ns the crew had collected, the rest being left in the hope of the
_Hvalross_ sailing round to that side of the great promontory, so as to
get within easy distance, and then load up with all worth taking.

But that was never done, for it was quite the end of August, and a
feeling of despair was creeping over both crews, as it seemed that they
must prepare for another winter in the ice, when a terrific gale swept
down the fiord one night.

It had its results.

All through the spring and summer the water had been rising in the
blocked-up fiord, for that which had escaped from the chasm was very
small in quantity since the crumbling down of the rocks that night; and
consequently the _Hvalross_ rode some thirty yards higher than when she
was frozen-in amongst the newly formed ice. The weight of this water
against the ice dam was tremendous, and there was always hope that it
would force its way through; but the piled-up floe held good till the
night of the gale, when there was a heavy sea on, and the ship lay
tugging at her two anchors, hard set to hold her own so as not to be
driven down the fiord and crushed amongst the breakers.

The canvas shelter had long before been lowered, and every one was on
deck, waiting once more for the steam to be up sufficiently to enable
them to go ahead a little and ease the strain on the anchors. At last
there was sufficient pressure, and the familiar ting came from the
engine-room gong, the propeller spun round, and the dragging at the
anchors ceased. It was just in time, for all at once there was a
fearful roar heard loudly above the rushing and shrieking of the wind.

"Full speed ahead!" signalled the captain; and the propeller churned up
the water now rushing by them at a terrific rate, while all gazed wildly
at the sides, expecting to be swept down the fiord to destruction in the
masses of ice. For the great floe dam which closed them in had given
way at last, and for a short time their position was one of terrible
peril. But the cables proved true, eased as they were by the full power
of the propeller, and half an hour after the _Hvalross_ was riding
nearly forty feet lower than she had been in the morning, with the way
out to the ocean free.

In those precarious waters no opportunities can be lost. A place open
one day may, by a change of wind, be closed the next by the ice-floes;
and in view of this the _Hvalross_ glided out of her prison deeply laden
with the spoil of an