A VOYAGE IN THE NORTH SEAS. 263 



half a minute, they came to the narrowest part of the channel, and 

 beheld the enormous forms of the two ice-mountains closing slowly 

 but with irresistible force. There was a single moment of unutter- 

 able suspense ; one into which the agony of an eternity seemed to be 

 condensed : with the rapidity of lightning they flew through the 

 perilous passage, skirting the sides of the bergs so closely that the 

 oar of the seaman was snapped off in the rowlock, and the next in- 

 stant the huge masses closed with a report -like thunder, followed by 

 a continuous harsh grinding sound, as if some living monster had 

 closed its jaws without clutching its prey, and was gnashing its tusks 

 in disappointed rage. 



The force of the current had swept the boat about fifty yards from 

 the spot where the crashing collision had taken place, before some of 

 the fragments which had been broken off by the concussion and 

 thrown high into the air, fell into the boat. Fortunately these were 

 of too small size to do any injury, while they became afterwards of 

 service in quenching thirst.* They were now in smooth water and 

 completely sheltered from the inclemency of the blast under the lee 

 of the ice. 



The feelings of Arundel at this signal deliverance were such as 

 none not even those who have felt them can ever expect to convey 

 to others. He turned towards him the pale and almost unconscious 

 features of his beloved, and after a brief gaze of unutterable tender- 

 ness, at length found relief from the agony of his contending emotions 

 in a flood of tears. Ah ! there is no electric touch, no stimulant so 

 capable of dispelling that torpor of the soul which extreme suffering 

 has produced, as the pulsations of a loving and beloved heart felt 

 beating against the bosom of the sufferer. Flora opened her eyes, 

 and, for the first time since they had driven past the ship, her features 

 wore an expression of consciousness. Even in the distressing cir- 

 cumstances by which she was surrounded, maidenly modesty asserted 

 her claim. A faint blush mounted into her palid cheek, as she found 

 herself in Arundel's close embrace, and felt his tears streaming upon 

 her face, and knew that these tears were shed more for her sufferings 

 than his own. She murmured his name, coupled with an endearing 

 epithet, and gently releasing her hand from his, wiped away the 

 scalding drops as they fell upon her cheek. The endearing words, 

 the action still more endearing, the soft touch, and the strong inex- 

 tinguishable affection which could alone, at such a moment of horror, 

 have prompted the display of these proof of tenderness, drove at once 

 all ArundeFs former prudential considerations from his mind, and 

 pressing his lips to hers, till the blood which had deserted them 

 rushed back with tenfold force, he gave and received a sacred vow 

 that if it pleased God to release them from their present dangers, 

 their lots should henceforth be cast together. 



" Better take a small pull at the main brace, doctor," said Bill, 



* It can scarcely be necessary to remind any reader that the icebergs consist 

 of perfectly fresh water congealed. Cowper, in his little poem called the " Ice 

 Islands seen floating in the German Ocean," gives as concise and scientific an 

 account of their formation as possible. 



