Ледяной сфинкс

           MartinHolt’squestionsrespectinghisbrotherNedseemedtoindicatethathissecretwasknown—atleastinpart,andthehalf-breedheldhimselfmorethaneveraloof,sleepingwhiletheotherswatched,andwatchingintheirtimeofsleep.Ievenwonderedwhetherheregrettedhavingconfidedinme,andfanciedthathehadarousedmyrepugnancebyhissadstory.Ifso,hewasmistaken;Ideeplypitiedthepoorhalf-breed.

           Nothingcouldexceedthemelancholymonotonyofthehourswhichwepassedinthemidstofafogsothickthatthewindcouldnotliftitscurtain.Thepositionoftheicebergcouldnotbeascertained.Itwentwiththecurrentatalikespeed,andhaditbeenmotionlesstherewouldhavebeennoappreciabledifferenceforus,forthewindhadfallen—atleast,sowesupposed—andnotabreathwasstirring.Theflameofatorchheldupintheairdidnotflicker.Thesilenceofspacewasbrokenonlybytheclangourofthesea-birds,whichcameinmuffledcroakingtonesthroughthestiflingatmosphereofvapour.Petrelsandalbatrosssweptthetopoftheiceberg,wheretheykeptauselesswatchintheirflight.Inwhatdirectionwerethoseswift-wingedcreatures—perhapsalreadydriventowardstheconfinesofthearcticregionattheapproachofwinter—bound?Wecouldnottell.Oneday,theboatswain,whowasdeterminedtosolvethisquestionifpossible,havingmountedtotheextremetop,notwithoutriskofbreakinghisneck,cameintosuchviolentcontactwithaquebrantahuesos—asortofgiganticpetrelmeasuringtwelvefeetwithspreadwings—thathewasflungonhisback.