and it seemed that she
was now about to move out of her dangerous position. "Let the people go
below and get their breakfasts, Mr Tobin," said the commander to the
first-lieutenant; "they are well-nigh knocked up, and may still have
heavy work before them." The boatswain's whistle was soon heard piping
to the welcome meal, and the men gladly hurried below, though with less
of the elasticity which they exhibited generally on such occasions.

The lofty icebergs were still dangerously near on the port side. Shafto
and Willy, who had snatched a hurried meal in the midshipmen's berth,
were quickly again on deck, as were indeed many of the officers and men,
those who had remained on duty going below. The ship made but slow way.
In the far distance could still be seen a field of ice, which had
hitherto sheltered them from the tumbling sea, which came in from the
north-east; several large pieces were also floating about, and it
required much watchful care to avoid them. But the chief danger
evidently lay from the icebergs to the west; they, too, it appeared,
were slowly moving and slightly changing their relative positions. The
most northern of a line of bergs was much the largest, its summit
towering far above the ship's masts. The anxious glances which the
commander and first-lieutenant occasionally cast towards it showed that
they wished they were farther off. Still, as Willy looked over the
side, and saw the calm waters and the clear space ahead, he could not
fancy but that the ship would soon be out in the open sea. "I shall be
quite sorry to lose sight of these beautiful icebergs," he observed to
Shafto; "it may be a long time before we again shall see anything like
them."

"And I shall be very thankful to bid farewell to them for ever,"
answered Harry. "Just fancy what it would be to have the ship driven in
under one of them. Should there be any sea at the time she would
speedily be ground to pieces, or, as sometimes happens, the whole mass
might come tumbling over and crush her, without a prospect of a human
being on board escaping."

"Very dreadful!" said Willy; "and I am thankful there is no chance, of
that. In another ten minutes we shall be well clear of them."

"I hope so," said Harry; but still he looked grave.

They had just then reached the forecastle, where the master was
standing.

Though the ship was moving on parallel to the side of the berg, the
in-draught was evidently carrying her neare