Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XX. “Unmerciful Disaster“
Onthisaccount,wepassedthedayinremovingcasksofhalf-saltedmeat,driedvegetables,flour,biscuits,tea,coffee,barrelsofgin,whisky,wineandbeerfromtheholdandstore-roomandplacingtheminsafetyinthehammocksneartheHalbrane.
Wealsohadtoinsureourlandingagainstanypossibleaccident,and,Imustadd,againstanyplotonthepartofHearneandotherstoseizetheboatinordertoreturntotheice-barrier.
Weplacedthelongboatinacavitywhichwouldbeeasytowatch,aboutthirtyfeettotheleftoftheschooner,alongwithitsoars,rudder,compass,anchor,mastsandsail.
Bydaytherewasnothingtofear,andatnight,orratherduringthehoursofsleep,theboatswainandoneofthesuperiorswouldkeepguardnearthecavity,andwemightrestassuredthatnoevilcouldbefall.
The19th,20th,and21stofJanuarywerepassedinworkingextrahardintheunshippingofthecargoandthedismantlingoftheHalbrane.Weslungthelowermastsbymeansofyardsformingprops.Lateron,Westwouldseetoreplacingthemainandmizzenmasts;inanycase,wecoulddowithoutthemuntilwehadreachedtheFalklandsorsomeotherwinterport.
Needlesstosay,wehadsetupacampontheplateauofwhichIhavespoken,notfarfromtheHalbrane.Sufficientshelteragainsttheinclemencyoftheweather,notinfrequentatthistimeoftheyear,wastobefoundundertents,constructedofsailsplacedonsparsandfasteneddownbypegs.
