“This is not a part of the world for hammocks and berths, Mr. Hazard,” was the reply.  “I can get along, and must get along, with a quarter part of the sleep in these seas as would sarve me in a low latitude.”

“And I feel as if I wanted all I can get.  Them fellows look up well into our wake, Stephen.”

“They do indeed, sir, and they ought to do it; for we have been longer than is for our good, in their’n.”

“Well, now we have got a fresh start, I hope we may make a clear run of it.  I saw no ice worth speaking of, to the nor’ard here, before we made sail.”

“Because you see’d none, Mr. Hazard; is no proof there is none.  Floe-ice can’t be seen at any great distance though its blink may.  But, it seems to me, it’s all blink in these here seas!”

“There you’re quite right, Stephen; for turn which way you will, the horizon has a show of that sort——­”

“Starboard”—­called out the look-out forward—­“keep her away—­keep her away—­there is ice ahead.”

“Ice in here!” exclaimed Hazard, springing forward—­“That is more than we bargained for!  Where away is your ice, Smith?”

“Off here, sir, on our weather bow—­and a mortal big field of it—­jist sich a chap as nipp’d the Vineyard Lion, when she first came in to join us.  Sich a fellow as that would take the sap out of our bends, as a squeezer takes the juice from a lemon!”

Smith was a carpenter by trade, which was probably the reason why he introduced this figure.  Hazard saw the ice with regret; for he had hoped to work the schooner fairly out to sea in his watch; but the field was getting down through the passage in a way that threatened to cut off the exit of the two schooners from the bay.  Daggett kept close in his wake, a proof that this experienced navigator in such waters saw no means to turn farther to windward.  As the wind was now abeam, both vessels drove rapidly ahead; and in half an hour the northern point of the land they had so lately left came into view close aboard of them.  Just then the moon rose, and objects became more clearly visible.

Hazard hailed the Vineyard Lion, and demanded what was to be done.  It was possible, by hauling close on a wind, to pass the cape a short distance to windward of it, and seemingly thus clear the floe.  Unless this were done, both vessels would be compelled to ware, and run for the southern passage, which would carry them many miles to leeward, and might place them a long distance on the wrong side of the group.

“Is Captain Gar’ner on deck?” asked Daggett, who had now drawn close up on the lee-quarter of his consort, Hazard having brailed his foresail and laid his topsail sharp aback, to enable him to do so—­“If he isn’t, I’d advise you to give him a call at once.”

This was done immediately; and while it was doing, the Vineyard Lion swept past the Oyster Pond schooner.  Roswell announced his presence on deck just as the other vessel cleared his bows.