Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter XXII. In Camp
”
“Wemustnotconclude,captain,becausewedonotseeanynatives—”
“Certainlynot,Mr.Jeorling;butyouwillagreewithmethattheaspectofthislandisveryunlikethatofTsalalIslandwhentheJanereachedit;thereisnothingherebutdesolationandbarrenness.”
“Iacknowledgethat—barrennessanddesolation,thatisall.Nevertheless,Iwanttoaskyouwhetheritisyourintentiontogoashore,captain?”
“Withtheboat?”
“Withtheboat,shouldthecurrentcarryouricebergawayfromtheland.”
“Wehavenotanhourtolose,Mr.Jeorling,andthedelayofafewhoursmightcondemnustoacruelwinterstay,ifwearrivedtoolateattheicebergbarrier.”
“And,consideringthedistance,wearenottoosoon,”observedWest.
“Igrantit,”Ireplied,stillpersisting.“But,toleavethislandbehinduswithouteverhavingsetfootonit,withouthavingmadesurethatitdoesnotpreservethetracesofanencampment,ifyourbrother,captain—hiscompanions—”
CaptainLenGuyshookhishead.Howcouldthecastawayshavesupportedlifeinthisdesolateregionforseveralmonths?
Besides,theBritishflagwashoistedonthesummitoftheiceberg,andWilliamGuywouldhaverecognizeditandcomedowntotheshorehadhebeenliving.
Noone.Noone.
Atthismoment,West,whohadbeenobservingcertainpointsofapproach,said,—
“Letuswaitalittlebeforewecometoadecision.Inlessthananhourweshallbeabletodecide.
