Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 15
Totackheraboutwasundreamedof;towearherrequiredallhandsandhalfawatch.Sosituated,wewerecaughtonaleeshoreinaneight-pointshiftofwindattheheightofahurricanethathadbeatenoursoulssickforforty-eighthours.
Wedriftedinuponthelandinthechilllightofastormydawnacrossaheartlesscross-seamountainhigh.Itwasdeadofwinter,andbetweensmokingsnow-squallswecouldglimpsetheforbiddingcoast,ifcoastitmightbecalled,sobrokenwasit.Thereweregrimrockislesandisletsbeyondcounting,dimsnow-coveredrangesbeyond,andeverywhereupstandingcliffstoosteepforsnow,outjutsofheadlands,andpinnaclesandsliversofrockupthrustfromtheboilingsea.
Therewasnonametothiscountryonwhichwedrove,norecordofiteverhavingbeenvisitedbynavigators.Itscoast-linewasonlyhintedatinourchart.Fromallofwhichwecouldarguethattheinhabitantswereasinhospitableasthelittleoftheirlandwecouldsee.
TheSparwehrdroveinbow-onuponacliff.Therewasdeepwatertoitssheerfoot,sothatoursky-aspiringbowspritcrumpledattheimpactandsnappedshortoff.Theforemastwentbytheboard,withagreatsnappingofrope-shroudsandstays,andfellforwardagainstthecliff.
IhavealwaysadmiredoldJohannesMaartens.
