"So, my lad," said Bob Watson, laughing, "you thinks your eyes'll be as good as mine afore long. Well, you're a sharp-sighted 'un for your age, you are, but I don't know as how you're quite up to me yet. Come, s'pose we tries which'll sight a whale fust?"
But the smile suddenly vanished from the old sea-man's face, as a gleam of sunshine fades into a rising cloud. He arched his hand over his eyes, and gazed fixedly to the northward, his look becoming graver and graver with every moment, until Jack was quite startled.
"What's up, Bob? Anything wrong?"
"Can't say yet, lad, but I'm afeard so. Let's have another look. Yes, it's just as I thought. God help us!"
And putting both hands to his mouth, he shouted at the top of his voice:
"Deck, ahoy! Look out for ice!"
The men, who were lying idly about the deck, sprang to their feet at once, and there was a sudden bustle which showed that the warning had been heard and understood.
"Where away?" hallooed the Captain.
"Right ahead—two on 'em—bearin' down upon us!"
The Captain's hard mouth set itself a little tighter, but that was all. He threw a quick glance to windward, and then shouted to the steersman, "Keep her away a point or two!"