About four o'clock
Sure enough , after breakfast , children ran up and down the deck shouting , `` Whales ! Whales ! '' and several were seen a mile or two north of the ship 's course , where they sported and spouted water . About four o'clock , the temperature having fallen several degrees , the passengers sighted to the northeast a huge iceberg in the shape of an arch , bearing down on the steamer 's course , and had it been night , possibly freighted with all the horrors of a ship-wreck . As it was , Captain Morgan deemed it wise to lessen the speed as the ship approached the iceberg . `` This is wonderful , Leo , '' said Mrs. Harris ; `` can you tell us where and when icebergs are formed ? '' `` Oh yes , Mrs. Harris , icebergs that float down the Atlantic are born on the west coast of Greenland .