Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XX. “Unmerciful Disaster“
Thecaulkingoperationswerecompleted,andalsotheslideforloweringthevesseltothebaseofourfloatingmountain.
Justnowtheupperportionoftheicehadbeenslightlysoftened,sothatthislastworkdidnotentailmuchlabourforpick-axeorspade.Thecourseranobliquelyroundthewestsideoftheberg,sothattheinclineshouldnotbetoogreatatanypoint.Withcablesproperlyfixed,thelaunch,itseemed,mightbeeffectedwithoutanymishap.Iratherfearedlestthemeltingoftheiceshouldmaketheglidinglesssmoothatthelowerpartoftheberg.
Needlesstosay,thecargo,masting,anchors,chains,&c.,hadnotbeenputonboard.Thehullwasquiteheavyenough,andnoteasilymoved,soitwasnecessarytolightenitasmuchaspossible.
Whentheschoonerwasagaininitselement,theloadingcouldbeeffectedinafewdays.
Ontheafternoonofthe28th,thefinishingtouchesweregiven.Itwasnecessarytoputsupportsforthesidesoftheslideinsomeplaceswheretheicehadmeltedquickly.Theneveryonewasallowedtorestfrom4o’clockp.m.Thecaptainhaddoublerationsservedouttoallhands,andwelltheymeritedthisextrasupplyofspirits;theyhadindeedworkedhardduringtheweek.Irepeatthateverysignofmutinyhaddisappeared.Thecrewthoughtofnothingexceptthisgreatoperationofthelaunching.TheHalbraneintheseawouldmeandeparture,itwouldalsomeanreturn!ForDirkPetersandmeitwouldbethedefiniteabandonmentofArthurPym.
Thatnightthetemperaturewasthehighestwehadsofarexperienced.
