Oh, how beautiful! oh, how magnificent!" exclaimed the Miss Morleys, as
they reached the deck; "it is worth making a voyage to witness such a
scene as that!"

Willy could now observe what he had only before partially seen. The
whole ocean to the west was of a deep-purple hue, from out of which rose
several superb icebergs; some could not have been less than a third of a
mile in length, and from two to three hundred feet in height. The sides
of one appeared perfectly smooth, as if carefully chiselled all over.
In one of the nearest were seen bold projecting bluffs, with deep
caverns beyond, into which the sea forced its way, rushing out again
with a loud sound. On the summits of others appeared the towers and
pinnacles, the ruined arches and buttressed walls, which had at first
caught Willy's sight. It seemed, indeed, as if a large city of
alabaster had once stood there, reduced to ruins by a convulsion of
nature. Here appeared huge piles of buildings grouped together, with
long lanes and streets winding irregularly through them, with what had
been the citadel rising in their midst. As the sun rose, the whole mass
became bathed in a red light. No words, however, can convey a full idea
of the beauty and grandeur of the spectacle.

"I was thinking for a moment that I should like to get out my
drawing-book and colour-box," said Emma Morley to her sister; "but I am
sure it would be impossible to do anything like justice to such a
scene."

"Those who have not witnessed it would believe that you had taken a
painter's licence," answered her sister; "and yet I believe that you
might produce a very fair idea of the scene. Let me go and get your
drawing things."

Mrs Morley was afraid her daughters might suffer from the cold if they
remained much longer on deck. Cloaks were, however, brought, and what
her parents considered a masterly sketch was quickly produced by their
young daughter. Little did they think at the time of the dangerous
position in which the ship was still placed.

While the drawing was going on, numerous sea-birds were seen to be
passing in and out of the caverns, now plunging down into the ocean to
seek their breakfasts, now rising again and pitching upon the icy points
and pinnacles as if they were their accustomed home.

"Don't you think we have drawn nearer to that magnificent iceberg?" said
Fanny to her sister.

"Yes, I am almost sure we have," was the answer. "Papa, what do you
think?"