CHAPTER XIV: TERROR CARSON’S NERVE.
Bang! Crash!
Raynor was almost thrown out of his bunk by a terrific concussion.
“Goodness! We’ve collided with Cape Race!� was his first exclamation.
He scrambled hastily into some clothes and was soon on deck. “We are foul of the ice!� yelled the mate, rushing forward.
“What’s that?� roared Terror Carson. “I’ll hang that rascally look-out to the yard-arm. Down helm there. Quick, now! The sea is full of loose ice.�
It was about midnight and intensely dark to add to the confusion. A thin scud, borne of the cold air above the ice fields, obscured the stars and moon. It was almost impossible to see anything. Through the darkness orders were bawled in what appeared to be a hopeless tangle.
Jack turned to find Noddy at his side.
“Gee! Guess we’re in a tight place,� said the Bowery boy.
“It looks that way. Did you feel that bump?�
“Did I? Gee, I tort I wuz at Coney Island bumpin’ de bumps. But say, what’s de matter?�
“We are in a field of loose ice. We struck a small growler, I heard the captain say.�
“I didn’t hear nuffin growl but I guess it’s all right,� observed Noddy. “Say, do youse tink we’ll ever git out’n dis?�
“Never say die, you know,� rejoined Raynor, “but look, what’s that on our bow?�
“Looks like a big black tenement house wid no lights in der winders.�
“It’s a berg.�
“Holy Moses and we’re headed right bang fer um. Hold fast!�
“Light a flare there,� shouted the captain suddenly. The next moment the ghastly blue glare of a Coston light sputtered up. The sight the blaze revealed was a terrifying one.
There were two bergs. Both of them giants and both approaching each other. Between them was only a narrow passage. Waves dashed against their sides as the sea forced its way through the narrow channel. They were fairly caught in a trap. It was impossible to go about in that sea of ice.
“Chee, we’re goners,� cried Noddy, “we’ll git squeezed in between ’em like a lemon.�
“It looks as if there was no hope,� admitted Raynor. Then he looked round at Terror Carson. Like a man of steel the skipper of the Polly Ann stood poised on the bulwarks, steadying himself by a back stay. He seemed to be gauging the distance between the two converging bergs and the schooner. Raynor almost found it in his heart to admire his stoical calm in that supreme moment.
“Can we make it, sir?�
It was the mate speaking. He was ordinarily a calm, stolid man, but now his voice was hoarse with tension.
“I don’t know. We must if we can. It’s the only way out,� was the calm reply, “order all hands to sheets and braces.�
“Sheets and braces!� bawled out the mate.
There was a scampering along the decks. Every man stood at his appointed place. Raynor and Noddy, as “idlers,� as cooks and so forth are classed, had nothing to do but watch.
“Jove,� exclaimed Raynor, “Carson’s going to try to get us out of it.�
“He don’t stan’ no more chance than a chicken at a nigger picnic,� opined Noddy dolefully.
Terror Carson clambered down from his post on the bulwark. Quite slowly, as if there was no urgent hurry, he strode back toward the helm. Suddenly he gave a sharp order.
“Break out your topsails and keep the lights burning.�
There was a brisk breeze, and as the topsails were added to the schooner’s canvas, the masts bent like whips. The craft heeled, shook herself and then bounded forward like a race horse. With iron bound muscles Carson, his legs braced apart, stood at the wheel, gripping the spokes. His steady blue eyes gazed straight ahead. He seemed to steer by instinct.
Raynor could almost have found it in his heart to admire him. Noddy was outspoken in his praise.
“Gee, that guy kin sure handle a ship,� he exclaimed.
The bows of the schooner were pointed straight for the narrow passage between the bergs, a channel which was closing in every minute. Her rigging screeched and her hull groaned under the press of canvas she was carrying. Raynor looked aloft anxiously. If anything carried away now, their doom was sealed.
In the blue glare of the lights the bergs looked gigantic. Their summits were fretted into pinnacles and steeples like those of a cathedral. The ice shimmered and flashed as the lambent glare shone on it. But the boys only gazed at the black channel between the two glittering monoliths of ice.
And now the mighty tops loomed right above them. A shout they could not repress broke from the sailors as the Polly Ann darted forward. Right for the black passage she made. The salt spray from the waves that dashed on the icy cliffs showered the schooner’s deck. “Get ready to jump for the ice if we strike,� breathed Raynor, “it’s our only hope!�