In the present case, it being well known that the sea was fathomless, we had run so near the danger that not even the smallest of its horrors was veiled from sight.
While the ship labored along, I saw the clouds fast shutting in to windward, by the interposition of the promontory of ice--the certain sign that our drift was rapid--and, as we drew nearer to the point, breathing became labored and even audible.

Here Noah took a chew of tobacco, I presume on the principle of enjoying a last quid, should the elements prove fatal; and then he went to the wheel in person.
"Let her go through the water," he said, easing the helm a little--"let her jog ahead, or we shall lose command of her in this devil's-pot!" The vessel felt the slight change, and drew faster through the foaming brine, bringing us, with increasing velocity, nearer to the dreaded point.

As we came up to the promontory the water fell back in spray on the decks, and there was an instant when it appeared as if the wind was about to desert us.

Happily the ship had drawn so far ahead as to feel the good effects of a slight change of current that was caused by the air rushing obliquely into the cove; and, as Noah, by easing the helm still more, had anticipated this alteration, which had been felt adversely but a moment before, while struggling to the eastward of the promontory, we drew swiftly past the icy cape, opening the cove handsomely, with the ship's head falling off fast towards the gorge.
There was but a minute or two, for squaring the yards and obtaining the proper position to windward of the narrow strait.

Instead of running down in a direct line for the latter, Captain Poke kept the ship on such a course as to lay it well open, before her head was pointed towards the passage.