“Hurrah! We have come to open water!”
This announcement that the Explorer had safely made the wonderful passage under the ice barrier was gratifying enough.
Cheers were given.
The next moment like a cork the Explorer popped to the surface.
The scene spread to view was a wonderful and enchanting one.
They were upon the bosom of a wide and tranquil sea.
In the distance far to the eastward there was a faint line of white.
This was the region of ice.
The air was less keen, and seemed to be getting milder as they went on.
Flocks of geese were flying overhead, and the doubt was settled that they were really in the open Polar Sea.