I was secretly uneasy, but I made light of the situation.
“Oh, this is the usual thing. We’ll be here a day or two, perhaps, then the ice will separate again, or a lead form that will let us back to open water. We could hardly be shut in long at this season.”
“I’d invent something to beat this game if I was going to play it regular,” said Gale, then added, “Great place this to lay out an addition. ‘Frozenhurst,’ how’s that for a name?”
“Can we go out on the ice?” asked Edith Gale.
“Of course, if we are careful, and do not go far from the ship,” I said. “We can try our new snow-shoes.”
“I shall make the first Antarctic experiment in wireless communication,” observed Ferratoni.
“Good time to look for the bake-apple,” suggested Mr. Larkins.
But just here came a sharp protest from Zar.
“Yas, I sh’d say baked apples! Well, I reckon we jes’ ’bout as apt to fin’ baked apples as anything else in dis refrigidous country! Not much, my Miss Edith ain’ gwine out on dat ol’ humpety, bow-back ice-pon’! No, sah!”
Zar’s characterization of the sea’s aspect referred to the huge hummocks and heaved appearance of the ice in places. There were also many bergs, apparently at no great distance, and in spite of the old woman’s strenuous objections, Edith Gale and I planned to visit the nearest of these.