Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XII. Between the Polar Circle and the Ice Wall
Havingfinishedhistask,Hunthadthrownhimselfintothesea,thathemightsaveMartinHolt.
“Twomenoverboard!”
Yes,two—onetosavetheother.Andweretheynotabouttoperishtogether?
Thetwoheadsrosetothefoamingsurfaceofthewater.
Huntwasswimmingvigorously,cuttingthroughthewaves,andwasnearingMartinHolt.
“Theyarelost!bothlost!”exclaimedthecaptain.“Theboat,West,theboat!”
“Ifyougivetheordertolowerit,”answeredWest,“Iwillbethefirsttogetintoit,althoughattheriskofmylife.ButImusthavetheorder.”
Inunspeakablesuspensetheship’screwandmyselfhadwitnessedthisscene.NonethoughtofthepositionoftheHalbrane,whichwassufficientlydangerous;alleyeswerefixedupontheterriblewaves.Nowfreshcries,thefranticcheersofthecrew,roseabovetheroaroftheelements.Hunthadreachedthedrowningmanjustashesankoutofsight,hadseizedholdofhim,andwassupportinghimwithhisleftarm,whileHolt,incapableofmovement,swayedhelplesslyaboutlikeaweed.WiththeotherarmHuntwasswimmingbravelyandmakingwaytowardstheschooner.
Aminute,whichseemedendless,passed.Thetwomen,theonedraggingtheother,werehardlytobedistinguishedinthemidstofthesurgingwaves.
AtlastHuntreachedtheschooner,andcaughtoneofthelineshangingovertheside.
