movements; they were more agitated, rising
and falling and crashing together, and appearing as if they were
crowding along to crush the vessel before the refuge was reached.

This had not been noticed from the bridge, and in an excited tone
Johannes hailed the deck.

"We're just entering a swift current, sir, which is caused by the great
point ahead. The ice is crowding up into it, and goes north with a
heavy rush."

"Yes, I see!" cried Captain Marsham; and he issued a few clear, sharp
orders, which were as promptly obeyed.

"Stay aloft there, both of you," he cried next, "and mark the other
water ahead!"

There was a dead silence for a minute on deck, but all around a
condensation of the grinding, cracking, and rending of the ice which
they had heard more or less all day.

Then, as Steve's eyes met Johannes' stern gaze--for the lad was fully
awake to the peril--the Norseman sang out:

"Turn her astarn, sir! The ice has closed up ahead." The captain gave
the order without question, the speed was checked, and the _Hvalross_
began to glide back, when Johannes' voice rose again in hoarse command.
"Stop! There is no way back."

"Look again!" roared Captain Marsham. "There must be. Quick!"

"No way out astarn, nor to right or left, sir!" cried Johannes; "the ice
is closing in upon us."

"But forward--is it not opening?"

"No, sir; and we're in the current, too."

The captain gave his orders again; but those which reached the
crow's-nest had nothing to do with the navigation of the ship; they were
to the men to stow provisions as rapidly as possible in the boats.

"Johannes, what does this mean?" whispered Steve, aghast.

"That the captain means to have the boats ready, if we can use them; if
not, to have provisions to heave on to the ice when we take to it."

"When we take to the ice?" cried Steve.

"Yes, my lad; look!" said the Norseman, pointing to the narrow limits of
the water in which the _Hvalross_ lay; and as the boy gazed downward
with dilating eyes, he could see that on one side there was a wall of
ice almost stationary, while on the other the masses were grinding
together, the smaller being forced upward above the larger to form a
chaotic ridge, which was coming toward them with swift, irresistible
power.

"Quick!" said the Norseman sternly. "In another five minutes we shall
be crushed in the ice. We must be on deck so as to have our chance of
escape with the rest when they take to th