Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter XX. “Unmerciful Disaster“
Wearesureofenoughprovisionsforoneyear,withoutcountingwhatwemaygetbyfishing.”
“Anditissomuchthemorenecessary,captain,tokeepaclosewatch,becauseIhaveseensomehoveringaboutthespiritcasks.”
“Iwillseetothat,”repliedWest.
“But,”Ithenasked,“hadwenotbetterprepareourselvesforthefactthatwemaybecompelledtowinteronthisiceberg.”
“MayHeavenavertsuchaterribleprobability,”repliedthecaptain.
“Afterall,ifitwerenecessary,wecouldgetthroughit,Mr.Jeorling,”saidtheboatswain.“Wecouldhollowoutsheltering-placesintheice,soastobeabletobeartheextremecoldofthepole,andsolongaswehadsufficienttoappeaseourhunger—”
AtthismomentthehorridrecollectionoftheGrampuscametomymind—thescenesinwhichDirkPeterskilledNedHolt,thebrotherofoursailing-master.Shouldweeverbeinsuchextremity?
Woulditnot,beforeweproceedtosetupwinterquartersforsevenoreightmonths,bebettertoleavetheicebergaltogether,ifsuchathingwerepossible?
IcalledtheattentionofCaptainLenGuyandWesttothispoint.
Thiswasadifficultquestiontoanswer,andalongsilenceprecededthereply.
Atlastthecaptainsaid,—
“Yes,thatwouldbethebestresolutiontocometo;andifourboatcouldholdusall,withtheprovisionsnecessaryforavoyagethatmightlastthreeorfourweeks,Iwouldnothesitatetoputtoseanowandreturntowardsthenorth.
