The noise increased just then, for the door was quickly opened, but as quickly shut, and a white figure stood before them; and for the moment they thought it was the captain; then the icy helmet upon the man's head was with some difficulty taken off, revealing the face of Mr Lowe, the mate. "The captain says you are not to run such a risk again, my lad. You can do us no good, and it troubles him when he wants all his energy to save the ship." "Then we are in great danger?" cried Steve. "Yes, my lad, I think so," was the reply; "but the captain will save us if it is to be done." "What was that awful crash?" "Ice beneath our bows. We have it all round now, and it is impossible to avoid it. All we can do is to keep her head to the wind, and drift. We can make no headway with full steam on, and we dare not if we could." "But--" "Can't stop," was the reply; "going forward to the men;" and the mate replaced his ice-laden cap and passed out into the storm. "The captain was thinking of your safety, Steve, my lad; but we must think for him and the crew. Exposure such as they are going through is murderous. Let's wait for a bit, and then take them all some more hot drink." He led the way out of the whitened cabin, and they struggled back through the driving snow to the engine-room, down into whose warm glow they crept just as there was another blow, which jarred the whole ship. Then the gong sounded. "Slower," said the engineer, as he moved the lever. "There, that's about as little as we can do. Just enough to give her steering power." No more was said, and Steve looked round, as he warmed his numbed hands, to see that Watty was lying with his face in his hands, close to the side. "Asleep?" said Steve, with his lips to the cook's ear; but the man shook his head. "Fright!" he replied. A few minutes later one of the Norwegians and three of the crew came down all covered with ice, and one of the furnace doors was opened to send out a genial glow, lighting up the whole place, which was now dripping wet with thawed snow, and the stream rose up to float out through the hatch. "Mate sent us down for a warm," said one of the men. "To stay half an hour, and then relieve some more. We can do nothing on deck." "Let's leave them," said the doctor in Steve's ear; and after warning the cook to be ready with the refreshment in half an hour, they made their way back to the cabin. Those refreshments were not taken to the men on deck, for in turn all were sent down to the engine-room for warmth and food; and at last, to Steve's great delight, the captain entered the cabin, to reply to the grips of the hand given him, and then drink with avidity the hot coffee ready on the table. "I don't like leaving the deck," he said cheerfully; "but I must have coal and water for my engine, or I cannot work. No, no, don't question me; I have no news. We are in an awful storm, and are being carried with the drifting ice, Heaven only knows where."