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Updated: May 16, 2025
"What of that?" asked Barbara, stupidly. "That shows something queer! This slide seldom cracks into fissures, but when it does it means trouble. If that crevice goes down very deep it shows unusual warmth underneath. And that may move this upper section of ice-field any time, thus creating an awful land-slide, don't you see?" "Oh, mercy!
The cold was as intense as before, but it could be better borne as hopes were entertained that the gale would abate, and that at length Cape Horn would be doubled. That night, however, was one of the greatest anxiety; for, owing to the darkness, the ice-field could not be seen at any distance, and it might be impossible to escape running on it.
The strain of the adventure into this puzzling, unknown ice-field was telling on their nerves. "I wish we were safe at Cape Prince of Wales," sighed Marian. "Yes, or even East Cape," said Lucile. "I think I'd be content to stay there and chance the year with the natives." "Anyway, Phi's doing his best," said Marian. "Isn't he a strange one, though? Do you think he has the blue envelope?"
A group of evergreen trees, firs and the Alaska spruce, so useful for fires and torches, fringed the edge of the ice-field, green and verdant in contrast to the gleaming snows of the mountain, which rose in a gentle slope at first, then precipitously, in a dazzling and enchanting combination of colour.
Lieutenant Procope, following the example of many Arctic explorers, had the precaution to have the ice beveled away from the keels, so that there should be no risk of the ships' sides being crushed by the increasing pressure; he hoped that they would follow any rise in the level of the ice-field, and when the thaw should come, that they would easily regain their proper water-line.
In truth, the whole party had received a notable tanning, for the winter's sun, weak as it is compared with its summer fervor, has never such an effect upon the exposed skin, as when its rays are reflected from the millions of tiny specula of the glistening ice-field.
The Antarctic pack ice lends itself to water-colour work far better than to oils. When conning the ship from up in the crow's-nest one has a glorious view of this great changing ice-field.
On the horizon, refraction caused the ice-floes and bergs to present endless variety of fantastic forms, and in the immediate foreground at the giant's feet tremendous precipices of ice went sheer down into the deep water, while, away to the right, where a bay still retained its winter grasp of an ice-field, could be seen, like white bee-hives, the temporary snow-huts of these wandering Eskimos.
But whether dead or alive she had fallen into the stinging Arctic brine. What chance could there be for her life? For the time being the ice-field was quiet. The tidal wave had spent its force on the sandy beach. That other, less violent disturbances, would follow the first, the girl knew right well.
At this moment, a company of travellers crossed the snow-field where the Maiden sat; they had bound themselves firmly together with ropes, in order to form a large body on the smooth ice-field by the deep abyss. "Worms!" said she, "as if you were lords of creation!" She turned from them and looked mockingly upon the deep valley, where the cars were rushing by.
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