This calm was ominous.
"There's mischief brewing!" muttered Kit; "and here we are in the very jaws of the straits!" Since the wind dropped, the ice had seemed to thicken ahead.

To the southward, farther out from the shore, where the outward current was stronger, we could see it driving along in a glittering procession of white bergs.

The wisdom of keeping on the north side of the strait was apparent from this; though it seemed likely to cost us dear in the consequent loss of the wind.

On many of the larger cakes we could see dark objects, which the glass disclosed to be seals, sunning.
Presently a dense mass of blue-black clouds loomed suddenly over the brow of the cliffs.
"A shower!" cried Raed.
"A squall!" exclaimed old Trull.
"All hands take in sail!" shouted the captain.
Our Gloucester lads needed no further awakening.

We all bore a hand, and had the mainsail down on the boom, short order; and, while Wade and I tried our hand at lashing it with the gaskets, the rest got down the foresail and the topsail.