But, as the vessel fell off, a cracking, grinding sound was heard under the weather quarter, and upon looking over the rail, the mutineer perceived that that part of the ship had swung against the ice, forcing into it the boat alongside with a power that caused the already injured planks to give way in several places.
“Unhook the tackle, Driko, and let the boat go. It’s no use now, for it’s stove so bad that it wouldn’t float an infant. We’ll set the prisoners adrift on the ice, and if they choose to fish up the boat, afterward, they can do so. That’s equal rights!”
By the time he concluded, the New Zealander had obeyed his order, and both men watched the boat until it had sunk out of sight among the huge blocks of ice.
“Now then, luff!” shouted Lark to the helmsman.
“Ay, ay, sir!” and down went the helm.
Then, as the ship came into the wind, the giant, with the assistance of Driko, succeeded in backing the main topsail.
A minute later and the vessel had drifted with the current alongside of the floe.
“Now then,” said Lark, as he fastened the lower part of a rope around the breast of Marline, just beneath the arm-pits, “over you go!”
And motioning to the islander to take hold of the other part of the piece of rigging, he passed the still bound harpooner over the ship’s rail, and, cautioning Driko to maintain his hold, let go of his burden. But the rope slipped from the hands of the islander, and as a natural consequence, the young man was precipitated to the ice with a force which, for a few minutes, deprived him of his senses.
He partially regained them in time to see the corpulent body of Stump—bound hand and foot—dangling above him as it was being lowered to the ice, and also the form of Alice Howard, as the young girl, closely wrapped in her fur cloak, and with a pale countenance, was descending the ship’s side by means of the man-ropes and the steps which had been prepared for her accommodation.