The ice floes, which are larger than the humans, are making noise, and the men try to break them free. The men are afraid that the ice will smash them against each other, and that the men will be crushed under their weight. The ice is made of "minerals" like the men, and they can hear the sounds of the sea, but they cannot make out what the sea creatures are saying. They want to go back home, but the men can't understand why the ice creatures don't make friends with them and ask them not to scream. They must maintain their "peace of mind" when they are facing the sea. They know that the arms of the men are not strong enough to match the legs of phos. They will bite them off if they have to.