Крижаний сфінкс

           Thethermometerregistered53°(11°67’C.belowzero).So,althoughthesunwasnearingthehorizon,theicewasmelting,andthousandsofsmallstreamsflowedineverydirection.Theearlybirdsawokeatfouro’clock,andIwasoneoftheirnumber.Ihadscarcelyslept,andIfancythatDirkPetersdidnotsleepmuch,hauntedashewasbythesadthoughtofhavingtoturnback!

           Thelaunchwastotakeplaceatteno’clock.Takingeverypossibledifficultyintoaccount,andallowingfortheminutestprecautions,thecaptainhopedthatitwouldbecompletedbeforethecloseoftheday.Everyonebelievedthatbyeveningtheschoonerwouldbeatthefootoftheberg.

           Ofcoursewehadalltolendahandtothisdifficulttask.Toeachmanaspecialdutywasassigned;somewereemployedtofacilitatetheslidingwithwoodenrollers,ifnecessary;otherstomoderatethespeedofthehull,incaseitbecametoogreat,bymeansofhawsersandcables.

           Webreakfastedatnineo’clockinthetents.Oursailorswereperfectlyconfident,andcouldnotrefrainfromdrinking“successtotheevent”;andalthoughthiswasalittlepremature,weaddedourhurrahstotheirs.Successseemedverynearlyassured,asthecaptainandthematehadworkedoutthemattersocarefullyandskilfully.Atlastwewereabouttoleaveourencampmentandtakeupourstations(someofthesailorsweretherealready),whencriesofamazementandfearwereraised.