Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XIX. Land?
Then,recalledtoobedience,theybegantobracetheyardsandslackthesheets,andtheschoonerincreasedherspeed.
Whentheoperationwasover,IwentuptoHurliguerly,anddrawinghimaside,Isaid,—
“Thankyou,boatswain.”
“Ah,Mr.Jeorling,”hereplied,shakinghishead,“itisallveryfineforthistime,butyoumustnotdoitagain!Everyonewouldturnagainstme,evenEndicott,perhaps.”
“Ihaveurgednothingwhichisnotatleastprobable,”Iansweredsharply.
“Idon’tdenythatfact,Mr.Jeorling.”
“Yes,Hurliguerly,yes—IbelievewhatIhavesaid,andIhavenodoubtbutthatweshallreallyseethelandbeyondtheicebergs.”
“Justpossible,Mr.Jeorling,quitepossible.Butitmustappearbeforetwodays,or,onthewordofaboatswain,nothingcanpreventusfromputtingabout!”
Duringthenexttwenty-fourhourstheHalbranetookasouth-south-westerlycourse.Nevertheless,herdirectionmusthavebeenfrequentlychangedandherspeeddecreasedinavoidingtheice.Thenavigationbecameverydifficultsosoonastheschoonerheadedtowardsthelineofthebergs,whichithadtocutobliquely.However,therewerenoneofthepackswhichblockedupallaccesstotheicebergonthe67thparallel.Theenormousheapsweremeltingawaywithmajesticslowness.Theice-blocksappeared“quitenew”(toemployaperfectlyaccurateexpression),andperhapstheyhadonlybeenformedsomedays.
