o sea. Soon she came to more open
water, and in the course of four hours was close to the land, which
proved to be a low, barren island, not more than a mile across.

Here the wind died away altogether, and a sharp frost set in. The
pancakes became joined together, and on the following morning, when our
friend Gregory came on deck, he found that the whole ocean was covered
with ice! It did not, indeed, look very like ice, because, being so
thin, it did not prevent the usual swell from rolling over the sea. A
light breeze was blowing, and the brig cut her way through it for some
time; but the breeze soon died away, leaving her becalmed within a
quarter of a mile of the island.

For some time the voyagers hoped that a thaw would take place, or that
wind would break up the ice. But they were disappointed. This was the
first touch of the cold hand of winter, and the last day of the _Hope's_
advance northward.

Seeing this, Captain Harvey set energetically to work to cut his way
into winter quarters, for it would not do to remain all winter in the
exposed position in which his vessel then lay. On his right was the
island, already referred to, about a quarter of a mile off. Beyond
this, about five miles distant, were the high steep cliffs of the
western coast of Greenland. Everywhere else lay the open sea, covered
here and there with floes and bergs, and coated with new ice.

This ice became so thick in the course of another night that the men
could walk on it without danger. By means of saws and chisels made for
the purpose, they cut a passage toward the island, and finally moored
the brig in a small bay which was sheltered on all sides except the
east. This, being the land side, required no protection. They named
the place "Refuge Harbour."

Everyone was now full of activity. The voyagers had reached the spot
where they knew they were destined to spend the winter and much had to
be done before they could consider themselves in a fit state to face
that terrible season.

Winter in the Polar regions extends over eight months of the year--from
September to May. But so much of ice and snow remains there all the
summer that winter can scarcely be said to quit those regions at all.

It is difficult to imagine what the Arctic winter is. We cannot
properly understand the tremendous difficulties and sufferings that men
who go to the Polar seas have to fight against. Let the reader think of
the following facts,