A Floating City by Jules Verne

The next day, the 3rd of April, from early dawn the horizon wore that peculiar aspect which the English call "blink. " It was of that misty white colour which signifies that icebergs are not far distant; in fact the "Great Eastern" was ploughing those seas on which float the first blocks of ice detached from the icebergs in Davis' Straits. A special watch was kept, in order to avoid the rude collision with these enormous blocks.

There was a strong westerly wind blowing; strips of clouds, or rather shreds of vapour, hung over the sea, through which glimpses of blue sky appeared. A dull thudding noise came from the waves tossed by the wind, and drops of water, seemingly pulverized, evaporated in foam.