the ascent was not only difficult, but in places dangerous. Roswell had
foreseen this, and he had made a provision accordingly. In addition to his
lance, used as a leaping-staff and walking-pike, each man had a small coil
of ratlin-stuff thrown over his shoulder, in order to help him in
difficult places, or enable him to help his companions. It was in the
descent chiefly that these ropes were expected to be of service, though
their utility was made apparent ere the three reached the summit. The
ascent of a mountain a thousand feet in height is no great exploit under
ordinary circumstances. Even when there are precipitous cliffs, gorges,
ravines and broken masses, youth, activity and courage will commonly
overcome all the difficulties, placing the foot of man on eminences that
nature would appear to have intended solely for the dominion of the goat.
Thus did it turn out with the three sealers, all of whom stood on the bald
cap of that mountain, after a vigorous and somewhat hazardous ascent, that
occupied rather more than an hour. They had greatly aided each other in
achieving their purpose, to be sure; and the ratlin-stuff was found of use
on more than one occasion.

An extraordinary, and, considering the accessories, a most brilliant view,
rewarded the adventurers. But, after a few minutes passed in pure
admiration of what they beheld, the minds of all three adverted to the
parts which gave such unusual splendour to the panorama. Icebergs were
visible on all sides of them, the great bay excepted; and the group was
surrounded by them, in a way that would seem to proclaim a blockade. At
that season, the south winds prevailed, though changes were frequent and
sudden, and the vast frozen fleet was drifting north. Gardiner saw that
the passage by which he had brought in his schooner was now completely
closed, and that the only means of exit from the bay was by its northern
outlet. The great depth of the bergs still prevented their coming within
the cluster of islands, while their number and size completely stopped the