was fairly aroused. "Now, Sir John,
unluckily, we are on the wrong side of these ice mountains, for the
plain reason that Leaphigh lies to the south'ard of them. We must be
stirring, therefore, for no craft that was ever launched could keep off
these crags with such a gale driving home upon them, for more than an
hour or two. Our great concern, at present, is to look out for a hole to
run into."

"Why have you come so close to the danger, with your knowledge of the
consequences?"

"To own the truth, Sir John, natur' is natur', and I'm getting to be a
little near-sighted as I grow old; besides, I'm not so sartain that the
danger is the more dangerous, for taking a good, steady look plump in
its face."

Noah raised his hand, as much as to say he wished no answer, and both
of us were immediately occupied in gazing anxiously to leeward. The
ship was just opening a small cove in the ice, which might have been a
cable's length in depth, and a quarter of a mile across its outer, or
the widest part. Its form was regular, being that of a semicircle; but,
at its bottom, the ice, instead of forming a continued barrier, like all
the rest we had yet passed, was separated by a narrow opening, that
was bounded on each side by a frowning precipice. The two bergs were
evidently drawing nearer to each other, but there was still a strait, or
a watery gorge between them, of some two hundred feet in width. As the
ship plunged onward, the pass was opened, and we caught a glimpse of the
distant view to leeward. It was merely a glimpse--the impatient Walrus
allowing us but a moment for examination--but it appeared sufficient for
the purposes of the old sealer. We were already across the mouth of the
cove, and within a cable's length of the ice again; for as we drew near
what may be called the little cape, we found ourselves once more in
closer proximity to the menacing mountain. It was a moment when all
depended on decision; and fortunately, our sealer, who was so wary and
procrastinating in a bargain, never had occasion to make two drafts
on his thoughts, in situations of emergency. As the ship cleared the
promontory on the eastern side of the cove, we again opened a curvature
of the ice, which gave a little more water to leeward. Tacking was
impossible, and the helm was put hard aweather. The bow of the Walrus
fell off, and as she rose on the next wave, I thought its send would
carry us helplessly down upon the berg. But the good craft,