shifted; and the nearest bergs, from some cause or other, are slowly
opening; but recollect what a mass of floe-ice there is outside. Let us
sound again."

The process was renewed this time much easier than before, the boxes being
already removed. The result was soon known.

"Well, what news, Gar'ner?" demanded Daggett, leaning down, in a vain
endeavour to perceive the almost imperceptible marks that distinguished
the wet part of the rod from that which was dry. "Do we gain on the leak,
or does the leak gain on us? God send it may be the first!"

"God has so sent it, sir," answered Stimson, reverently; for he was
holding the lantern, having remained on board the damaged vessel by the
order of his officer. "It is He alone, Captain Daggett, who could do this
much to seamen in distress."

"Then to God be thanks, as is due! If we can but keep the leak under, the
schooner may yet be saved."

"I think it may be done, Daggett," added Roswell. "That one pump has
brought the water down more than two inches; and, in my judgment, the two
together would clear her entirely."

"We'll pump her till she sucks!" cried Daggett. "Rig the other pump, men,
and go to the work heartily."

This was done, though not until Roswell ordered fully half of his own crew
to come to the assistance of his consort. By this time the two vessels had
filled away, made more sail, and were running off before the new wind,
retracing their steps, so far as one might judge of the position of the
great passage. Daggett's vessel led, and Hazard followed; Roswell still
remaining on board the injured craft. Thus passed the next few hours. The
pumps soon sucked, and it was satisfactorily ascertained that the
schooner could be freed from the water by working at them about
one-fourth of the time. This was a bad leak, and one that would have
caused any crew to become exhausted in the course of a few days. As
Roswell ascertained the facts more clearly, he became better satisfied
with a decision that, in a degree, had been forced on him. He was
passively content to return with Daggett, convinced that taking the
injured vessel to Rio was out of the question, until some attention had
been paid to her damages.

Fortune--or as Stimson would say, Providence--favoured our mariners
greatly in the remainder of their run among the bergs. There were several
avalanches of snow quite near to them, and one more berg performed a
revolution at no great distance; but no injury w