"I ain't by any means happy," said Ward; "and no seaman worthy of the name can be happy on the Banks in weather like this."
"That's a slur on me, I know," said Spink, "but I overlook it."
"What would you do if you didn't?" asked Ward.
Spink did not reply to this challenge, and inside of a minute both he and Ward had something to think of besides quarrelling about nothing. The fog lifted for a moment, and showed ice all about them. The air grew bitterly cold, and was soon close on the freezing point. Spink slowed her down again, and almost literally felt his way through the obstacles. Once he touched a small berg, but when he did so he was going dead slow. Ward stood by and saw the 'old man' handle the Swan with admiration. When they were once more through the thick of it he spoke.
"I wish I could understand you, Spink," he said, with far more respect than he often showed. "You're the most reckless skipper I ever sailed with, and now you're more careful than I should be."
"I don't trust in my luck till I can't see," said
