CHAPTER X.
CLOSE QUARTERS.
Every one of the five boys on the iceboat was filled with terror over the danger which confronted them.
At the rate of speed they were going, the Icicle would soon reach the edge of the great opening before them, and they well knew that the onward rush would carry them far out into the icy waters.
“Stop her, somebody!” cried Andy. “We will all be drowned!”
“Everybody on the right side!” yelled Jack. “Down with the sail!”
All on board made a rush to the right, and bore heavily on the steering-iron on that side. Harry caught hold of the ropes attached to the sail, and untied them. Down came the sheet in a lump, falling partly over the crowd and dragging on the ice beside them.
The Icicle began to swing around, and also slowed up. The semi-circular motion caused the sail to get under the steering-iron, and this helped to stay their onward progress.
“We’ll have to jump!” cried Boxy. “Look how close we are getting!”
“No; we’ll stop before we get there,” returned Jack. “Hard on the iron, everybody!”
There was a sharp, rasping sound as the Icicle struck a bit of lumpy ice, and the clumsy craft trembled from stem to stern. She swung completely around, and came to a halt when within twenty feet of where the dark waters from the side creek rushed along silently.