THE WORLD OF ICE. BT

spoke of his old captain. Fred, too, had, by his frank,
affable manner and somewhat reckless disposition,
rendered himself a general favourite with the men,
and had particularly recommended himself to Mivins
the steward (who was possessed of an intensely roman-
tic spirit), by stating once or twice very emphatically
that he (Fred) meant to land on the coast of Baffin’s
Bay, should the captain fail to find his father, and
continue the search on foot and alone. There was no
doubt whatever that poor Fred was in earnest, and
had made up his mind to die in the search rather than
not find him. He little knew the terrible nature of
the country in which for a time his lot was to be cast,
and the hopelessness of such an undertaking as he
meditated. With boyish inconsiderateness he thought
not of how his object was to be accomplished; he
eared not what impossibilities lay in the way; but,
with manly determination, he made up his mind to
quit the ship and search for his father through the
leneth and breadth of the land. Let not the reader
smile at what he may perhaps style a childish piece
of enthusiasm. Many a youth at his age has dreamed
of attempting as great if not greater impossibilities.
All honour, we say, to the boy who dreams impossi-
bilities, and greater honour to him who, like Fred,
resolves to attempt them! James Watt stared at an
iron tea-kettle till his eyes were dim, and meditated
the monstrous impossibility of making that kettle
work like a horse; and men might (perhaps did)
smile at James Watt then, but do men smile at James