s in
the first-mate's watch, and the latter approached that old sea-dog with a
wish to keep himself awake by conversing.

"You seem as wide awake, king Stephen," the mate remarked, "as if you
never felt drowsy!"

"This is not a part of the world for hammocks and berths, Mr. Hazard," was
the reply. "I can get along, and must get along, with a quarter part of
the sleep in these seas as would sarve me in a low latitude."

"And I feel as if I wanted all I can get. Them fellows look up well into
our wake, Stephen."

"They do indeed, sir, and they ought to do it; for we have been longer
than is for our good, in their'n."

"Well, now we have got a fresh start, I hope we may make a clear run of
it. I saw no ice worth speaking of, to the nor'ard here, before we made
sail."

"Because you see'd none, Mr. Hazard; is no proof there is none. Floe-ice
can't be seen at any great distance though its blink may. But, it seems to
me, it's all blink in these here seas!"

"There you're quite right, Stephen; for turn which way you will, the
horizon has a show of that sort----"

"Starboard"--called out the look-out forward--"keep her away--keep her
away--there is ice ahead."

"Ice in here!" exclaimed Hazard, springing forward--"That is more than we
bargained for! Where away is your ice, Smith?"

"Off here, sir, on our weather bow--and a mortal big field of it--jist
sich a chap as nipp'd the Vineyard Lion, when she first came in to join
us. Sich a fellow as that would take the sap out of our bends, as a
squeezer takes the juice from a lemon!"

Smith was a carpenter by trade, which was probably the reason why he
introduced this figure. Hazard saw the ice with regret; for he had hoped
to work the schooner fairly out to sea in his watch; but the field was
getting down through the passage in a way that threatened to cut off the
exit of the two schooners from the bay. Daggett kept close in his wake, a
proof that this experienced navigator in such waters saw no means to turn
farther to windward. As the wind was now abeam, both vessels drove rapidly
ahead; and in half an hour the northern point of the land they had so
lately left came into view close aboard of them. Just then the moon rose,
and objects became more clearly visible.

Hazard hailed the Vineyard Lion, and demanded what was to be done. It was
possible, by hauling close on a wind, to pass the cape a short distance to
windward of it, and seemingly thus clear the floe. Unless t