Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter XIX. Land?
Nevertheless,asthebottommighthappentorisesharplyinsteadoffollowingtheslopeofthecoast,wedidnotventuretoproceedwithoutthesoundinglineinhand.
Theweatherwasstillbeautiful,althoughtheskywasovercastbyamistfromsouth-easttosouth-west.Owingtothistherewassomedifficultyinidentifyingthevagueoutlineswhichstoodoutlikefloatingvapourinthesky,disappearingandthenreappearingbetweenthebreaksofthemist.
However,weallagreedtoregardthislandasfromtwenty-fivetothirtyfathomsinheight,atleastatitshighestpart.
No!wewouldnotadmitthatwewerethevictimsofadelusion,andyetouruneasymindsfearedthatitmightso!
Isitnotnatural,afterall,forthehearttobeassailedbyathousandapprehensionsasweneartheendofanyenterprise?Atthisthoughtmymindbecameconfusedanddreamy.TheHalbraneseemedtobereducedtothedimensionsofasmallboatlostinthisboundlessspace—thecontraryofthatlimitlessseaofwhichEdgarPoespeaks,where,likealivingbody,theshipgrowslarger.
Whenwehavecharts,orevensailingdirectionstoinstructusconcerningthehydrographyofthecoasts,thenatureofthelandfalls,thebaysandthecreeks,wemaysailalongboldly.Ineveryotherregion,themasterofashipmustnotdefertheordertocastanchorneartheshoreuntilthemorrow.But,wherewewere,whatanamountofprudencewasnecessary!Andyet,nomanifestobstaclewasbeforeus.Moreover,wehadnocausetofearthatthelightwouldfailusduringthesunnyhoursofthenight.
