Part 12 (1/2)

At that instant a shock nearly threw them off their feet.

Viola caught Bob's arm, and Mrs. Cromwell and the captain almost fell together.

”We are foul of the ice!” shouted the mate, rus.h.i.+ng forward.

”What!” roared the captain. ”Where's that rascally lookout? Down with helm! The sea is full of loose ice.”

For the rest of the day the _Dart_ was dodging through hummocks of ice, which looked as if a floe had been broken up by a storm.

When Bob came on deck for his watch at midnight, it was intensely dark.

A thin scud shut out the light of the stars and moon.

He was joined by Jack, for the two lads usually kept watch together.

”I am afraid we are in a tight fix,” said the latter. ”I doubt if we shall ever again find our way home.”

”Never say die,” cried our hero. ”But look! What's that yonder?”

The two chums peered into the darkness ahead.

”I think there is a blacker spot than the rest over the starboard bow,”

said Bob, after a while.

”There are some blue signal-lights here. I'll ignite one,” suggested Jack.

Retiring under shelter of the companionway he struck a light and ignited the blue fire.

Clambering on to the bulwarks, and holding on to the forestay with one hand, he held it above his head.

Right in front of them loomed two bergs, not a quarter of a mile apart, the sea das.h.i.+ng in spray along their sides.

There was not a moment for hesitation.

”Port your helm!” sang out our hero. ”Keep her so!” he added, as he saw the bows of the schooner point for the narrow pa.s.sage.

Jack lit another blue light, and thumped on the deck to wake those below.

In half a minute Captain Sumner and the mate were beside them.

”The bergs are closing in on us,” said the captain quietly. ”Go to your helm, Bok; it will be safer.”

The bergs were more than a mile long, and the vessel, under easy sail, was not making more than six knots an hour.

”Here, gentlemen, take the halyards, and rouse up the topgallant sails.

I won't trust the crew on deck till the last minute.”