Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter XX. “Unmerciful Disaster“
Itisawell-knownfactthatice,whetherformedfromfreshorsaltwater,containsnosalt,owingtothechlorideofsodiumbeingeliminatedinthechangefromtheliquidtothesolidstate.Theoriginoftheice,therefore,isamatterofnoimportance.However,thoseblockswhichareeasilydistinguishedbytheirgreenishcolourandtheirperfecttransparencyarepreferable.Theyaresolidifiedrain,andthereforemuchmoresuitablefordrinking-water.
Withoutdoubt,ourcaptainwouldhaverecognizedanyblocksofthisdescription,butnoneweretobefoundontheglacier,owingtoitsbeingthatpartofthebergwhichwasoriginallysubmerged,andcametothetopafterthefall.
ThecaptainandWestdecidedfirsttolightenthevessel,byconveyingeverythingonboardtoland.Themastsweretobeclearedofrigging,takenout,andplacedontheplateau.Itwasnecessarytolightenthevesselasmuchaspossible,eventoclearouttheballast,owingtothedifficultanddangerousoperationoflaunching.Itwouldbebettertoputoffourdepartureforsomedaysifthisoperationcouldbeperformedundermorefavourablecircumstances.Theloadingmightbeafterwardsaccomplishedwithoutmuchdifficulty.
Besidesthis,anotherreasonbynomeanslessseriouspresenteditselftous.ItwouldhavebeenanactofunpardonablerashnesstoleavetheprovisionsinthestoreroomoftheHalbrane,hersituationonthesideoftheicebergbeingveryprecarious.Oneshakewouldsufficetodetachtheship,andwithherwouldhavedisappearedthesuppliesonwhichourlivesdepended.
