At that moment Bolton came up with his friends, and said in a voice trembling with excitement:
"Mr. Shandon, we cannot go farther."
"You say that to me?" exclaimed Shandon, his cheek crimsoning with passion.
"We say this, we have done enough for our invisible captain, and we have made up our minds to go no farther."
"You have made up your minds? You speak like that, Bolton? Take care."
"Your threats won't hinder us," said Pen, rudely.
Shandon had made a few steps towards this rebellious crew, when Johnson came up to him and said in a low voice:
"If we wish to get out of this there is not an instant to lose. An iceberg is fast nearing the channel, which may completely block it up, and keep us here prisoners."
After a brief survey, Shandon turned towards the men and said:
"You shall give an account of this conduct to me by-and-by. Meantime, turn about the ship."
The sailors rushed to their posts. The Forward shifted rapidly. Fresh fuel was supplied to the furnaces, and the engine worked at high pressure, for everything depended on speed. It was a race between the brig and the iceberg.
"Put on more steam!" shouted Shandon, and the engineer obeyed at all risks, almost endangering the safety of the brig; but his efforts were in vain. The iceberg had been caught by some deep-sea current, and was bearing down fast towards the passage. The brig was still more than three cables' length off when the berg entered, and, adhering firmly to the ice on either side, shut up the outlet entirely.
"We are lost!" exclaimed Shandon, imprudently.
"Lost!" re-echoed from the crew.
"Let each take care of himself!" said one.
"Try the boats!" said another.
"Let's go to the stores!" said Pen. "If we are to be drowned, we may as well drown ourselves in gin."
The general disorder had reached its highest pitch, and broken all bounds. Shandon felt himself powerless. His tongue seemed palsied, and the power of speech forsook him. The Doctor paced up and down in an agitated manner, while Johnson folded his arms, and maintained a stoical silence.
