Крижаний сфінкс

Chapter XVIII. A Revelation

           

           Onthe13thofJanuaryaconversationtookplacebetweentheboatswainandmyselfofanaturetojustifymyanxietyconcerningthetemperofourcrew.

           Themenwereatbreakfast,withtheexceptionofDrapandStern.Theschoonerwascuttingthewaterunderastiffbreeze.Iwaswalkingbetweentheforeandmainmasts,watchingthegreatflightsofbirdswheelingabouttheshipwithdeafeningclangour,andthepetrelsoccasionallyperchingonouryards.Noeffortwasmadetocatchorshootthem;itwouldhavebeenuselesscruelty,sincetheiroilyandstringyfleshisnoteatable.

           AtthismomentHurliguerlyapproachedme,lookedattentivelyatthebirds,andsaid,—

           “Iremarkonething,Mr.Jeorling.”

           “Whatisit,boatswain?”

           “Thatthesebirdsdonotflysodirectlysouthastheydiduptothepresent.Someofthemaresettingnorth.”

           “Ihavenoticedthesamefact.”

           “AndIadd,Mr.Jeorling,thatthosewhoarebelowtherewillcomebackwithoutdelay.”

           “Andyouconcludefromthis?”

           “Iconcludethattheyfeeltheapproachofwinter.”

           “Ofwinter?”

           “Undoubtedly.”

           “No,no,boatswain;thetemperatureissohighthatthebirdscan’twanttogettolesscoldregionssoprematurely.”

           “Oh!prematurely,Mr.Jeorling.”

           “Yes,boatswain;dowenotknowthatnavigatorshavealwaysbeenabletofrequenttheAntarcticwatersuntilthemonthofMarch?”

           “Notatsuchalatitude.

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