CHAPTER X

THE ROAR OF THE WAVES

All night the skipper of the great gallias walked back and forth
on his lofty poop. It was dark, and the gale howled around him,
lashing him with sleet and rain. But the ice still lay firm and
fast about the vessel, so that the skipper might just as well have
slept quietly in his berth.

But he stayed up the whole night. Time after time he put his hand
to his ear and listened.

It was not easy to say what he was listening for. He had all his
crew on board, as well as all the passengers he was to carry over
to Scotland. Every one of them lay below decks fast asleep, and
there was no sound of talk to which the skipper might be
listening.

As the storm came sweeping over the icebound gallias it threw
itself upon the vessel, as though from old habit it would drive
her through the water. And as the ship still stood fast the wind
took hold of her again and again. It rattled all the little
icicles that hung from her ropes and tackles, it made her timbers
creak and groan. Her masts were strained and gave loud cracks, as
though they would go by the board.

It was no quiet night. There was a muffled rustling in the air, as