"Miss it and—but no use to wherrit. 'Tis a very good end. I knew a chap as slept hisself out of life very comfortable on such a night. Narry a pang; and I found him in the morning froze to the marrow, and smiling about it, like he was a statue in church. Better than a bagonet in your belly, anyhow."
"Drop that talk, bo'sun. We'll win yet!"
They fought on silently, but the pace became slower as their force abated and the snow increased. Now they felt the full strength of the wind, and nature instinctively made them turn and edge away from it.
"Hold to your left, lads, or we are done for!" cried Miller. "Keep the wind on the port bow."
"Be damned if I kin suffer it against my cheek any more," answered Knapps. "My ear and jaw are just frozen and my left eye's bunged up with ice."
Twice more Stark addressed the sailor, but received no answer. Then, turning again, he found one shadow beside him instead of two.
"Is that you, Stark?"
"Ay, sir."
"Where's Knapps?"
"I'm afraid he's lost, sir. He would hold off a point. Had I sought him, I must have lost you."