"But I can. The channel is narrowed by half. We shall never get clear of it before we are nipped. 'Bout ship, boys, and be smart!"
"All hands!" bellowed the mate.
In a couple of minutes the small crew were on deck, hauling in the ropes and halyards.
The topsail-yards swung round, the helm was put hard down.
The sails shivered in the wind as the yacht came about.
"Put both the main- and fore-sails on her, Leeks. We must be out of this trap as soon as possible," cried the captain.
It took some time to get full sail on the Dart.
Once done, however, she flew onward, with the wind on her quarter, at a tremendous speed.
"Sixteen knots an hour! Bravo!" cried the captain. "Can't she move,
Bob?"
"That she can, sir. But I can't help dreading this still going through the ice. There are few ships, except whalers, that have penetrated as far as we, I should think."