Poor Stokes got in twice, and I once, to the great
amusement of the rest; however, very few escaped
without a wetting, so that the laugh was not entirely
aifainst us. We succeeded in killing the fish, and
I do not know whether it was not as exciting as
chasing him in the water; at all events there was
more fun and novelty, and that is what a sailor
likes.
A fair breeze at length sprung up, which, bringing
warmer weather, and enabling us to spread our can-



Peter the Whaler 223

vas with effect, we cut away the ice round the ship,
and then she, with her strong bows, forced a pas-
sage through it. While the wind lasted, with every
yard of canvas alow and aloft the ship could carry,
we pressed our onward way — sometimes among
floes, threatening every instant to close in and nip
us ; at other times with drift and brash-ice surround-
ing us; and at others amid open ice, with here and
there floating icebergs appearing near us.
