Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter VI. An Ocean Waif
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Itwasthe3rdofSeptember.Ifnothingoccurredtodelayus,ourschoonerwouldbeinsightofportinthreedays.Thechiefislandofthegroupisvisibleoncleardaysatagreatdistance.
Thatday,betweentenandeleveno’clockinthemorning,Iwaswalkingbackwardsandforwardsonthedeck,onthewindwardside.Wewereslidingsmoothlyoverthesurfaceofanundulatingsea.TheHalbraneresembledanenormousbird,oneofthegiganticalbatrosskinddescribedbyArthurPym—whichhadspreaditssail-likewings,andwascarryingawholeship’screwtowardsspace.
JamesWestwaslookingoutthroughhisglassestostarboardatanobjectfloatingtwoorthreemilesaway,andseveralsailors,hangingovertheside,werealsocuriouslyobservingit.
Iwentforwardandlookedattentivelyattheobject.Itwasanirregularlyformedmassabouttwelveyardsinlength,andinthemiddleofitthereappearedashininglump.
“Thatisnowhale,”saidMartinHolt,thesailing-master.“Itwouldhaveblownonceortwicesincewehavebeenlookingatit.”
“Certainly!”assentedHardy.“Perhapsitisthecarcaseofsomedesertedship.”
“Maythedevilsendittothebottom!”criedRoger.“Itwouldbeabadjobtocomeupagainstitinthedark;itmightsendusdownbeforewecouldknowwhathadhappened.”
“Ibelieveyou,”addedDrap,“andthesederelictsaremoredangerousthanarock,fortheyarenowhereandagainthere,andthere’snoavoidingthem.
