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the ice; both prudence and duty commanded them to go forward. The difficulties were enhanced by the impossibility of Shandon's fixing the direction of the brig among all the changing points, which were continually shifting and presenting no definite point to be aimed at.
The crew were divided into two forces, and one stationed on the starboard, the other on the larboard side; every man was given a long iron-headed pole, with which to ward off threatening pieces of ice. Soon the Forward entered such a narrow passage between two lofty pieces, that the ends of the yards touched its solid walls; gradually it penetrated farther into a winding valley filled with a whirlwind of snow, while the floating ice was crashing ominously all about.
But soon it was evident that there was no outlet to this gorge; a huge block, caught in the channel, was floating swiftly down to the Forward; it seemed impossible to escape it, and equally impossible to return through an already closed path.
Shandon and Johnson, standing on the forward deck, were viewing their position. Shandon with his right hand signalled to the man at the wheel what direction he was to take, and with his left hand he indicated to James Wall the orders for the engines.
"What will be the end of this?" asked the doctor of Johnson.
"What pleases God," answered the boatswain.
The block of ice, eight hundred feet high9, was hardly more than a cable's length from the Forward, and threatened to crush it.
Pen broke out with a fearful oath.
"Silence!" cried a voice which it was impossible to recognize in the roar of the hurricane.
The mass appeared to be falling upon the brig, and there was an indefinable moment of terror; the men, dropping their poles, ran aft in spite of Shandon's orders.
Suddenly, a terrible noise was heard; a real water-spout fell on the deck of the brig, which was lifted in the air by a huge wave. The crew uttered a cry of terror, while Garry, still firm at the wheel, kept the course of the Forward steady, in spite of the fearful lurch.
And when they looked for the mountain of ice, it had disappeared; the passage was free, and beyond, a long channel, lit up by the sun, allowed the brig to continue her advance.
"Well, Dr. Clawbonny," said Johnson, "can you explain that?"
"It's very simple, my friend," answered the doctor. "It happens very often; when these floating masses get detached in a thaw, they float away in perfect equilibrium; but as they get towards the south, where the water is relatively warmer, their base, eaten away by running into other pieces, begins to melt, and be undermined; then comes a moment when the centre of gravity is displaced, and they turn upside down. Only, if this had happened two minutes later, it would have fallen on the brig and crushed us beneath it."
CHAPTER IX
ANOTHER LETTER
The Polar Circle was crossed at last; on the 30th of April, at midday, the Forward passed by Holsteinborg; picturesque mountains arose in the east. The sea appeared almost free of ice, or, more exactly, the ice could be avoided. The wind was from the southeast, and the brig, under foresail, staysail, and topsails, sailed up Baffin's Bay.
That day was exceptionally calm and the crew was able to get some rest; numerous birds were swimming and flying about the ship; among others, the doctor noticed some wild birds which were very like teal, with black neck, wings, and back, and a white breast; they were continually diving, and often remained more than forty seconds under water.
This day would not have been marked by any new incident, if the following extraordinary fact had not taken place.
At six o'clock in the morning, on returning to his cabin after his watch was over, Richard Shandon found on his table a letter, addressed as follows: —
Shandon could not believe his eyes; but before reading it, he summoned the doctor, James Wall, and the boatswain, and showed them the letter.
"It's getting interesting," said Johnson.
"It's delightful," thought the doctor.
"Well," cried Shandon, "at last we shall know his secret."
He tore open the envelope rapidly, and read the following: —
COMMANDER: The captain of the Forward is satisfied with the coolness, skill, and courage which the crew, officers, and you, yourself, have shown of late; he begs of you to express his thanks to the crew.
Be good enough to sail due north towards Melville Bay, and thence try to penetrate into Smith's Sound.
"And is that all?" cried the doctor.
"That's all," answered Shandon.
The letter fell from his hands.
"Well," said Wall, "this imaginary captain says nothing about coming on board. I don't believe he ever will."
"But how did this letter get here?" asked Johnson.
Shandon was silent.
"Mr. Wall is right," answered the doctor, who had picked up the letter, and who was turning it over with hands as well as in his mind. "The captain won't come on board, and for an excellent reason."
"What is it?" asked Shandon, quickly.
"Because he's on board now," answered the doctor, simply.
"Now!" exclaimed Shandon, "what do you mean?"
"How else can you explain the arrival of this letter?"
Johnson nodded approvingly.
"Impossible!" said Shandon, warmly. "I know all the men in the crew; can he have smuggled himself into their number since we left? It's impossible, I tell you. For more than two years I've seen every one of them more than a hundred times in Liverpool; so your conjecture, Doctor, is untenable."
"Well, what do you admit, Shandon?"
"Everything, except that. I admit that the captain or some tool of his, for all I know, may have taken advantage of the darkness, the mist, or whatever you please, to slip on board; we are not far from shore; there are the kayaks of the Esquimaux which could get through the ice without our seeing them; so some one may have come on board the ship, left the letter, – the fog was thick enough to make this possible."
"And to prevent them from seeing the brig," answered the doctor; "if we didn't see the intruder slip aboard the Forward, how could he see the Forward in the fog?"
"That's true," said Johnson.
"So I return to my explanation," said the doctor; "what do you think of it, Shandon?"
"Whatever you please," answered Shandon, hotly, "except that the man is on board."
"Perhaps," added Wall, "there is some man in the crew who is acting under his instructions."
"Perhaps," said the doctor.
"But who can it be?" asked Shandon. "I've known all my men for a long time."
"At any rate," resumed Johnson, "if this captain presents himself, whether as man or devil, we shall receive him; but there's something else to be drawn from this letter."
"What is that?" asked Shandon.
"It is that we must go not only into Melville Bay, but also into Smith's Sound."
"You are right," said the doctor.
"Smith's Sound," repeated Shandon, mechanically.
"So it's very plain," continued Johnson, "that the Forward is not intended to seek the Northwest Passage, since we leave to the left, the only way towards it, that is to say, Lancaster Sound. This would seem to promise a difficult journey in unknown seas."
"Yes, Smith's Sound," replied Shandon; "that's the route Kane, the American, took in 1853, and it was full of
The block of ice which turns upside down is stated to be 800 feet high. This appears to be a mistranslation of the French; other translations have it as at least a hundred feet high