Part 34 (1/2)
”Ice--struck bows!”
That was all, and the man stood immovable once more at his post
”Come away!” cried the doctor ”We have no business here”
Closely as his lips were pressed to Steve's ear, the words were hardly heard; but the ed to stay there by the big Norseht, and he followed his coe, and, unable to resist the desire, he began to creep up the steps
The wind pressure was fearful, and everything he touched was coated with ice; but he persevered till he could touch the captain's leg In an instant he had stooped down to the boy, to shout, as loudly as he could:
”Go down!”
It seemed hard to the boy, when the touch onlyabout thethe fierce storm; but he obeyed, and, somehow or other, he hardly kne, reached the cabin, where the doctor, after several tries, lit the laht shone out Steve stared in wonder at his coly furnished cabin Now all was changed; the white snow had penetrated through door-cracks and the ventilator, covering everything
But they could breathe and talk here as they rubbed the snow froh their coats were like so much armour, and were too stiff to bend
”Awful, Steve, my boy! Awful!” shouted the doctor ”What a fearful storm!”
The noise increased just then, for the door was quickly opened, but as quickly shut, and a white figure stood before theht it was the captain; then the icy helmet upon thethe face of Mr Lowe, the mate
”The captain says you are not to run such a risk again, ood, and it troubles hiy to save the shi+p”
”Then we are in great danger?” cried Steve
”Yes, my lad, I think so,” was the reply; ”but the captain will save us if it is to be done”
”What was that awful crash?”
”Ice beneath our bows We have it all round now, and it is impossible to avoid it All we can do is to keep her head to the wind, and drift
We can make no headith full steam on, and we dare not if we could”
”But--”
”Can't stop,” was the reply; ”going forward to the men;” and the mate replaced his ice-laden cap and passed out into the stor of your safety, Steve, my lad; but we oing through is murderous Let's wait for a bit, and then take them all some more hot drink”
He led the way out of the whitened cabin, and they struggled back through the driving snow to the engine-roolow they crept just as there was another blohich jarred the whole shi+p
Then the gong sounded
”Slower,” said the engineer, as he moved the lever ”There, that's about as little as we can do Just enough to give her steering power”
No more was said, and Steve looked round, as he war with his face in his hands, close to the side
”Asleep?” said Steve, with his lips to the cook's ear; but the ht!” he replied