the
hues were wondrously splendid, and, mingling upon the sight, formed a
kind of airy, rainbow-like veil that complicated the whole congregation
of white shaft and many-tinctured spire, the marble column, the
alabaster steeple into a confused but most surprisingly dainty and
shining scene.

It was whilst looking at this that my eye traced, a little distance
beyond, the form of a ship's spars and rigging. Through the labyrinth of
the ice outlines I clearly made out two masts, with two square yards on
the foremast, the rigging perfect so far as it went, for the figuration
showed no more than half the height of the masts, the lower parts being
apparently hidden behind the edge of the hollow. I have said that this
coast to the north abounded in many groups of beautiful fantastic
shapes, suggesting a great variety of objects, as the forms of clouds
do, but nothing perfect; but here now was something in ice that could
not have been completer, more symmetrical, more faultlessly proportioned
had it been the work of an artist. I walked close to it and a little way
around so as to obtain a clearer view, and then getting a fair sight of
the appearance I halted again, transfixed with amazement.

The fabric appeared as if formed of frosted glass. The masts had a good
rake, and with a seaman's eye I took notice of the furniture, observing
the shrouds, stays, backstays, braces to be perfect. Nay, as though the
spirit artist of this fragile glittering pageant had resolved to omit no
detail to complete the illusion, there stood a vane at the masthead,
shining like a tongue of ice against the soft blue of the sky. Come,
thought I, recovering from my wonder, there is more in this than it is
possible for me to guess by staring from a distance; so, striking my
pole into the snow, I made carefully towards the edge of the hollow.

The gradual unfolding of the picture prepared my mind for what I could
not see till the brink was reached; then, looking down, I beheld a
schooner-rigged vessel lying in a sort of cradle of ice, stern-on to the
sea. A man bulked out with frozen snow, so as to make his shape as great
as a bear, leaned upon the rail with a slight upwards inclination of his
head, as though he were in the act of looking fully up to hail me. His
posture was even more lifelike than that of the man under the rock, but
his garment of snow robbed him of that reality of vitality which had
startled me in the other, and the instant I saw him