Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter XXIII. Found at Last
Someofthesestruckandstayeduponthecoast,whichwasalreadyheapedupwithice,butthegreaternumberdisappearedinthedirectionofthenorth-east.
“Allthesepieces,”saidtheboatswain,“willgototheclosingupoftheicebergwall.IfHearneandhislotofscoundrelsarenotaheadofthem,Iimaginetheywillfindthedoorshut,andastheyhavenokeytoopenitwith—”
“Isupposeyouthink,boatswain,thatourcaseislessdesperatethantheirs?”
“Idothinkso,Mr.Jeorling,andIhavealwaysthoughtso.Ifeverythinghadbeendoneasitwassettled,andthelothadfallentometogowiththeboat,Iwouldhavegivenupmyturntooneoftheothers.Afterall,thereissomethinginfeelingdrygroundunderourfeet.Idon’twishthedeathofanybody,butifHearneandhisfriendsdonotsucceedinclearingtheicebergbarrier—iftheyaredoomedtopassthewinterontheice,reducedforfoodtoasupplythatwillonlylastafewweeks,youknowthefatethatawaitsthem!”
“Yes,afateworsethanours!”
“Andbesides,”saidtheboatswain,“evensupposingtheydoreachtheAntarcticCircle.Ifthewhalershavealreadyleftthefishing-grounds,itisnotaladenandoverladencraftthatwillkeeptheseauntiltheAustraliancoastsareinsight.”
Thiswasmyownopinion,andalsothatofthecaptainandWest.
