Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter XVIII. A Revelation
Onthe13thofJanuaryaconversationtookplacebetweentheboatswainandmyselfofanaturetojustifymyanxietyconcerningthetemperofourcrew.
Themenwereatbreakfast,withtheexceptionofDrapandStern.Theschoonerwascuttingthewaterunderastiffbreeze.Iwaswalkingbetweentheforeandmainmasts,watchingthegreatflightsofbirdswheelingabouttheshipwithdeafeningclangour,andthepetrelsoccasionallyperchingonouryards.Noeffortwasmadetocatchorshootthem;itwouldhavebeenuselesscruelty,sincetheiroilyandstringyfleshisnoteatable.
AtthismomentHurliguerlyapproachedme,lookedattentivelyatthebirds,andsaid,—
“Iremarkonething,Mr.Jeorling.”
“Whatisit,boatswain?”
“Thatthesebirdsdonotflysodirectlysouthastheydiduptothepresent.Someofthemaresettingnorth.”
“Ihavenoticedthesamefact.”
“AndIadd,Mr.Jeorling,thatthosewhoarebelowtherewillcomebackwithoutdelay.”
“Andyouconcludefromthis?”
“Iconcludethattheyfeeltheapproachofwinter.”
“Ofwinter?”
“Undoubtedly.”
“No,no,boatswain;thetemperatureissohighthatthebirdscan’twanttogettolesscoldregionssoprematurely.”
“Oh!prematurely,Mr.Jeorling.”
“Yes,boatswain;dowenotknowthatnavigatorshavealwaysbeenabletofrequenttheAntarcticwatersuntilthemonthofMarch?”
“Notatsuchalatitude.
