Fast in the Ice | Page 7

as well as
with beams running along the length of the vessel, and in every part
that was likely to be subjected to pressure iron stanchions were fastened.
But the bow of the vessel was the point where the utmost strength was
aimed at. Inside, just behind the cutwater, the whole space was so
traversed by cross-beams of oak that it almost became a solid mass, and
outside the sharp stem was cased in iron so as to resemble a giant's
chisel. The false keel was taken off, the whole vessel, in short, was
rendered as strong, outside and in, as wood and iron and skill could
make her. It need scarcely be said that all the other arrangements about
her were made with the greatest care and without regard to expense, for
although the owners of the brig did not wish to waste their money, they
set too high a value on human life to risk it for the sake of saving a few
pounds. She was provisioned for a cruise of two years and a half. But
this was in case of accidents, for Captain Harvey did not intend to be
absent much longer than one year.
But, to return to our story:
Jim Croft's fear that they would be set fast was realised sooner than he
expected. The floes began to close in, from no cause that could be seen,
for the wind was quite still, and in a short time the loose ice pressed
against the Hope on all sides. It seemed to young Gregory as if the
story that the seaman had just related was about to be enacted over
again; and, being a stranger to ice, he could not help feeling a little
uneasy for some time. But there was in reality little or no danger, for

the pressure was light, and the brig had got into a small bay in the edge
of an ice-field, which lay in the midst of the smaller masses.
Seeing that there was little prospect of the pack opening up just then,
the captain ordered the ice-anchors to be got out and fixed.
The appearance of the sea from the brig's deck was now extremely
wintry, but very bright and cheerful. Not a spot of blue water was to be
seen in any direction. The whole ocean appeared as if it had been
frozen over.
It was now past noon, and the sun's rays were warm, although the
quantity of ice around rendered the air cold. As the men were returning
from fixing the anchors, the captain looked over the side, and said:
"It's not likely that we shall move out of this for some hours. What say
you, lads, to a game of football?"
The proposal was received with a loud cheer. The ball had been
prepared by the sail-maker, in expectation of some such opportunity as
this. It was at once tossed over the side; those men who were not
already on the field scrambled out of the brig, and the entire crew went
leaping and yelling over the ice with the wild delight of schoolboys let
loose for an unexpected holiday.
They were in the middle of the game when a loud shout came from the
brig, and the captain's voice was heard singing out:
"All hands ahoy! come aboard. Look alive!"
Instantly the men turned, and there was a general race toward the brig,
which lay nearly a quarter of a mile distant from them.
In summer, changes in the motions of the ice take place in the most
unexpected manner. Currents in the ocean are, no doubt, the chief cause
of these; the action of winds has also something to do with them. One
of these changes was now taking place. Almost before the men got on
board the ice had separated, and long canals of water were seen

opening up here and there. Soon after that a light breeze sprang up, the
ice-anchors were taken aboard, the sails trimmed, and soon the Hope
was again making her way slowly but steadily to the north.
CHAPTER FOUR.
DIFFICULTIES, TROUBLES, AND DANGERS.
For some hours the brig proceeded onward with a freshening breeze,
winding and turning in order to avoid the lumps of ice. Many of the
smaller pieces were not worth turning out of the way of, the mere
weight of the vessel being sufficient to push them aside.
Up to this time they had succeeded in steering clear of everything
without getting a thump; but they got one at last, which astonished
those among the crew who had not been in the ice before. The captain,
Gregory, and Dicey were seated in the cabin at the time taking tea. Ned
Dawkins, the steward, an active little man, was bringing in a tea-pot
with a