ery cold, though," said Dicey. "I can feel the
difference since the last five minutes."

"I can't say I feel it," said Paul; "but hark, sir; I fancy I heard the
sound of breakers."

Willy listened, bending forward in his eagerness. "Yes," he thought he
heard a sound, and it seemed to be almost ahead, but yet it seemed to
come from a long way off.

"It is only fancy after all," observed Paul. The other men for'ard
could hear nothing.

A few minutes passed. "What is that?" exclaimed Willy, with startling
energy. "There seems to be a great white wall rising up before us."

"Iceberg ahead!" shouted Paul, and he never hallooed louder in his life,
"a little on the starboard bow."

"Starboard the helm," cried Harry from the quarterdeck. "Man the
starboard braces. Brace the yards sharp up; call the captain; all hands
on deck to save ship." Such were the orders he issued in rapid
succession. In an instant the boatswain's whistle and the hoarse
bawling of his mates was heard along the lower decks, and the ship,
lately so silent and deserted, teemed with life. The crew came tumbling
up from below, some with their clothes in their hands; the soldiers
quickly followed, hurrying from their berths. Commander Newcombe and
the other officers were on deck a few instants after the order to summon
them had been given. He now took command, issuing his orders with the
calmness of a man well inured to danger. Another voice was heard; it
was that of Colonel Morley. "Soldiers, keep to your quarters," he
shouted out. The men, who had been rushing on deck, without a murmur
obeyed the command.

The danger was indeed imminent. Sheer out of the ocean rose a huge
white mountain, directly against which the ship appeared to be running
headlong; but, answering her helm, she came up to the wind, though not
in sufficient time altogether to avoid the danger. As Willy looked up,
he expected to see the yards strike the sides of the iceberg, for such
it was. A grating sound was heard: now it seemed as if the ship would
be thrown bodily on to the icy mass; still she moved forward; now she
heeled over to the wind, the yards again almost touching the frozen
cliffs. An active leaper might have sprung on to the berg, could
footing have been found. Every moment the crew expected to find their
ship held fast by some jutting point, and speedily dashed to pieces; the
bravest held their breath, and had there been light, the countenances of