Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XIX. Land?
Westawaitedhischief’sorders,notdaringtoimposesilence.
Gratianwasatthehelm,readytogiveaturntowheel,whilsthiscomradeswiththeirhandsonthecleatswerepreparingtoeaseoffthesheets.
DirkPetersremainedimmovable,leaningagainstthefore-mast,hisheaddown,hisbodybent,andhismouthsetfirm.Notawordpassedhislips.
Butnowheturnedtowardsme,andwhatalookofmingledwrathandentreatyhegaveme!
Idon’tknowwhatirresistiblemotiveinducedmetointerferepersonally,andonceagaintoprotest!Afinalargumenthadjustcrossedmymind—anargumentwhoseweightcouldnotbedisputed.
SoIbegantospeak,andIdidsowithsuchconvictionthatnonetriedtointerruptme.
ThesubstanceofwhatIsaidwasasfollows:—
“No!allhopemustnotbeabandoned.Landcannotbefaroff.Theicebergswhichareformedintheopenseabytheaccumulationoficearenotbeforeus.Theseicebergsmusthavebrokenofffromthesolidbaseofacontinentoranisland.Now,sincethethawbeginsatthisseasonoftheyear,thedriftwilllastforonlyashorttime.Behindthemwemustmeetthecoastonwhichtheywereformed.
