Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XI. From the Sandwich Islands to the Polar Circle
Thewind,continuingtoblowsteadilyfromthewest,wasinourfavour,andifthepresentspeedoftheHalbranecouldbemaintained,asIventuredtosuggesttoCaptainLenGuy,thevoyagefromtheSouthOrkneystothePolarCirclewouldbeashortone.Beyond,asIknew,weshouldhavetoforcethegateofthethickbarrieroficebergs,ortodiscoverabreachinthatice-fortress.
“Sothat,inlessthanamonth,captain—”Isuggested,tentatively.
“InlessthanamonthIhopetohavefoundtheicelessseawhichWeddellandArthurPymdescribesofully,beyondtheice-wall,andthenceforthweneedonlysailonunderordinaryconditionstoBennetIslandinthefirstplace,andafterwardstoTsalalIsland.Onceonthat‘wideopensea,’whatobstaclecouldarrestorevenretardourprogress?”
“Icanforeseenone,captain,sosoonasweshallgettothebackoftheice-wall.Thepassagethroughisthedifficultpoint;itmustbeourchiefsourceofanxietysandifonlythewindholds—”
“Itwillhold,Mr.Jeorling.Allthenavigatorsoftheaustralseashavebeenabletoascertain,asImyselfhavedone,thepermanenceofthiswind.”
“Thatistrue,andIrejoiceintheassurance,captain.Besides,Iacknowledge,withoutshrinkingfromtheadmission,thatIambeginningtobesuperstitious.”
“Andwhynot,Mr.
