Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter XX. “Unmerciful Disaster“
Somelaydownintheirsleeping-places,otherswanderedabout.HearneneithertriedtojointhemnortogonearMartinHolt.
Nowthatthesailorswerereducedtoidleness,therewasnothingtodoexcepttoponderonourcriticalsituation,andinventsomemeansofgettingoutofit.
Thecaptain,themate,andtheboatswainformedacouncil,andItookpartintheirdeliberations.CaptainLenGuybeganbysaying,—
“Wehaveprotectedourboat,andweshallcontinuetoprotectit.”
“Untildeath,”declaredWest.
“Whoknows,”saidI,“whetherweshallnotsoonbeforcedtoembark?”
“Inthatcase,”repliedthecaptain,“asallcannotfitintoit,itwillbenecessarytomakeaselection.Lotsshalldeterminewhichofusaretogo,andIshallnotasktobetreateddifferentlyfromtheothers.”
“Wehavenotcometothat,luckily,”repliedtheboatswain.“Theicebergissolid,andthereisnofearofitsmeltingbeforewinter.”
“No,”assentedWest,“thatisnottobefeared.Whatitbehovesustodois,whilewatchingtheboat,tokeepaneyeontheprovisions.”
“Wearelucky,”addedHurliguerly,“tohaveputourcargoinsafety.Poor,dearHalbrane.Shewillremainintheseseas,liketheJane,hereldersister!”
Yes,withoutdoubt,andIthoughtsoformanyreasons,theonedestroyedbythesavagesofTsalal,theotherbyoneofthesecatastrophesthatnohumanpowercanprevent.
“Youareright,”repliedthecaptain,“andwemustpreventourmenfromplundering.
