A Winter Amid the Ice

open. At the horizon only, a whitish light, this time m

already approaching the regions where the temperature is excessively cold, for

he passages were seldom more than a cable's length in width, and the ship wa

, prevailed upon her to spend two or three hours every day on deck, f

ion to be in her company; but the young girl, with a sort of presentiment, accepted his services with some coldness. It may be easily conjectured that André's conversation referred more to the future than to the

ver find an opportunity to talk long with her alone. Penellan had always an excuse for in

esses was not suitable for these cold latitudes. She made, therefore, a sort of furred pantaloons, the ends of which were lined with seal-skin; and her narrow skirts came only to her knees, so as no

lves from the cold. They made a quantity of high seal-skin boots, with which to cross the snow d

gun; innumerable flocks of these were always careering about the ship. A kind of eider-duc

pe Brewster. A long-boat was put to sea. Jean Cornbutte an

er when they saw the natives running along the shore. Communication was speedily established with them, thanks to Penellan's knowledg

round faces, and low foreheads; their hair, flat and black, fell over their shoulders; their teeth were

brought bear furs, the skins of sea-calves, sea-dogs, sea-wolves, and all the animals generally known

ship on the snow, and indicated that a vessel of that sort had been carried northward three months before: he also managed to make it understood that the thaw and breaking up of

of the sailors, and Jean Cornbutte had no difficulty i

dogs, which were soon acclimatised on board. The ship weighed anchor on the mo

n, in these high latitudes, did not set, and reached the high

very apparent, for the fog, rain, and snow s

ventilate it with fresh air. The stoves were installed, and the pipes so disposed as to yield as much heat as possible. The sailors were advised to wear only one woollen shirt ove

to the sailors morning and evening; and as it was important to li

"crow's nest," a sort of cask staved in at one end, in whic

ence of a dry wind. Some indications of winter were perceived. The ship had not a moment to lose, for soon the wa

wide. The saws must now be used to cut the ice. Penellan, Aupic, Gradlin, and Turquiette were chosen to work the saws, which had been carried outside the ship. The direction of the cutting was so determined that the current might carry off the pieces detached

ollowed by an overwhelming weariness; for the breath soon fai

d the brig was towed beyond the mass w

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