ared directly in front. It was in vast quantities, extending to the
southward far as the eye could reach. There remained no alternative but to
attempt to ware. Without waiting longer than to assure himself of the
facts, Daggett ordered his helm put up and the main gaff lowered. At that
moment both the schooners were under their jibs and foresails, each
without its bonnet, and double-reefed mainsails. This was not canvass very
favourable for waring, there being too much after-sail; but the sheets
were attended to, and both vessels were soon driving dead to leeward, amid
the foam of a large wave; the next instant, ice was heard grinding along
their sides.

It was not possible to haul up on the other tack ere the schooners would
be surrounded by the floes; and seeing a comparatively open passage a
short distance ahead, Daggett stood in boldly, followed closely by
Roswell. In ten minutes they were fully a mile within the field, rendering
all attempts to get out of it to windward so hopeless as to be almost
desperate. The manoeuvre of Daggett was begun under circumstances that
scarcely admitted of any alternative, though it might be questioned if it
were not the best expedient that offered. Now that the schooners were so
far within the field-ice, the water was much less broken, though the
undulations of the restless ocean were still considerable, and the
grinding of ice occasioned by them was really terrific. So loud was the
noise produced by these constant and violent collisions, indeed, that the
roaring of the wind was barely audible, and that only at intervals. The
sound was rushing, like that of an incessant avalanche, attended by
cracking noises that resembled the rending of a glacier.

The schooners now took in their foresails, for the double purpose of
diminishing their velocity and of being in a better condition to change
their course, in order to avoid dangers ahead. These changes of course
were necessarily frequent; but, by dint of boldness, perseverance and
skill, Daggett worked his way into the comparatively open passage already
mentioned. It was a sort of river amid the floes, caused doubtless by some
of the inexplicable currents, and was fully a quarter of a mile in width,
straight as an air-line, and of considerable length; though how long could
not be seen by moonlight. It led, moreover, directly down towards the
bergs, then distant less than a mile. Without stopping to ascertain more,
Daggett stood on, Roswe