“I felt the same, my lad. It is very awful. I never thought such a storm was possible. Do you think you can venture to go on deck again?”
“Oh yes, I’m ready. I shan’t feel the cold so in this coat.”
“Then come and help me. I want to do something to comfort the men if I can. Let’s make our way to the galley.”
“Yes.”
“I want to get the cook to make a quantity of hot tea. The poor fellows must have something, or they will perish.”
“I’m ready, sir,” cried Steve; “come along.”
“Wait a minute. Which will be the best way?”
“Get to the bulwarks at once, and creep along till we’re opposite the galley. It will be easy enough then.”
“I doubt it, my lad.”
Then the door was opened, for a blinding cloud of powdery snow to rush in; and as they stood together out there once more in the wild shrieking and yelling of the storm, while the ship shivered and creaked and throbbed, they had hard work to close the door after them before making their way on hands and knees through the thick snow to the weather bulwark, and along by this they crept till abreast of the galley without coming across a soul. They paused here for a few moments, and then Steve placed his lips to the doctor’s ear.