word was passed along, and the ship’s head turned one way and another; and sometimes the yards squared or braced up.  There was little else to do than to look out; and we had the sharpest eyes in the ship on the forecastle.  The only variety was the monotonous voice of the lookout forward,—­ ``Another island!’’—­ ``Ice ahead!’’—­ ``Ice on the lee bow!’’—­ ``Hard up the helm!’’—­ ``Keep her off a little!’’—­ ``Stead-y!’’

In the mean time the wet and cold had brought my face into such a state that I could neither eat nor sleep; and though I stood it out all night, yet, when it became light, I was in such a state that all hands told me I must go below, and lie-by for a day or two, or I should be laid up for a long time.  When the watch was changed I went into the steerage, and took off my hat and comforter, and showed my face to the mate, who told me to go below at once, and stay in my berth until the swelling went down, and gave the cook orders to make a poultice for me, and said he would speak to the captain.

I went below and turned-in, covering myself over with blankets and jackets, and lay in my berth nearly twenty-four hours, half asleep and half awake, stupid from the dull pain.  I heard the watch called, and the men going up and down, and sometimes a noise on deck, and a cry of ``ice,’’ but I gave little attention to anything.  At the end of twenty-four hours the pain went down, and I had a long sleep, which brought me back to my proper state; yet my face was so swollen and tender that I was obliged to keep my berth for two or three days longer.  During the two days I had been below, the weather was much the same that it had been,—­ head winds, and snow and rain; or, if the wind came fair, too foggy, and the ice too thick, to run.  At the end of the third day the ice was very thick; a complete fog-bank covered the ship.  It blew a tremendous gale from the eastward, with sleet and snow, and there was every promise of a dangerous and fatiguing night.  At dark, the captain called all hands aft, and told them that not a man was to leave the deck that night; that the ship was in the greatest danger, any cake of ice might knock a hole in her, or she might run on an island and go to pieces.  No one could tell whether she would be a ship the next morning.  The lookouts were then set, and every man was put in his station.  When I heard what was the state of things, I began to put on my clothes to stand it out with the rest of them, when the mate came below, and, looking at my face, ordered me back to my berth, saying that if we went down, we should all go down together, but if I went on deck I might lay myself up for life.  This was the first word I had heard from aft; for the captain had done nothing, nor inquired how I was, since I went below.