CHAPTER X.

Beyinniny of winter—AMeetuck effects a remarkable change im the men’s
appearance—Mossing, and working, and plans for a winter campatan.

le August the first frost came and formed « young

ice” on the sea, but this lasted only for a brief
hour or two, and was broken up by the tide and
melted. By the 10th of September the young ice
cemented the floes of last year’s ice together, and soon
rendered the ice round the ship immovable. Hum-
mocks clustered round several rocky islets in the
neighbourhood, and the rising and falling of the tide
covered the sides of the rocks with bright crystals.
All the feathered tribes took their departure for less
rigorous climes, with the exception of a small white
bird about the size of a sparrow, called the snow-bird,
which is the last to leave the icy North. Then a
tremendous storm arose, and the sea became choked
up with icebergs and floes, which the frost soon locked
together into a solid mass. Towards the close of the
storm snow fell in great abundance, and when the
mariners ventured again to put their heads up the
opened hatchways, the decks were knee-deep, the drift
to windward was almost level with the bulwarks, every