Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XIX. Land?
Mymindwasquiteupset,andteemedwithathousandthoughts,athousandregrets,athousanddesires!Iwantedtogetup,butaheavyhandheldmedowninmybunk!AndIlongedtoleavethiscabinwhereIwasstrugglingagainstnightmareinmyhalf-sleep,tolaunchoneoftheboatsoftheHalbrane,tojumpintoitwithDirkPeters,whowouldnothesitateaboutfollowingme,andsoabandonbothofustothecurrentrunningsouth.
Andlo!Iwasdoingthisinadream.Itisto-morrow!CaptainLenGuyhasgivenorderstoreverseourcourse,afteralastglanceatthehorizon.Oneoftheboatsisintow.Iwarnthehalf-breed.Wecreepalongwithoutbeingseen.Wecutthepainter.Whilsttheschoonersailsonahead,westayasternandthecurrentcarriesusoff.
Thuswedriftontheseawithouthindrance!Atlengthourboatstops.Landisthere.Iseeasortofsphinxsurmountingthesouthernpeak—thesea-sphinx.Igotohim.Iquestionhim.Hedisclosesthesecretsofthesemysteriousregionstome.Andthen,thephenomenawhoserealityArthurPymassertedappeararoundthemythicmonster.Thecurtainofflickeringvapours,stripedwithluminousrays,isrentasunder.Anditisnotafaceofsuperhumangrandeurwhicharisesbeforemyastonishedeyes:itisArthurPym,fierceguardianofthesouthpole,flauntingtheensignoftheUnitedStatesinthosehighlatitudes!
Wasthisdreamsuddenlyinterrupted,orwasitchangedbyafreakofmybrain?Icannottell,butIfeltasthoughIhadbeensuddenlyawakened.
