“What news?� he asked, as he paused near Jack.
“Nothing much, except that there is ice ahead.�
“Bergs?�
“Yes, and growlers too, and field ice maybe. The Seneca reports it.�
Raynor looked about him in a puzzled way.
“But we haven’t slowed down,� he said at length.
“That’s just it. Captain Briggs is a drinking man. He is drinking to-night and reckless. He means to keep right on this way.�
“Why, that’s madness. At any minute——â€�
“That’s just what Mr. Mulliner says. But what are we going to do? You know as well as I do that the skipper’s word is law at sea.�
Raynor perched himself on the rail, balancing there high above the water, a favorite position with him.