Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter XX. “Unmerciful Disaster“
Theglassremainedsetfair;thewindwasnor’-east,thetemperaturehavingrisento46degrees(2°78’C.).
Endicott’skitchenwasfittedupattheendoftheplain,nearasteepprojectionbywhichwecouldclimbtotheverytopoftheberg.
ItisonlyfairtostatethatduringthesethreedaysofhardworknofaultwastobefoundwithHearne.Thesealing-masterknewhewasbeingcloselywatched,andhewaswellawarethatCaptainLenGuywouldnotsparehimifhetriedtogetupinsubordinationamongsthiscomrades.Itwasapitythathisbadinstinctshadinducedhimtoplaysuchapart,forhisstrength,skill,andclevernessmadehimaveryvaluableman,andhehadneverprovedmoreusefulthanunderthesecircumstances.
Washechangedforthebetter?Didheunderstandthatgeneralgoodfeelingwasnecessaryforthesafetyofall?Iknownot,butIhadnoconfidenceinhim,neitherhadHurliguerly!
Ineednotdwellontheardourwithwhichthehalf-breeddidtheroughwork,alwaysfirsttobeginandthelasttoleaveoff,doingasmuchasfourmen,andscarcelysleeping,onlyrestingduringmeals,whichhetookapartfromtheothers.Hehadhardlyspokentomeatallsincetheschoonerhadmetwiththisterribleaccident.
Whatindeedcouldhesaytome?DidInotknowaswellashethatitwouldbenecessarytorenounceeveryhopeofpursuingourintendedvoyage?
NowandagainInoticedMartinHoltandthehalf-breedneareachotherwhilesomedifficultpieceofworkwasinprogress.
