forenoon passed quietly and according to law, though a
falling barometer made us watch anxiously a heavy bank of black clouds
which rested in the southern heavens.

The dinner-bell however rang, and having a very intelligent gentleman
who commands a whaler as a guest, we were much interested in listening
to his description of the strange life led by men, like himself,
engaged in the adventurous pursuit of the whale; Mr. S. assured us that
he had not seen corn grow, or eaten fresh gooseberries for thirty
years! although he had been at home every winter. Though now advanced
in years, with a large family, one of whom was the commander of Her
Majesty's brig the "Sophia," then in company, still he spoke with
enthusiasm of the excitement and risks of his own profession; it had
its charms for the old sailor, whose skill and enterprise had been
excited for so many years in braving the dangers of ice-encumbered
seas, whether around Spitzbergen or in Baffin's Bay: he evidently felt
a pride and satisfaction in his past career, and it had still sweet
reminiscences for him. I felt a pride in seeing such a man a
brother-seaman,--one who loved the North because it had hardships--one
who delighted to battle with a noble foe. "We are the only people," he
said, "who follow the whale, and kill him in spite of the ice and
cold." There was the true sportsman in such feelings. He and the whale
were at war,--not even the ice could save his prey.

A report from deck, that the ice was coming in before a southerly gale,
finished our dinner very abruptly, and the alteration that had taken
place in a couple of hours was striking. A blue sky had changed to one
of a dusky colour,--a moaning gale sent before it a low brown vapour,
under which the ice gleamed fiercely,--the floes were rapidly pressing
together. Two whalers were already nipped severely, and their people
were getting the boats and clothing out ready for an accident.

[Illustration]

[Headnote: _DOCKING IN THE ICE._]

"The sooner we are all in dock the better," said Captain S., as he
hurried away to get his own vessel into safety, and, almost as quickly
as I can tell it, a scene of exciting interest commenced--that of
cutting docks in the fixed ice, called land-floe, so as to avoid the
pressure which would occur at its edge by the body of ice to seaward
being forced against it by the fast rising gale. Smart things are done
in the Navy, but I do not think any thing could excel the a