Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XX. “Unmerciful Disaster“
Thecaptainwasmorereservedonthesubject,butatthethoughtthathewouldhavetorenounceallhopeoffindingthesurvivorsoftheJane,hisheartwasreadytobreak.WhentheHalbraneshouldagainbereadyforthesea,andwhenWestshouldinquirewhatcoursehewastosteer,wouldCaptainLenGuydaretoreply,“Tothesouth”?No!forhewouldnotbefollowedeitherbythenewhands,orbythegreaterportionoftheoldermembersofthecrew.Tocontinueoursearchinthisdirection,togobeyondthepole,withoutbeingcertainofreachingtheIndianOceaninsteadoftheAtlantic,wouldhavebeenrashnessofwhichnonavigatorwouldbeguilty.Ifacontinentboundtheseaonthisside,theschoonerwouldrunthedangerofbeingcrushedbythemassoficebeforeitcouldescapethesouthernwinter.
Undersuchcircumstances,toattempttopersuadeCaptainLenGuytopursuethevoyagewouldonlybetocourtacertainrefusal.Itcouldnotevenbeproposed,nowthatnecessityobligedustoreturnnorthwards,andnottodelayasingledayinthisportionoftheAntarcticregions.Atanyrate,thoughIresolvednotagaintospeakofthemattertothecaptain,Ilostnoopportunityofsoundingtheboatswain.Oftenwhenhehadfinishedhiswork,Hurliguerlywouldcomeandjoinme;wewouldchat,andwewouldcompareourrecollectionsoftravel.
Onedayaswewereseatedonthesummitoftheiceberg,gazingfixedlyonthedeceptivehorizon,heexclaimed,—
“Whocouldeverhaveimagined,Mr.
