Part 11 (2/2)
”What is your opinion, Bob, about the men?” asked Captain Sumner, as Bob took his place at the table. ”I mean the rascals I had to iron up last week.”
”Well, sir,” replied our hero, ”they seem to go about their duty all right, but after our experience, we must never trust them.”
”It's that scoundrel, Nockey, that I mistrust. The others are more fools than knaves. He will never forgive that flogging I gave him.”
”It served him all right,” broke in Bob. ”When we gave them the choice of taking a couple of dozen or going ash.o.r.e, not one hesitated.”
”Well, even now, we have only eight hands and ourselves.”
”What do you mean to do, papa?” broke in Viola. ”Surely not go further among these dreadful icebergs? I have read that s.h.i.+ps are often crushed by them.”
”I should be only too glad to be out of these regions, dear; but, with the wind and current against us, I don't know what to do.”
As soon as breakfast was finished the captain went on deck. His eye rested on the floe to the westward.
”Where are your eyes, you Irish lubber?” he shouted to the steersman.
”Don't you see yon ice closing in on us? You ought to have let me know of this.”
”Blest if I can see much change,” muttered Bok.
”But I can. The channel is narrowed by half. We shall never get clear of it before we are nipped. 'Bout s.h.i.+p, boys, and be smart!”
”All hands!” bellowed the mate.
In a couple of minutes the small crew were on deck, hauling in the ropes and halyards.
The topsail-yards swung round, the helm was put hard down.
The sails s.h.i.+vered in the wind as the yacht came about.
”Put both the main- and fore-sails on her, Leeks. We must be out of this trap as soon as possible,” cried the captain.
It took some time to get full sail on the _Dart_.
Once done, however, she flew onward, with the wind on her quarter, at a tremendous speed.
”Sixteen knots an hour! Bravo!” cried the captain. ”Can't she move, Bob?”
”That she can, sir. But I can't help dreading this still going through the ice. There are few s.h.i.+ps, except whalers, that have penetrated as far as we, I should think.”
”Right, sir. But desperate circ.u.mstances require desperate means. None of us want to spend a winter here, and, though we happen to be fortunate as to the time of year, another month or six weeks will see this sea covered with ice.”
Chapter III.--Among The Icebergs.
Bang! cras.h.!.+
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