the missionaries saw no reason whatever for it, and only suspected that the Esquimaux wished to enjoy the company of their friends a little longer, they proceeded.  After some time their own Esquimaux hinted that there was a ground-swell under the ice.  It was then hardly perceptible, except on lying down and applying the ear close to the ice, when a hollow disagreeable grating and roaring noise was heard, as if ascending from the abyss.  The weather remained clear except toward the east, where a bank of light clouds appeared, interspersed with some dark streaks; but the wind being strong from the north west, nothing less than a sudden change of weather was expected.

“The sun had now reached his height, and there was as yet little or no alteration in the appearance of the sky; but the motion of the sea under the ice had grown more perceptible, so as rather to alarm the travellers, and they began to think it prudent to keep closer to the shore.  The ice had cracks and large fissures in many places, some of which formed chasms of one or two feet wide; but as they are not uncommon even in its best state, and the dogs easily leap over them, the sledge following without danger, they are only terrible to new comers.

“As soon as the sun declined towards the west, the wind increased and rose to a storm, the bank of clouds from the east began to ascend, and the dark streaks to put themselves in motion against the wind.  The snow was violently driven about by partial whirlwinds, both on the ice and from off the peaks of the high mountains, and filled the air.  At the same time, the ground-swell had increased so much, that its effects upon the ice became very extraordinary and alarming.  The sledges, instead of gliding along smoothly upon an even surface, sometimes ran with violence after the dogs, and shortly after seemed with difficulty to ascend the rising hill; for the elasticity of so vast a body of ice of many leagues square, supported by a troubled sea, though in some places three or four yards in thickness, would in some degree occasion an undulatory motion, not unlike that of a sheet of paper accommodating itself to the surface of a rippling stream.  Noises were likewise now distinctly heard in many directions like the report of cannon, owing to the bursting of the ice at some distance.

“The Esquimaux therefore drove with all haste towards the shore, intending to take up their night’s quarters on the south side of the Uivak.  But as it plainly appeared that the ice would break and disperse in the open sea, Mark advised to push forward to the north of Uivak, from whence he hoped the track to Okkak might still remain entire.  To this proposal the company agreed; but when the sledges approached the coast, the prospect before them was truly terrific—­the ice having broken loose from the rocks, was forced up and down, grinding and breaking into a thousand pieces against the precipices with a tremendous noise, which, added to the raging of the wind, and the snow