Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XIX. Land?
Thesea-birdsweremorenumerous,andwereevidentlynotfrightened;fortheykeptflyingroundthemast,orperchingintheyards.Severalwhitishropesaboutfiveorsixfeetlongwerebroughtonboard.Theywerechapletsformedofmillionsofshell-fish.
Whales,spoutingjetsoffeatherywaterfromtheirblow-holes,appearedatadistance,andIremarkedthatallthemtookasoutherlydirection.Therewasthereforereasontobelievethattheseaextendedfarandwideinthatdirection.
Theschoonercoveredtwoorthreemilesofhercoursewithoutanyincreaseofspeed.Thiscoastevidentlystretchedfromnorth-westtosouth-east.Nevertheless,thetelescopesrevealednodistinctivefeatures—evenafterthreehours’navigation.
Thecrew,gatheredtogetherontheforecastle,werelookingonwithoutrevealingtheirimpressions.West,aftergoingalofttothefore-cross-trees,wherehehadremainedtenminutes,hadreportednothingprecise.Stationedattheportside,leaningmyelbowsonthebulwarks,Icloselywatchedtheskyline,brokenonlytowardstheeast.
Atthismomenttheboatswainrejoinedme,andwithoutprefacesaid:
“Willyouallowmetogiveyoumyopinion,Mr.Jeorling?”
“Giveit,boatswain,”Ireplied,“attheriskofmynotadoptingitifIdon’tagreewithit.”
“Itiscorrect,andaccordingaswegetneareronemustreallybeblindnottoadoptit!”
“Andwhatideahaveyougot?”
“Thatitisnotlandwhichliesbeforeus,Mr.
