
arose in Daggett's mind, whether he ought to stand on, or to heave-to and
pass the night well to windward of the bergs. Time was precious, the wind
was fair, the heavens clear, and the moon would make its appearance about
nine, and might be expected to remain above the horizon until the return
of day. This was one side of the picture. The other presented less
agreeable points. The climate was so fickle, that the clearness of the
skies was not to be depended on, especially with a strong south-west
wind--a little gale, in fact; and a change in this particular might be
produced at any moment. Then it was certain that floes, and fragments of
bergs, would be found near, if not absolutely among the sublime
mountain-like piles that were floating about, in a species of grand fleet,
some twenty miles to leeward. Both of our masters, indeed all on board of
each schooner, very well understood that the magnificent array of icy
islands which lay before them was owing to the currents, for which it is
not always easy to account. The clear space was to be attributed to the
same cause, though there was little doubt that the wind, which had now
been to the southward fully eight-and-forty hours, had contributed to
drive the icy fleet to the northward. As a consequence of these facts, the
field-ice must be in the vicinity of the bergs, and the embarrassment from
that source was known always to be very great.

It required a good deal of nerve for a mariner to run in among dangers of
the character just described, as the sun was setting. Nevertheless,
Daggett did it; and Roswell Gardiner followed the movement, at the
distance of about a cable's length. To prevent separation, each schooner
showed a light at the lower yard-arm, just as the day was giving out its
last glimmerings. As yet, however, no difficulty was encountered; the
alpine-looking range being yet quite two hours' run still to leeward.
Those two hours must be passed in darkness; and Daggett shortened sail in
order not to reach the ice before the moon rose. He had endeavoured to
profit by the light as long as it remained, to find a place at which he
might venture to enter among the bergs, but had met with no great
success. The opening first seen now appeared to be closed, either by means
of the dr