And Here I Feel It Just To Pay A Tribute Of
Admiration To The Cook, Who On These Occasions Never
Failed to exhibit an immense amount of misdirected energy,
breaking - I remember - at the same moment, both the cabin
sky-
Light, and an oar, in single combat with a large berg
that was doing no particular harm to us, but against
which he seemed suddenly to have conceived a violent
spite. Luckily a considerable quantity of snow overlaid
the ice, which, acting as a buffer, in some measure
mitigated the violence of the concussion; while the very
fragility of her build diminishing the momentum, proved
in the end the little schooner's greatest security.
Nevertheless, I must confess that more than once, while
leaning forward in expectation of the scrunch I knew must
come, I have caught myself half murmuring to the fair
face that seemed to gaze so serenely at the cold white
mass we were approaching: "O Lady, is it not now fit thou
shouldest befriend the good ship of which thou art the
pride?"
At last, after having received two or three pretty severe
bumps, - though the loss of a little copper was the only
damage they entailed, - we made our way back to the northern
end of the island, where the pack was looser, and we had
at all events a little more breathing room.
It had become very cold - so cold, indeed, that Mr. Wyse
- no longer able to keep a clutch of the rigging - had a
severe tumble from the yard on which he was standing.
The wind was freshening, and the ice was evidently still
in motion; but although very anxious to get back again
into open water, we thought it would not do to go away
without landing, even if it were only for an hour.
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