Ледяной сфинкс

           Thecaulkingoperationswerecompleted,andalsotheslideforloweringthevesseltothebaseofourfloatingmountain.

           Justnowtheupperportionoftheicehadbeenslightlysoftened,sothatthislastworkdidnotentailmuchlabourforpick-axeorspade.Thecourseranobliquelyroundthewestsideoftheberg,sothattheinclineshouldnotbetoogreatatanypoint.Withcablesproperlyfixed,thelaunch,itseemed,mightbeeffectedwithoutanymishap.Iratherfearedlestthemeltingoftheiceshouldmaketheglidinglesssmoothatthelowerpartoftheberg.

           Needlesstosay,thecargo,masting,anchors,chains,&c.,hadnotbeenputonboard.Thehullwasquiteheavyenough,andnoteasilymoved,soitwasnecessarytolightenitasmuchaspossible.

           Whentheschoonerwasagaininitselement,theloadingcouldbeeffectedinafewdays.

           Ontheafternoonofthe28th,thefinishingtouchesweregiven.Itwasnecessarytoputsupportsforthesidesoftheslideinsomeplaceswheretheicehadmeltedquickly.Theneveryonewasallowedtorestfrom4o’clockp.m.Thecaptainhaddoublerationsservedouttoallhands,andwelltheymeritedthisextrasupplyofspirits;theyhadindeedworkedhardduringtheweek.Irepeatthateverysignofmutinyhaddisappeared.Thecrewthoughtofnothingexceptthisgreatoperationofthelaunching.TheHalbraneintheseawouldmeandeparture,itwouldalsomeanreturn!ForDirkPetersandmeitwouldbethedefiniteabandonmentofArthurPym.

           Thatnightthetemperaturewasthehighestwehadsofarexperienced.