"The _Ice King_ won't mind the small ice," said he, "but there is no sense in trying the big bergs, yet. We'll get all we want of that later." "Right you are, sir," responded Barwell Dawson. "Don't take any chances when they are not necessary." After watching the ice for a while the boys went below for breakfast. At the table they sat down with Professor Jeffer and Dr. Slade. "I am going to try to get some photographs of the icebergs," said the professor. "I trust we get close enough to them to get some good views." "They ought to make good pictures," responded the doctor. All the while the boys were eating, the small cakes of ice thumped against the sides of the steamer. But this did no damage, although, as the professor explained, there was danger of some ice getting caught in the propeller. "And we can't afford to have that damaged," he added. When the boys came on deck again, they saw that the _Ice King_ was much closer to several of the large icebergs. In fact, the steamer appeared to be picking her way through a veritable field of floating ice. "It is much thicker than the captain expected," said Barwell Dawson, gravely. "Is there any danger?" asked Andy, quickly. "There is always danger when so much ice is floating about. But we hope to get through all right." The lads could readily see that not only Mr. Dawson, but also the captain, mate, and sailors were much concerned. Captain Williamson still had his glass in use, and was scanning the sea ahead. "I think we can make it," he said to Mr. Dawson. "But it is going to be a tight squeeze." "Well, we don't want such a tight squeeze that we get our ribs stove in," answered the explorer. "Are we going to pass between the icebergs yonder?" asked Chet. "We'll have to--to reach the clear sea beyond," answered the captain. The speed of the steamer had been reduced, and the course again changed. They were pushing away from one of the big bergs that seemed to tower up into the sky like some giant of the polar regions. "If that iceberg hit us, it would knock us to flinders," was Chet's comment, as he viewed the oncoming mass. On one side of the ship were the icebergs, and on the other the floating cakes, the latter growing thicker every minute. The _Ice King_ was turned into the floating cakes, which thumped and bumped loudly on the bow and sides. Then came an unexpected crashing from the stern. "What's that?" cried the mate, who was at the wheel, steering under Captain Williamson's directions. "Ice in the propeller!" answered a sailor. As he spoke the engine stopped, and in a twinkling the steamer swung around until her bow pointed directly toward the big iceberg. "Look! look!" yelled Andy. "We are going to be hit, sure!" "If we are, we are doomed!" echoed Chet.