Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter XIX. Land?
Jeorling!”
“Whatisityouaresaying?”
“Lookattentively,puttingonefingerbeforeyoureyes—lookthere—outa—starboard.”
IdidasHurliguerlydirected.
“Doyousee?”hebeganagain.“MayIlosemylikingformygrogiftheseheightsdonotchangeplace,notwithregardtotheschooner,butwithregardtothemselves!”
“Andwhatdoyouconcludefromthis?”
“Thattheyaremovingicebergs.”
“Icebergs?”
“Sureenough,Mr.Jeorling.”
Wasnottheboatswainmistaken?Wereweinforadisappointment?Werethereonlydriftingice-mountainsinthedistanceinsteadofashore?
Presently,therewasnodoubtonthesubject;forsometimepastthecrewhadnolongerbelievedexistenceoflandinthatdirection.
Tenminutesafterwards,themaninthecrow’s-nestannouncedthatseveralicebergswerecomingnorth-west,inanobliquedirection,intothecourseoftheHalbrane.
Thisnewsproducedagreatsensationonboard.Ourlasthopewassuddenlyextinguished.AndwhatablowtoCaptainLenGuy!Weshouldhavetoseeklandoftheaustralzoneunderhigherlatitudeswithoutbeingsureofevercomingacrossit!
Andthenthecry,“Backship!backship!”soundedalmostunanimouslyonboardtheHalbrane.
Yes,indeed,therecruitsfromtheFalklandsdemandingthatweshouldturnback,althoughHearnewasnottheretofantheflameofinsubordination,andImustacknowledgethatthegreaterpartoftheoldtarsseemedtoagreewiththem.
