Then, as Steve’s eyes met Johannes’ stern gaze—for the lad was fully awake to the peril—the Norseman sang out:
“Turn her astarn, sir! The ice has closed up ahead.” The captain gave the order without question, the speed was checked, and the Hvalross began to glide back, when Johannes’ voice rose again in hoarse command. “Stop! There is no way back.”
“Look again!” roared Captain Marsham. “There must be. Quick!”
“No way out astarn, nor to right or left, sir!” cried Johannes; “the ice is closing in upon us.”
“But forward—is it not opening?”
“No, sir; and we’re in the current, too.”
The captain gave his orders again; but those which reached the crow’s-nest had nothing to do with the navigation of the ship; they were to the men to stow provisions as rapidly as possible in the boats.
“Johannes, what does this mean?” whispered Steve, aghast.
“That the captain means to have the boats ready, if we can use them; if not, to have provisions to heave on to the ice when we take to it.”
“When we take to the ice?” cried Steve.