ffs which overlooked
the cove, he calculated the distance it would be necessary to take the
schooner through the ice by sawing and cutting, and that through a field
known to be some four feet thick, at five good miles at least. So
Herculean did this task appear to be, that he even thought of abandoning
his vessel altogether, and of setting out in the boats, as soon as the
summer was fairly commenced. On reflection, however, this last plan was
reserved as a _dernier ressort_, the danger of encountering the tempests
of those seas in a whale-boat, without covering or fire, being much too
great to be thought of, so long as any reasonable alternative offered.

The bergs to the southward were in motion, and a large fleet of them was
putting to sea, as it might be, coming in from those remote and then
unknown regions in which they were formed. From the mountain, our hero
counted at least a hundred, all regularly shaped, with tops like that of
table-land, and with even, regular sides, and upright attitudes. It was
very desirable to get ahead of these new maritime Alps, for the ocean to
the northward was unusually clear of ice of all kinds, that lodged between
the islands excepted.

So long as it was safe to calculate on the regular changes of the seasons,
Roswell knew that patience and vigilance would serve his turn, by bringing
everything round in its proper time and place. But it was by no means
certain that it was a usual occurrence for the Great Bay to be crammed
with field-ice, as had happened the past winter; if the actual state of
the surrounding waters were an exception instead of the rule. On examining
the shores, however, it was found that the rain and melted snow had
created a sort of margin, and that the strong winds which had been
blowing, and which in fact were still blowing, had produced a gradually
increasing attrition, until a space existed between the weather-side of
the field and the rocks that was some thirty fathoms wide. This was an
important discovery, and brought up a most grave question for decision.

Owing to the shape of the surrounding land, it would not be possible for
the ice to float out in a body, for two or three months to come; or until
so much had melted as to leave room for the field to pass the capes and
head-lands. It never could have entered the bay for the same reason, but
for the resistless power of a field that extended leagues out into the
ocean, where, acted on jointly by wind and ti