Крижаний сфінкс

Chapter XIX. Land?

           Nevertheless,asthebottommighthappentorisesharplyinsteadoffollowingtheslopeofthecoast,wedidnotventuretoproceedwithoutthesoundinglineinhand.

           Theweatherwasstillbeautiful,althoughtheskywasovercastbyamistfromsouth-easttosouth-west.Owingtothistherewassomedifficultyinidentifyingthevagueoutlineswhichstoodoutlikefloatingvapourinthesky,disappearingandthenreappearingbetweenthebreaksofthemist.

           However,weallagreedtoregardthislandasfromtwenty-fivetothirtyfathomsinheight,atleastatitshighestpart.

           No!wewouldnotadmitthatwewerethevictimsofadelusion,andyetouruneasymindsfearedthatitmightso!

           Isitnotnatural,afterall,forthehearttobeassailedbyathousandapprehensionsasweneartheendofanyenterprise?Atthisthoughtmymindbecameconfusedanddreamy.TheHalbraneseemedtobereducedtothedimensionsofasmallboatlostinthisboundlessspace—thecontraryofthatlimitlessseaofwhichEdgarPoespeaks,where,likealivingbody,theshipgrowslarger.

           Whenwehavecharts,orevensailingdirectionstoinstructusconcerningthehydrographyofthecoasts,thenatureofthelandfalls,thebaysandthecreeks,wemaysailalongboldly.Ineveryotherregion,themasterofashipmustnotdefertheordertocastanchorneartheshoreuntilthemorrow.But,wherewewere,whatanamountofprudencewasnecessary!Andyet,nomanifestobstaclewasbeforeus.Moreover,wehadnocausetofearthatthelightwouldfailusduringthesunnyhoursofthenight.

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