t-lieutenant to the commander.

"I pray that it may come, then," was the answer.

Again and again the ship struck, evidently on each occasion receiving
fearful damage. The soldiers who had been stationed at the pumps had
knocked off, forgetting their duty in their alarm, when the ship first
struck. The officers now went among them, and urged them to return;
Colonel Morley had himself, however, to go before his orders were
obeyed. The carpenter, who had been sent to sound the well, reported
two feet in the hold. "We may keep that under," observed the commander,
"if the men do their duty."

Mrs Rumbelow was not idle all this time. She had been from the first
tending to the other women; but when she found that the men were
inclined not to obey orders, she was in their midst in an instant.
"What, my lads!" she exclaimed; "is this like you, to let the ship sink
with your wives and children, and the good colonel, and his lady and
daughters, and not do your best to keep her afloat? Shame on you! I
would not have believed it if it had been told me!" In another moment
the pumps were heard clanking away, and sending out the water as rapidly
as before.

The ship was moving at a fearfully rapid rate towards the side of the
vast iceberg. The crew, after the first alarm had subsided, exerted
themselves manfully, and arrangements were being made for the dreaded
encounter. Spars were got out and secured to the sides and quarters,
but still some hope remained that the wind might catch her headsails,
and pay her off in time to avoid it. Every instant, however, that hope
lessened, and on she drove, stern foremost, till the summit of the berg
appeared almost overhead. Close at hand was seen, between two bluffs, a
vast cavern, into which it seemed more than probable that the ship would
drive, and if so, her escape would be impossible.

Such moments try the stoutest hearts. Many countenances became pale,
and some eyes were turned away from the danger; but the commander and
officers faced it boldly, while the crew remained steadily at their
stations. Willy Dicey fully understood the terrific danger in which
they were placed. He looked at the blue sky, at the sun shining
brightly, at the waters dancing gaily, and he thought of the loved ones
at home, and of the little prospect which existed of their ever hearing
of him again. But, boy though he was, even his young heart did not
quail; he was at the post of duty, he knew th