The main body of the mass was, as I have said, of an
indigo color, its base crusted with frozen foam; and as it grew thin
and transparent toward the edges and top, its color shaded off from
a deep blue to the whiteness of snow. It seemed to be drifting
slowly toward the north, so that we kept away and avoided it. It was
in sight all the afternoon; and when we got to leeward of it, the wind
died away, so that we lay-to quite near it for a greater part of the
night. Unfortunately, there was no moon, but it was a clear night, and
we could plainly mark the long, regular heaving of the stupendous
mass, as its edges moved slowly against the stars. Several times in
our watch loud cracks were heard, which sounded as though they must
have run through the whole length of the iceberg, and several pieces
fell down with a thundering crash, plunging heavily into the sea.
Toward morning, a strong breeze sprang up, and we filled away, and
left it astern, and at daylight it was out of sight. The next day,
which was
Sunday, July 3d, the breeze continued strong, the air exceedingly
chilly, and the thermometer low.
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