Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XII. Between the Polar Circle and the Ice Wall
Abouttwoo’clockitwasblowingahurricanefromallthepointsofthecompass.Theschoonerwasterriblyknockedabout,andtheboatswainhadthedeckclearedofeverythingthatwasmovablebyherrollingandpitching.
Fortunately,thecargocouldnotbedisplaced,thestowagehavingbeeneffectedwithperfectforecastofnauticaleventualities.WehadnottodreadthefateoftheGrampus,whichwaslostowingtonegligenceinherlading.Itwillberememberedthatthebrigturnedbottomupwards,andthatArthurPymandDirkPetersremainedforseveraldayscrouchingonitskeel.
Besides,theschooner’spumpsdidnotgiveadropofwater;theshipwasperfectlysoundineverypart,owingtotheefficientrepairsthathadbeendoneduringourstayattheFalklands.Thetemperaturehadfallenrapidly,andhail,rain,andsnowthickenedanddarkenedtheair.Atteno’clockintheevening—Imustusethisword,althoughthesunremainedalwaysabovethehorizon—thetempestincreased,andthecaptainandhislieutenant,almostunabletoheareachother’svoicesamidtheelementalstrife,communicatedmostlybygestures,whichisasgoodamodeasspeechbetweensailors.
Icouldnotmakeupmymindtoretiretomycabin,and,seekingtheshelteroftheroundhouse,Iremainedondeck,observingtheweatherphenomena,andtheskill,certainty,celerity,andeffectwithwhichthecrewcarriedouttheordersofthecaptainandWest.Itwasastrangeandterribleexperienceforalandsman,evenonewhohadseensomuchoftheseaandseamanshipasIhad.
