t of wind broke it out, and the stream or breeze set it down this
way. That seems to indicate that there can't be a great deal of it,
but a few days' calm and frost would freeze it solid."

"Well?" said Wyllard impatiently.

"It lies between us and the inlet, and it's quite clear that we can't
stay where we are. Once we got nipped, there'd probably be an end of
her. We have got to get into that inlet at once or make for the other
further south."

Wyllard smiled. "It all leads back to the same point. We must get
through the ice. The one question is--how's it to be done?"

"With a working breeze I'd stand into the biggest opening, but as
there's none we'll wait until it clears a little, and then send a boat
in. The sun may bring the wind."

They made breakfast in the meanwhile, but the wind did not come, and it
was some hours later when a pale coppery disc became visible and the
haze grew thinner. Then they swung a boat out hastily, for it would
not be very long before the light died away again, and two white men
and an Indian dropped into her. They pulled across half a mile of
sluggishly heaving water, crept up an opening, and presently vanished
among the ice. Soon afterwards the low sun went out, and wisps of
ragged cloud crept up from the westwards, while smears of vapour
blurred the horizon, and the swell grew steeper. There was no wind at
all, but blocks and canvas banged and thrashed furiously at every roll,
until they lowered the mainsail and lashed its heavy boom to the big
iron crutch astern. The boat remained invisible, but its crew had been
given instructions to push on as far as possible if they found clear
water, and Dampier, who did not seem uneasy about her, paced up and
down the deck while the afternoon wore away.

CHAPTER XVII.

DEFEAT.

A grey dimness was creeping in upon the schooner when a little bitter
breeze sprang up from westwards, and Dampier bade them get the mainsail
on to her.

"I don't like the look of the weather, and I'm beginning to feel that
I'd like to see that boat," he said. "Anyhow, we'll get way on her."

It was a relief to hoist the mainsail. The work put a little warmth
into them, and the white men, at least, had been conscious of a growing
uneasiness about their comrades in the boat. The breeze had, however,
freshened before they set it, and there were white caps on the water
when the _Selache_ headed for the ice. It had somewhat changed its
forma