Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter XX. “Unmerciful Disaster“
WhenIraisedmyeyes,DirkPetershaddisappeared;hehadsaidwhathecametosay,andhenowknewthatIhadnotbetrayedhisconfidence.
Thecustomaryprecautionsweretakenforthenight,noindividualbeingallowedtoremainoutsidethecamp,withtheexceptionofthehalf-breed,whowasinchargeoftheboat.
Thefollowingdaywasthe31stofJanuary.Ipushedbackthecanvasofthetent,whichIsharedwithCaptainLenGuyandWestrespectively,aseachsucceededtheotheronreleasefromthealternate“watch,”veryearly,andexperiencedaseveredisappointment.
Mist,everywhere!Nay,morethanmist,athickyellow,mouldy-smellingfog.Andmorethanthisagain;thetemperaturehadfallensensibly:thiswasprobablyaforewarningoftheaustralwinter.Thesummitofourice-mountainwaslostinvapour,inafogwhichwouldnotresolveitselfintorain,butwouldcontinuetomuffleupthehorizon.
“Badluck!”saidtheboatswain,“fornowifweweretopassbylandweshouldnotperceiveit.”
”Andourdrift?”
“Moreconsiderablethanyesterday,Mr.Jeorling.Thecaptainhassounded,andhemakesthespeednolessthanbetweenthreeandfourmiles.”
“Andwhatdoyouconcludefromthis?”
“Iconcludethatwemustbewithinanarrowersea,sincethecurrentissostrong.Ishouldnotbesurprisedifwehadlandonbothsidesofuswithintenorfifteenmiles.”
“This,then,wouldbeawidestraitthatcutstheantarcticcontinent?”
“Yes.Ourcaptainisofthatopinion.
