“Then to God be thanks, as is due!  If we can but keep the leak under, the schooner may yet be saved.”

“I think it may be done, Daggett,” added Roswell.  “That one pump has brought the water down more than two inches; and, in my judgment, the two together would clear her entirely.”

“We’ll pump her till she sucks!” cried Daggett.  “Rig the other pump, men, and go to the work heartily.”

This was done, though not until Roswell ordered fully half of his own crew to come to the assistance of his consort.  By this time the two vessels had filled away, made more sail, and were running off before the new wind, retracing their steps, so far as one might judge of the position of the great passage.  Daggett’s vessel led, and Hazard followed; Roswell still remaining on board the injured craft.  Thus passed the next few hours.  The pumps soon sucked, and it was satisfactorily ascertained that the schooner could be freed from the water by working at them about one-fourth of the time.  This was a bad leak, and one that would have caused any crew to become exhausted in the course of a few days.  As Roswell ascertained the facts more clearly, he became better satisfied with a decision that, in a degree, had been forced on him.  He was passively content to return with Daggett, convinced that taking the injured vessel to Rio was out of the question, until some attention had been paid to her damages.

Fortune—­or as Stimson would say, Providence—­favoured our mariners greatly in the remainder of their run among the bergs.  There were several avalanches of snow quite near to them, and one more berg performed a revolution at no great distance; but no injury was sustained by either vessel.  As the schooners got once more near to the field-ice, Roswell went on board his own craft; and all the boats, which had been towing in the open passage, were run up and secured.  Gardiner now led, leaving his consort to follow as closely in his wake as she could keep.

Much greater difficulty, and dangers indeed, were encountered among the broken and grating floes, than had been expected, or previously met with.  Notwithstanding fenders were got out on all sides, many a rude shock was sustained, and the copper suffered in several places.  Once or twice, Roswell apprehended that the schooners would be crushed by the pressure on their sides.  The hazards were in some measure increased by the bold manner in which our navigators felt themselves called on to push ahead; for time was very precious in every sense, not only on account of the waning season, but actually on account of the fatigue undergone by men who were compelled to toil at the pumps one minute in every four.