on duty slopped up and down on the deck-cargo below, in sea-boots and
dripping oilskins, or sheltered themselves, as best they could, under
the lee of the round-house or forecastle. They had been hard at work all
day, making openings in the ice; and now the groaning and whistling
among the blocks and ropes, that were increasing every minute, gave
little promise of rest for the night.

The captain stood upon the poop in his thick overcoat and drenched fur
cap, with his trumpet under his arm, looking anxiously through the
night-glass from time to time, and his voice sounded unusually stern.
There lay before him in the dark, blustering, winter night a veritable
David's choice. The strong southerly current, aided by the gale, was
fast carrying him in under the Norwegian coast; while on the other hand,
if he tried to beat to windward, he risked coming into collision with
the ice-floes. Added to that, he was not very clear as to his position;
and as the gale increased, he began to pace restlessly backwards and
forwards, addressing, every now and then, a word down to one of the
helmsmen, whose forms could be seen by the gleam from the binnacle.

"How's her head, Jens?"

"Sou'-west, sir; she'll lay no higher."

"H'm! more and more on land!" he muttered, the perspiration coming out
upon his forehead under his fur cap, which, in spite of the rain, he had
to push back to get air. Both life and ship would soon be at stake.

"What says the look-out-man, mate?" he asked of the latter, who came up
the steps at this moment from taking a turn forward.