“Pshaw! there goes one of those staysails shaking loose!”
“I’ll go out an’ boind it down, me laddy!” said Barney.
He hastened from the turret, and going out on deck, made his way out to the end of the long bowsprit.
Barney caught hold of the refractory sail just as the Ranger ran into the icy pass, and secured it where it belonged.
He then started to make his way back to the deck, when one of the forward runners struck against an icy hummock.
It made the ship bounce, and flung Barney from his perch.
The Irishman gave a yell and landed upon his back upon the ice.
He barely had time to roll aside when the grinding runners flew by within an inch of his body, for Frank had seen what had befallen him, and swiftly steered the Ranger aside.
Had the steel blade hit the Irishman, it would have cut him in two, for the weight of the boat was considerable, as it was very large.
“Be heavens! I’ve broke me neck!” roared Barney.