Part 10 (1/2)

The powerful jerk thus occasioned caused the baronet to turn his head; and he then saw in a moment what h to stop the engines at once; the _Flying Fish's_ course was stayed, and she ian to drive swiftly astern in apparently a dead calale

The professor at once scrambled to his feet, and, followed by his co time in useless words, he at once set hiht, it being absolutely necessary to clear the propeller before againso a complete break-down should result

A favourable spot was at length found--but not until they had drifted coht of the apparently doo Fish_ was carefully lowered to the surface of a large floe, her anchor being first let go in order to ”bring her up” and prevent her being driven along by the wind over the smooth surface It was a task more difficult of accomplishment than they had anticipated, the anchor for soht at last in a crevice, and irip-anchors were extended and the shi+p secured

No sooner was the _Flying Fish_ fairly settled on the ice than Mildht to be done, descended to the lower recesses of the shi+p, and, opening the trap-door in her botto with hi-roo the ladder in a suitable position against the propeller, nian to throw off the convolutions of the entangled hawser Twenty minutes sufficed, not only to coe had been done to the hull of the vessel; and, his three co followed him and removed the hawser to the interior of the vessel, he re-entered the hull, secured the trap-door after hiinald and the colonel busily engaged in adjusting a neser ready for use, and, with his assistance, this task was completed in another five minutes, and the shi+p was onceFish_ was in the act of rising froinald asked:

”Should we notat once to the water, professor?”

”Undoubtedly we should,” was the answer ”Such a course would also have the additional advantage of enabling us to iiving us that hold upon the water necessary to cope successfully with the weight of a large shi+p like the one of which we are going in search We _ in the air, be able to tow her out of danger, but I am a little doubtful on the point; and, as this is a case in which it will not do to incur any risk by trying experiments, ill take to the water as soon as we can discover a suitable channel It appears toof the kind about six ht”

There certainly was a channel through the ice at the point indicated by the professor, but whether it was a true channel, or merely a _cul de sac_, they were for theit to within a mile, however, they found it to be the latter; but about a couple of , unbroken, as far as the eye could reach For this they steered, and in a very fewFish_ was once more afloat, with her water-cha to the full extent of its power

The hawser being this time temporarily secured in such a manner as to render a repetition of their late accident i, moreover, safely ensconced in the pilot-house, there was no hesitation about again pressing the shi+p forward at full speed, the channel, luckily, being straight enough to allow of this; and very soon the group of icebergs in which the unfortunate barque was entangled once more appeared in view Mildines; but Sir Reginald and the colonel no sooner saw the bergs than they seized their telescopes and began at once to look out for the barque

At first they could see nothing of her, but presently she glided into view frolance was sufficient to assure theradually set down into the triangular extreht in which she was embayed, so that every tack sheit, and very soon the water space would become so circumscribed as to leave no room for her to manoeuvre But this was not the worst feature of the case As desperate diseases are sometimes combated with desperate remedies, so in her desperate condition the hazardous and alside one of the edges of the floe ht have been atte seauard of the fleet, had already reached the edge of the floe, on opposite sides of the bay, to ard of the entrapped barque, and were rapidly rasping their way doard the apex of the triangle where the whaler was already shooting into stays for what must evidently be her last tack This would be so short that she could scarcely fail to miss stays on her next attempt, when she would drift helplessly down into the corner of the bight, and be ground out of existence by the berg which first happened to reach that point

It was at this critical moment that a cry of dismay arose si Fish's_ pilot-house A slight turn in the channel had revealed to the fact that it, also, terminated in a _cul de sac_, a neck of solid ice, so it fro for her life

What was to be done? There was no time to discuss the question; but a happy inspiration flashed through the baronet's brain

”We ht! I understand,” was the professor's brief reply; and, turning the compressed air into the water-cha the sharp nose of the _Flying Fish_ just above the level of the floe a single instant before she reached it

It was a treht of in cold blood, as the shi+p was rushi+ng forward at full speed, and there was no knohat ht happen; but the sympathies of the party were now so fully aroused by the awful peril of the barque--which, in the s--that they never paused to think of the possible consequences, but sent the shi+p at the barrier as a huntsman sends his horse to a desperate leap For an infinitesimal fraction of time the four adventurous travellers were thrilled with a feeling of wild exultation as they held their breath and braced themselves for the expected shock Then the s Fish_like a hunter to the leap, slid shtest jar, up on to the surface of the floe, across the narrow barrier, and into the water beyond

”Stop her!” shouted Mild the exultant cheer which rose to the lips of his coo, Sir Reginald, and giveline on board Then, as soon as I wave ht a strain upon the hawser, when you may increase the speed to about twelve knots--not more, or you will tear the windlass out of the barque Steer straight out between those two bergs, and remember that _moments_ are now precious”

With these words the lieutenant hurried out on deck and an to clear away the heaving line and ines meanwhile had been stopped in obedience to Mild that he was theFish_ answering the helm, which the baronet, an experienced yachts the weather side of the barque

”Look out for our line, lads!” hailed Mild in open-mouthed astonishment at the extraordinary apparition which had thus abruptly put in an appearance alongside them

”Ay, ay, sir; heave!” answered one s his surprise, still seemed to have his wits about him Mildmay hove the line with all a seahts settled down round the neck and shoulders of the expectant tar

”Haul in, and throw the eye of the hawser over your windlass bitts,”

ordered Mildmay; ”ill soon have you clear of your present pickle”

”Thank you, sir,” hailed the skipper; ”haul in ss are driving down upon us hty fast”