rds
the passage. By this time, the two bergs had drawn so near each other as
actually to form an arch across its mouth; and this, too, at a part so
low as to render it questionable whether there was sufficient elevation
to permit the Walrus to pass beneath. But retreat was impossible, the
gale urging the ship furiously onwards. The width of the passage was now
but little more than a hundred feet, and it actually required the nicest
steerage to keep our yard-arms clear of the opposite precipices, as the
vessel dashed, with foaming bows, into the gorge. The wind drew through
the opening with tremendous violence, fairly howling as if in delight at
discovering a passage by which it might continue its furious career. We
may have been aided by the sucking of the wind and the waves, both of
which were irresistibly drawn towards the pass, or it is quite probable
that the skill of Captain Poke did us good service on this awful
occasion; but, owing to the one or the other, or to the two causes
united, the Walrus shot into the gorge so accurately as to avoid
touching either of the lateral margins of the ice. We were not so
fortunate, however, with the loftier spars; for scarcely was the
vessel beneath the arch, when she lifted on a swell, and her
main-top-gallant-mast snapped off in the cap. The ice groaned and
cracked over our heads, and large fragments fell both ahead and astern
of us, several of them even tumbling upon our decks. One large piece
came down within an inch of the extremity of Dr. Reasono's tail, just
escaping the dire calamity of knocking out the brains of that profound
and philo-monikin philosopher. In another instant the ship was through
the pass, which completely closed, with the crash of an earthquake, as
soon as possible afterwards.

Still driven by the gale, we ran rapidly towards the south, along a
channel less than a quarter of a mile in width, the bergs evidently
closing on each side of us, and the ship, as if conscious of her
jeopardy, doing her utmost, with Captain Poke still at the wheel. In a
little more than an hour, the worst was over--the Walrus issuing into an
open basin of several leagues in extent, which was, however, completely
encircled by the frozen mountains. Here Noah took a look at the pumpkin,
after which he made no ceremony in plumply telling Dr. Reasono that
he had been greatly mistaken in laying down the position of Captivity
Island, as he himself had named the spot where the amiable s