"Cursed voyage!" growled André Vasling among the sailors, who, forward, were avoiding the most menacing ice-blocks with their boat-hooks.
"Truly, if we escape we shall owe a fine candle to Our Lady of the Ice!" replied Aupic.
"Who knows how many floating mountains we have got to pass through yet?" added the mate.
"And who can guess what we shall find beyond them?" replied the sailor.
"Don't talk so much, prattler," said Gervique, "and look out on your side. When we have got by them, it'll be time to grumble. Look out for your boat-hook!"
At this moment an enormous block of ice, in the narrow strait through which the brig was passing, came rapidly down upon her, and it seemed impossible to avoid it, for it barred the whole width of the channel, and the brig could not heave-to.
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