he ice, as she proceeded, gathered thickly around her. Boldly,
however, she pushed on through the passages which appeared between the
floes. Now she was threading a narrow lane of water, now sailing across
an open lake, but still on every side appeared those threatening fields
of ice, which might at any moment enclose her in their deadly embrace.
The captain, or one of the mates, was constantly in the crow's-nest,
looking out for the most open passages ahead, through which the ship
might be steered.

They had sailed on for some distance, when the ice on either side was
seen to be moving. A tempting channel, however, appeared before them.
The "Laplander" sailed into it. She had scarcely entered when the
opposite floes began to approach each other. Still the breeze was
strong and fair, and the captain hoped that he might be able to push
through into an open space beyond before they could close. Nearer and
nearer they came to each other, till the broad passage assumed the
appearance of a narrow canal. It was at length seen that escape was
impossible. The sails were furled, the ship was secured to the floe on
one side, and an attempt was made to cut a dock in which she might
remain while the inevitable concussion took place. Almost before the
ice-saws could be got out and set to work, a loud crashing roaring sound
was heard. The floes meeting with terrific force, vast masses rose up
in the air, huge fragments being thrown upon each other, till in one
instant a ridge, reaching almost to the height of the ship's tops, was
formed. The seamen, not waiting for the captain's orders, seized their
bags and bedding, and whatever they could lay hands on, and leaped out
on the ice.

"Follow me, Archy," cried Andrew, seizing a bag of biscuits, and
throwing a couple of blankets over his shoulder. "In another minute the
ship may be crushed to fragments."

Archy lowered himself down with Andrew on to the ice, and with the rest
of the crew they hurried away from the ship. Scarcely had they left her
when the floes closed in, and vast masses of ice were seen rising up
around her, the rending and crashing sound of her stout timbers telling
them too plainly of her fate. Not till they had got some distance did
the fugitives venture to stop and watch what was going forward. The
masts were seen to totter, and large fragments of wreck were thrown on
either side over the surface. The captain, as he saw the destruction of
his vess