Adrift in the Ice-Fields

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21607

Title

Adrift in the Ice-Fields

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in the frozen Gulf of St. Lawrence, this adventure chronicles a party of English gentlemen hunting sea-fowl on the ice. When a sudden storm breaks up the floe, four hunters are stranded, forcing them to survive a perilous drift, build shelter on an iceberg, and face the harsh elements until rescue arrives.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in 1877, Charles Winslow Hall's *Adrift in the Ice-Fields* chronicles the winter sports and perils of the maritime provinces of Canada. The narrative begins in the spring of 186-, when a diverse group of sportsmen, including the English gentleman Henry Risk, the Irish adventurer Hughie Creamer, the New Brunswicker Kennedy, and the narrator La Salle, gather on the ice of Prince Edward Island for a goose hunt. Led by Captain Lund, the party enjoys the season's festivities, sharing tales of local folklore and colonial life that highlight the unique dialects and social dynamics of the region's mixed population. However, the idyllic hunt is abruptly ended by a violent northerly gale and rising tides that cause the ice to break apart. Four hunters, including La Salle and the Indian Peter, find themselves stranded in the Gulf of St. Lawrence with only a small boat and a massive iceberg for refuge. Forced to abandon their decoys and tools, the men construct a snow shelter on the summit of the berg to survive the storm, facing starvation, extreme cold, and the constant threat of drowning. The story details their desperate struggle to maintain fire, procure food, and keep their spirits high while drifting through the vast ice-pack. Amidst these physical trials, the narrative weaves a complex subplot involving a mysterious inheritance and a past crime. Upon their eventual rescue by a sealing steamer, the men return to civilization to confront the consequences of their ordeal. The story concludes with a dramatic resolution regarding a disputed will and a past murder, revealing themes of friendship, redemption, and the harsh realities of life on the northern ice. Through a blend of adventure and social observation, Hall provides a reliable description of the ice-fields, seal habits, and the enduring prejudices of the era.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21607.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg21607.epub

Removed after upload

Downloaded at

2026-07-03 10:17 UTC

Categories

• Adventure
• Fiction