He was familiar with all the contingencies of ice-navigation, and was not afraid to venture into the midst of these flotillas of drifts and packs.

That day he said to me,-- "Mr.Jeorling; this is not the first time that I have tried to penetrate into the Polar Sea, and without success.

Well, if I made the attempt to do this when I had nothing but presumption as to the fate of the _Jane_ to go upon, what shall I not do now that presumption is changed into certainty ?" "I understand that, captain, and of course your experience of navigation in these waters must increase our chances of success." "Undoubtedly.

Nevertheless, all that lies beyond the fixed icebergs is still the unknown for me, as it is for other navigators." "The Unknown! No, not absolutely, captain, since we possess the important reports of Weddell, and, I must add, of Arthur Pym also." "Yes, I know; they have spoken of the open sea." "Do you not believe that such a sea exists ?" "Yes, I do believe that it exists, and for valid reasons.

In fact, it is perfectly manifest that these masses, called icebergs and icefields, could not be formed in the ocean itself.