After that, proceeding to the north, they reached, on the 17th, the latitude of 70 deg.

33'.

On this day, a brightness was perceived in the northern horizon, like that which is reflected from ice, and is commonly called the _blink_.
This was at first but little noticed, from a supposition that there was no probability of meeting with ice so soon: and yet the sharpness of the air, and the gloominess of the weather, had, for two or three days past, seemed to indicate a sudden change.

In about an hour's time, the sight of a large field of ice left Captain Cook no longer in doubt with regard to the cause of the brightness of the horizon.

The ships, in the same afternoon, being then in the latitude of 70 deg.