Pushed under the water, he sank to a considerable depth.
When he arose his head was under the ice.
It held him under the water so he could not breathe.
For an instant Frank was so bewildered that he felt sure he was going to drown; then he pulled his faculties together, and realizing his position, he dove under and swam under water.
It was lucky for him that he went in the right direction, for he came up in clear water beside the boat.
Had he not done so he certainly would have drowned.
Grasping one of the runners, he held himself up until he got his breath, and then climbed to the deck.
No one knew what had befallen him until he went inside the turret, where he found Barney and Pomp with the doctor.
“Good Heaven! what does this mean?” asked the latter.
“Knocked overboard by a cake of ice.”