Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XII. Between the Polar Circle and the Ice Wall
”
“Toavoidyou?”
“Well,hedidsobefore,forthatmatter.”
“Yes,indeed,thatistrue,”addedHurliguerly;“Ihavemadethesameremarkmorethanonce.”
“Thenhekeepsalooffromyou,Holt,asfromtheothers?”
“Frommemorethanfromtheothers.”
“Whatisthemeaningofthat?”
“Idon’tknow,Mr.Jeorling.”
Iwassurprisedatwhatthetwomenhadsaid,butalittleobservationconvincedmethatHuntactuallydidavoideveryoccasionofcomingincontactwithMartinHolt.DidhenotthinkthathehadarighttoHolt’sgratitudealthoughthelatterowedhislifetohim?Thisman’sconductwascertainlyverystrange.
Intheearlymorningofthe9ththewindshowedatendencytochangeinthedirectionoftheeast,whichwouldmeanmoremanageableweatherforus.And,infact,althoughtheseastillremainedrough,atabouttwointhemorningitbecamefeasibletoputonmoresailwithoutrisk,andthustheHalbraneregainedthecoursefromwhichshehadbeendrivenbytheprolongedtempest.
InthatportionoftheAntarcticseatheice-packsweremorenumerous,andtherewasreasontobelievethatthetempest,byhasteningthesmash-up,hadbrokenthebarrieroftheicebergwalltowardstheeast.
