Ледяной сфинкс

Chapter XX. “Unmerciful Disaster“

           

           Moreovertherewouldbedangerinsendingoutouronlyboatonavoyageofdiscovery,asthecurrentmightcarryittoofar,oritmightnotfindusagaininthesameplace.And,indeed,iftheiceberghappenedtogetlooseatthebottom,andtoresumeitsinterrupteddrift,whatwouldbecomeofthemenintheboat?

           Thedrawbackwasthattheboatwastoosmalltocarryusall,withthenecessaryprovisions.Now,oftheseniors,thereremainedtenmen,countingDirkPeters;ofthenewmentherewerethirteen;twenty-threeinall.Thelargestnumberourboatcouldholdwasfromeleventotwelvepersons.Thenelevenofus,indicatedbylot,wouldhavetoremainonthisislandofice.Andwhatwouldbecomeofthem?

           WithregardtothisHurliguerlymadeasoundobservation.

           “Afterall,”hesaid,“Idon’tknowthatthosewhowouldembarkwouldbebetteroffthanthosewhoremained!Iamsodoubtfuloftheresult,thatIwouldwillinglygiveupmyplacetoanyonewhowantedit.”

           Perhapstheboatswainwasright.Butinmyownmind,whenIaskedthattheboatmightbeutilized,itwasonlyforthepurposeofreconnoitringtheiceberg.

           Wefinallydecidedtoarrangeeverythingwithaviewtowinteringout,evenwereourice-mountainagaintodrift.

           “Wemaybesurethatwillbeagreedtobyourmen,”declaredHurliguerly.

           “Whatisnecessarymustbedone,”repliedthemate,“andto-daywemustsettowork.”

           Thatwasasaddayonwhichwebeganourpreparations.

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