When the party turned out in the morning, a still more decided change had occurred in the weather The wind had increased to a gale, bringing with it torrents of rain.  Coming from the warm quarter, a thaw had set in with a character quite as decided as the previous frost.  In that region, the weather is usually exaggerated in its features, and the change from winter to spring is quite as sudden as that from autumn to winter.  We use the terms “spring” and “autumn” out of complaisance to the usages of men; but, in fact, these two seasons have scarcely any existence at all in the antarctic seas.  The change, commonly, is from winter to summer, such as summer is, and from summer back to winter.

Notwithstanding the favourable appearances of things, when Roswell walked out into the open air next morning, he well knew that summer had not yet come.  Many weeks must go by ere the ice could quit the bay, and even a boat could put to sea.  There were considerations of prudence, therefore, that should not be neglected, connected with the continuance of the supplies and the means of subsistence.  In one respect the party now on the island had been gainers by the terrible losses it had sustained in Daggett’s crew.  The provisions of the two vessels might now, virtually, be appropriated to the crew of one; and Roswell, when he came to reflect on the circumstances, saw that a Providential interference had probably saved the survivors from great privations, if not from absolute want.

Still there was a thaw, and one of that decided character which marks a climate of great extremes.  The snows on the mountain soon began to descend upon the plain, in foaming torrents; and, increased by the tribute received from the last, the whole came tumbling over the cliffs in various places in rich water-falls.  There was about a mile of rock that was one continuous cataract, the sheet being nearly unbroken for the whole distance.  The effect of this deluge from the plain above was as startling as it was grand.  All the snow along the rocky shore soon disappeared; and the fragments of ice began rapidly to diminish in size, and to crumble.  At first, Roswell felt much concern on account of the security of the wreck; his original apprehension being that it would be washed away.  This ground of fear was soon succeeded by another of scarcely less serious import—­that of its being crushed by the enormous cakes of ice that made the caverns in which it lay, and which now began to settle and change their positions, as the water washed away their bases.  At one time Roswell thought of setting the storm at defiance, and of carrying Daggett across to the house by means of the hand-barrow; but when he came to look at the torrents of water that were crossing the rocks, so many raging rivulets, the idea was abandoned as impracticable.  Another night was therefore passed in the midst of the tempest.