"We don't talk like that, sir, at the beginning of summer out here," said the Norseman. "If it was September, it would be different. We've got nearly three months for the ice to keep on melting and breaking up." "Yes, I see, and a better chance for exploring and searching for the _Ice Blink_!" "Yes, sir, of course," said the man, with a slight change in his voice; and Steve left them to go and talk to Andrew and Hamish, who were both aft, the latter being at the wheel. "They don't think we shall ever find the poor fellows," thought Steve sadly. "I could see it in their looks when I spoke. But they can't tell any more than I can; and, for all we know, they may be frozen-in, waiting for the ice to break up. Yes; as it has broken up, so that we may come across them at any time." Just then he encountered the doctor in a heavy sheep-skin coat. He had been in the cabin. "Captain's sleeping like a top," said the doctor. "I've been to see. Couldn't you and I relieve Mr Lowe here?" He looked up as he spoke, for they were just below the bridge, and the mate leaned over and spoke. "No, thank you, gentlemen," he said. "I can stand it for a couple of hours longer, and then the captain will wake up and relieve me. You could not con the vessel through this ice, and there's only one man on board to whom I'd give up my place--the captain." "We seem very helpless people here. Let's go and talk to our two Scotch friends. But look here, my lad, hadn't you better get on a fur coat?" "I'm not cold," replied Steve; and they went on to the man by the wheel, where Andrew greeted them with a grin. "The pipes are a' recht, Meester Steve," he said. "She'll like to hear them the noo?" "I don't believe they'd go." "She ton't pelief they'd go?" "No. The potatoes were frozen in the cook-house, and I'll be bound to say they're spoiled." Andrew McByle's face was a study as he looked from the speaker forward, and then turned hastily to Hamish. "She'll mind ta wheel her nainsel," he said huskily, "while she goes to see aboot her pipes." He turned to Steve again, and saw the twinkle in the lad's eye. "She's lairfin'!" he cried. "The pipes are quite safe a' wrapped oop in her auld plaidie"; and he shook his head and laughed heartily. "Look!" cried Hamish excitedly, pointing to their right. "What is it?" "A seal. Ay, there's twa bonnie laddies. Look at them watching us, and looking like twa bodies after having a swim." Steve did not see the animals at once, for a piece of ice intervened. The next moment, though, they came into sight, where they lay upon the snow, and raised their round heads to gaze at the ship. "No wonder that some of the old mariners who first saw these large seals fancied that there were mermen and mermaids at sea," said the doctor, as they watched the peculiar semi-human faces of the creatures gazing at them with their great, soft eyes.