Крижаний сфінкс

           Itisawell-knownfactthatice,whetherformedfromfreshorsaltwater,containsnosalt,owingtothechlorideofsodiumbeingeliminatedinthechangefromtheliquidtothesolidstate.Theoriginoftheice,therefore,isamatterofnoimportance.However,thoseblockswhichareeasilydistinguishedbytheirgreenishcolourandtheirperfecttransparencyarepreferable.Theyaresolidifiedrain,andthereforemuchmoresuitablefordrinking-water.

           Withoutdoubt,ourcaptainwouldhaverecognizedanyblocksofthisdescription,butnoneweretobefoundontheglacier,owingtoitsbeingthatpartofthebergwhichwasoriginallysubmerged,andcametothetopafterthefall.

           ThecaptainandWestdecidedfirsttolightenthevessel,byconveyingeverythingonboardtoland.Themastsweretobeclearedofrigging,takenout,andplacedontheplateau.Itwasnecessarytolightenthevesselasmuchaspossible,eventoclearouttheballast,owingtothedifficultanddangerousoperationoflaunching.Itwouldbebettertoputoffourdepartureforsomedaysifthisoperationcouldbeperformedundermorefavourablecircumstances.Theloadingmightbeafterwardsaccomplishedwithoutmuchdifficulty.

           Besidesthis,anotherreasonbynomeanslessseriouspresenteditselftous.ItwouldhavebeenanactofunpardonablerashnesstoleavetheprovisionsinthestoreroomoftheHalbrane,hersituationonthesideoftheicebergbeingveryprecarious.Oneshakewouldsufficetodetachtheship,andwithherwouldhavedisappearedthesuppliesonwhichourlivesdepended.