They were in a small lake surrounded by lofty and precipitous
icebergs. On every side these glittering crags rose high into
the air; nowhere was there a break or an opening. They seemed to
be in a great icy prison. It might be supposed that it would be
exhilarating to a party who had long been submerged beneath the
sea to stand once more in the open air and in the light of day;
but this was not the case. The air they breathed was sharp and
cold, and cut into throats and lungs now accustomed to the softer
air within their vessel. Scarcely any of them, hurrying out of
the warm cabins, had thought of the necessity of heavy wraps, and
the bitter cold of the outer air perceptibly chilled their blood.
Involuntarily, even while they were staring about them, they
hurried up and down the deck to keep themselves warm.

The officers puzzled their brains over the peculiar formation of
this ice-encompassed lake. It seemed as if a great ice mountain
had sunk down from the midst of its companions, and had left this
awful hole. This, however, was impossible. No law of nature
would account for such a disappearance of an ice mountain. Mr.
Gibbs thought, under some peculiar circumstances, a mass of ice
might have broken away and floated from its surroundings, and
that afterwards, increased in size, it had floated back again,
and, too large to re-enter the opening it had made, had closed up
the frozen walls of this lonely lake, accessible only to those
who should rise up into it from the sea. Suddenly Mrs. Block
stopped.

"What is that?" she cried, pointing to a spot in the icy wall
which was nearest to the vessel. Instantly every eye was turned