Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter XX. “Unmerciful Disaster“
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“And,holdingthatopinion,ishenotgoingtomakeanattempttoreachoneorotherofthecoastsofthisstrait?”
“Andhow?”
“Withtheboat.”
“Risktheboatinthemidstofthisfog!”exclaimedtheboatswain,ashecrossedhisarms.“Whatareyouthinkingof,Mr.Jeorling?Canwecastanchortowaitforit?Andallthechanceswouldbethatweshouldneverseeitagain.Ah!ifweonlyhadtheHalbrane!”
ButtherewasnolongeraHalbrane!
Inspiteofthedifficultyoftheascentthroughthehalf-condensedvapour,Iclimbeduptothetopoftheiceberg,butwhenIhadgainedthateminenceIstroveinvaintopiercetheimpenetrablegreymantleinwhichthewaterswerewrapped.
Iremainedthere,hustledbythenorth-eastwind,whichwasbeginningtoblowfreshlyandmightperhapsrendthefogasunder.Butno,freshvapoursaccumulatedaroundourfloatingrefuge,drivenupbytheimmenseventilationoftheopensea.Underthedoubleactionoftheatmosphericandantarcticcurrents,wedriftedmoreandmorerapidly,andIperceivedasortofshudderpassthroughoutthevastbulkoftheiceberg.
ThenitwasthatIfeltmyselfunderthedominionofasortofhallucination,oneofthosehallucinationswhichmusthavetroubledthemindofArthurPym
