"I wish we were," said the captain gravely. "No; the storm seemed to swing round, and is blowing almost in a contrary direction. We are running north-east, and unless I can get her head to wind and the steam well up we shall soon be amongst the drifting ice." He hurried out of the cabin and closed the door after him, while the doctor hastened to get Steve's mackintosh from his stiffened body and arms, and helped him to put on a fur-lined coat. "That's better," said the doctor. Steve nodded. "How are your feet--numbed?" "No," said Steve, rather faintly, "I think they are all right. I was crouched together sitting on them." "And your hands?" "They were in my breast. There's nothing the matter now. I only felt confused, and as if I could not think or do anything." "I felt the same, my lad. It is very awful. I never thought such a storm was possible. Do you think you can venture to go on deck again?" "Oh yes, I'm ready. I shan't feel the cold so in this coat." "Then come and help me. I want to do something to comfort the men if I can. Let's make our way to the galley." "Yes." "I want to get the cook to make a quantity of hot tea. The poor fellows must have something, or they will perish." "I'm ready, sir," cried Steve; "come along." "Wait a minute. Which will be the best way?" "Get to the bulwarks at once, and creep along till we're opposite the galley. It will be easy enough then." "I doubt it, my lad." Then the door was opened, for a blinding cloud of powdery snow to rush in; and as they stood together out there once more in the wild shrieking and yelling of the storm, while the ship shivered and creaked and throbbed, they had hard work to close the door after them before making their way on hands and knees through the thick snow to the weather bulwark, and along by this they crept till abreast of the galley without coming across a soul. They paused here for a few moments, and then Steve placed his lips to the doctor's ear. "Come on!" he said; and leading the way once more he crossed to the end of the galley in a blind struggle against the wind, which seemed to pounce upon him and try to tear him away. But he crept on, with the doctor close to him, and became aware that he was touching something cold, which moved and then seized him with a hoarse: "Wha's this?" "I, Hamish!" shouted the boy. "We want to get into the galley." "Gang below, laddie. Ta fire's oot, and there's naebody there." "Come back," said the doctor in Steve's ear; and the boy followed, too much stunned and confused by the wind and driving ice powder to propose any other plan. But as he turned to follow the doctor he became aware that several men were huddled together there in the slight shelter afforded by the cook-house, and this confused him more, for the men were at the wrong end, and not where he knew they had taken refuge before.