As it went on the peak rose and rose
higher and higher above the horizon; and other peaks rose after
it, with sharp edges and jagged ridges connecting them. Diamond
thought this must be the place he was going to; and he was
right; for the mountains rose and rose, till he saw the line of
the coast at their feet and at length the iceberg drove into a
little bay, all around which were lofty precipices with snow on
their tops, and streaks of ice down their sides. The berg
floated slowly up to a projecting rock. Diamond stepped on
shore, and without looking behind him began to follow a natural
path which led windingly towards the top of the precipice.
When he reached it, he found himself on a broad table of
ice, along which he could walk without much difficulty. Before
him, at a considerable distance, rose a lofty ridge of ice,
which shot up into fantastic pinnacles and towers and
battlements. The air was very cold, and seemed somehow dead, for
there was not the slightest breath of wind.
In the centre of the ridge before him appeared a gap like
the opening of a valley. But as he walked towards it, gazing,
and wondering whether that could be the way he had to take, he
saw that what had appeared a gap was the form of a woman seated
against the ice front of the ridge, leaning forwards with her
hands in her lap, and her hair hanging down to the ground.
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