Harry the Whaler (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1879 Excerpt: ... AN OLD SAILOK'S STORY OF PERIL AND DELIYERANCB. Aery stood at the bow, watching the ice as it approached nearer and nearer, and observing the movements of the Adventurer, as, at one time she appeared ready to dash against the hard barrier which opposed her further progress; and then obedient to the helm and shifting sails, gracefully swung round, and slowly glided along the edge of the ice, and so near that Harry.thought a biscuit might have been thrown on to it from the deck. It was several feet, in thickness; and our sailor boy wondered what his present companion meant by saying they had to get through it. His wonder and surprise did not last long, however; for Harry soon perceived, what indeed could more easily be discerned from the rigging, that although the ice extended as far as the eye could reach in front and on either side of the ship, it was not in one compact field, but was broken up into innumerable pieces with openings between them. Into one of these openings the Adventurer was skilfully piloted; and in a short time nothing was to be seen around but large masses of thick ice, so closely packed together in some places that escape seemed impossible, but offering openings elsewhere, through which the ship slowly made her way, while from the crow'B nest above constantly sounded the master's clear directions to the steersman and reefers. Harry could not help, with some anxiety asking the sailor at his elbow how long he thought the Adventurer would be in getting through the ice, and whether there was not a little danger. The old sailor smiled rather contemptuously, but he answered civilly, that it was uncertain how long a time it would take to clear the pack; it might be a few hours, or it might be a day or two; "and as to danger," he added, "why, if...