260 A VOYAGE IN THE NORTH SEAS. 



of hoar frost on every thing within the boat. A few short squalls 

 passed by, and the loud long moan or rather shriek which the wind 

 then gave forth, showed that the first convulsive movements of the 

 wakening tempest were over, and that it was now bearing down 

 upon them with steady and irresistible force. On on they drove 

 before it, the foaming waters rushing past with a harsh cry; the wind 

 howling into the hollow of the sail j the mast curved and quivering ; 

 the timbers groaning and creaking, and the bow dashing against the 

 opposing billows, till the stout little boat seemed to stagger and re- 

 coil in her course ; but still she struggled on through the adverse ele- 

 ments, and seemed to wrestle with the winds and waves with a bold 

 resistance in retreat. There was profound silence in the boat for 

 some minutes ; Frank and the seaman gazing with anxious faces al- 

 ternately at the fast approaching fog and the ship, and Flora with 

 head bent down upon her open hands, engaged in silent prayer. The 

 Labrador had now cast off the iceberg, and under a close reefed main- 

 top-sail was lying to for them. They might be half a mile distant 

 from each other when the fog, first comparatively thin and transpa- 

 rent, but gradually becoming more dense and opaque, enveloped the 

 boat, and the hull and spars of the ship fading by degrees, were at 

 length totally shut out from their sight. The hoar frost now settled 

 thick upon the ropes and sail of the boat, the cold became almost in- 

 tolerable, the sun twice his natural size and blood-red in hue, ceasing 

 to be able to throw his beams through the thick vapour. Still they 

 sped on with fearful rapidity in the direction in which they had last 

 seen the ship. Frank gave the helm to Black Bill, and stepping 

 forward fired off his fowling-piece in order to make the crew of the 

 ship aware of their position. In a few moments the report of a gun 

 was distinctly heard. A little after he tried one of his pistols, the 

 powder had become damp, it snapped ; another and another equally 

 in vain. There was no time to replace them by dry charges, even if 

 the dense mist and driving spray would have rendered it practicable. 

 He knew that they might be down upon the ship in a moment, and 

 therefore hollowed at the utmost pitch of his voice. A faint sound 

 in a little time came up the wind, as if from a great distance. Again 

 Frank shouted with all his might, and had laid down his ear to the 

 gunwale of the boat, listening with breathless attention for the ex- 

 pected reply ; when a dark bulky form that seemed to grow out of 

 the very mist rose before him ; instant destruction seemed inevitable, 

 and uttering in a tone of horror, " The ship ! we shall be dashed to 

 pieces !" he remained clutching the gunwale of the boat with his 

 eyes fixed on the dreadful apparition. But Black Bill had at the 

 same time perceived the vessel, and with the coolness of a man fami- 

 liar with the dangers which now surrounded him, he executed the 

 necessary though perilous manoeuvre that gave them their only chance 

 of safety, and the next instant the boat shot under the stern of the 

 Labrador, and a rope was thrown out to them. 



" Let go the sheet ! cut away the halyards !" shouted Bill and 

 half the crew of the Labrador, as they saw the sail, after shivering for 

 a moment under the lee of the vessel, again filled by a sudden squall 

 and the boat bound away from the ship. Frank hud seized the rope 



