Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-03-26
CHAPTER VIII.
THE FROZEN SCHOONER.

found myself on the summit of kind of table land; vast bodies of ice, every block weighing hundreds and perhaps thousands of tons, lay scattered over it, yet for the space of mile or so the character was that of fatness. Southward the range went upward to coastal front of some hundred feet with a huddle of peaks and strange confgurations behind soaring to an elevation from the sea line of two or three hundred feet North ward the range sloped gradually, with such a shelving of its hinder part that could catch glimpse of little space of the blue sea that way. From this perceived that whatever thickness and surface of ice lay southward, in the north it was attenuated to the shape of wedge, so that it's extreme breadth where it projected its cape or extremity would not exceed musket shot.
 Being on the top of the range now, could plainly hear the noises of the splitting and internal convulsions of this vast formation. The sounds are not describable. It was inn possible to fix the direction of these sounds the island was full of them, and always su1- lenly booming upon the breeze was the voice of the ocean swell bursting in foam against tho ice coast that confronted it.
 You may talk of the solitude of Selkirk; but surely the spirit of loneliness in him could not rival the unutterable emotion of solitariness that filled my mind es sent my gaze over those miles of frozen, stirless white ness. He had the sight of fair pastures, of trees making twinkling twilight on the sward, of grassy savannas and pleasant slopes of hills; the air was illuminated by the glorious plumage of flying birds; the bleat of goats broke the stiffness in the val leys; there was golden regale for his eye, and his other senses were gratified with the S,f .io1, certs among the trembling leaves. Above all, there was the soothing warmth of de licious climate But out upon those heaped and spreading plains of snow nothing stirred, if it were not once that was startled by loud report, and spied a rock about half mile away slide down the edge of the flat cliff and tumble into the sea.
 turned my eyes seaward.
 There were few heavy clouds in the northeast, so steamlike that methought they borrowed their complexion from the snow or the islands cape there I was pretty sure however, that there was wind behind them. for if the roll of the ocean did not signify heavy weather near to, then what else it be tokened could not imagine.
 cannot express to you how the very soul within me shrank from putting to sea in the little boat. Yet I could not but consider that it would be equally shocking to me to bt, locked up in this slowly crumbling body of ice-nay, tenfold more shocking-and that, if had to choose between the boat and this hideous solitude and sure starvation, would cheerfully accept fifty times over again the perils of a navigation in my tiny ark.
 This reflection comforted me somewhat, and while thus unused I remained standing with my eyes upon the little group of fanci- ful fanes and spires of ice on the edge of the abrupt hollow.
 While looking at this my eye traced, @ little distance beyond, the form of a ships spars and rigging. Through the labyrinth of the ice outlines 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 tho hollow.
 The fabric appeared as if formed of frosted glass The masts had @ good rake, and with a seaman's eye took notice of the furni- ture, observing the shrouds, stays, backstays and braces to be perfect. Nay, as though tte spirit artist of this fragile, glittering pageant had resolved to omit no detail to complete the illusion, there stood a vane at the matt head, shining like a tongue of ice against the soft blue of the sky. Come, thought l. re- covering from my wonder, there is more in this than it is possible for me to guess by staring from distance; so, striking my Ipla into the snow, made carefully toward thl edge of the hollow.
 The gradual unfolding of the picture fa. set with diamonds, several rings of beauty and value lying loose in the brooches pocket of the man whose face was hidden, handful of Spanish pieces in gold, handkerchiefs of fine silk, and other articles, as if indeed these fellows had been overhaullng parcel of booty, and then careiessiy returned the contents to their pockets
 TO BE CONTINUED.