Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter X. The Outset of the Enterprise
HereandthereIfoundafewphanerogams,somepale-colouredmosses,andespeciallytussockgrassinsuchabundancethatnumerousherdsofcattlemightbefedupontheisland.
Onthe12thNovembertheHalbranesailedoncemore,andhavingdoubledCharlottePointattheextremityofRoyalBay,sheheadedinthedirectionoftheSandwichIslands,fourhundredmilesfromthence.
Sofarwehadnotencounteredfloatingice.Thereasonwasthatthesummersunhadnotdetachedany,eitherfromtheicebergsorthesouthernlands.Lateron,thecurrentwoulddrawthemtotheheightofthefiftiethparallel,which,inthesouthernhemisphere,isthatofParisorQuebec.Butweweremuchimpededbyhugebanksoffogwhichfrequentlyshutoutthehorizon.Nevertheless,asthesewaterspresentednodanger,andtherewasnothingtofearfromicepacksordriftingicebergs,theHalbranewasabletopursueherroutetowardstheSandwichIslandscomfortablyenough.Greatflocksofclangorousbirds,breastingthewindandhardlymovingtheirwings,passedusinthemidstofthefogs,petrels,divers,halcyons,andalbatross,boundlandwards,asthoughtoshowustheway.
Owing,nodoubt,tothesemists,wewereunabletodiscernTraverseyIsland.CaptainLenGuy,however,thoughtsomevaguestreaksofintermittentlightwhichwereperceivedinthenight,betweenthe14thand15th,probablyproceededfromavolcanowhichmightbethatofTraversey,asthecraterfrequentlyemitsflames.
