midnight
which , despite the absurdity of the idea , _ would _ present itself in the form of an upright post of terrific magnitude -- a worthy axle-tree , as it were , for the world to revolve upon . To the big Eskimo land presented itself in the form of a palatial stone edifice measuring fifteen feet by twelve , with a dear pretty little wife choking herself in the smoke of a cooking-lamp , and a darling little boy choking himself with a mass of walrus blubber . Thus the same object , when presented to different minds , suggested ideas that were : `` Diverse as calm from thunder , Wide as the poles asunder . '' It was midnight when the boats drew near to land . The island in which stood the giant 's humble home seemed to Captain Vane not more than eight or ten miles in extent , and rose to a moderate height -- apparently about five or six hundred feet . It was picturesque in form and composed of rugged rocks , the marks on which , and the innumerable boulders everywhere , showed that at some remote period of the world 's history , it had been subjected to the influence of glacial action . No glacier was visible now , however -- only , on the rocky summit lay a patch or two of the last winter 's snow-drift , which was too deep for the summer sun to melt away .