Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XVIII. A Revelation
Istheill-feelingincreasing?”
“Ifearso,Mr.Jeorling.Thesatisfactionofhavinggainedseveralhundredsofdollarsisalreadylessened,andtheprospectofgainingafewmorehundredsdoesnotputastoptodisputes.Andyettheprizeistempting!FromTsalalIslandtothepole,admittingthatwemightgetthere,issixdegrees.Nowsixdegreesattwothousanddollarseachmakestwelvethousanddollarsforthirtymen,thatisfourhundreddollarsahead.Anicelittlesumtoslipintoone’spocketonthereturnoftheHalbrane;but,notwithstanding,thatfellowHearneworkssowickedlyuponhiscomradesthatIbelievetheyarereadyto‘boutshipinspiteofanybody.”
“Icanbelievethatoftherecruits,boatswain,buttheoldcrew—”
“H—m!therearethreeorfourofthosewhoarebeginningtoreflect,andtheyarenoteasyintheirmindsabouttheprolongationofthevoyage.”
“IfancyCaptainLenGuyandhislieutenantwillknowtogetthemselvesobeyed.”
“Weshallsee,Mr.Jeorling.Butmayitnotbethatourcaptainhimselfwillgetdisheartened;thatthesenseofhisresponsibilitywillprevail,andthathewillrenouncehisenterprise?”
Yes!thiswaswhatIfeared,andtherewasnoremedyonthatside.
“AsformyfriendEndicott,Mr.Jeorling,Ianswerforhimasformyself.Wewouldgototheendoftheworld—iftheworldhasanend—didthecaptainwanttogothere.True,wetwo,DirkPetersandyourself,arebutafewtobealawtotheothers.
