Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XX. “Unmerciful Disaster“
Andwasnotthislasttheworstblow—mustitnotprovethestrokeofdeath?
Thesilencewasbrokenbyatumultofdespairingvoices,whosedespairwasjustifiedindeedbythisirreparablemisfortune!
AndIamsurethatmorethanonethoughtitwouldhavebeenbettertohavebeenontheHalbraneasshereboundedoffthesideoftheiceberg!
Everythingwouldhavebeenoverthen,asallwasoverwithRogersandGratian!Thisfoolishexpeditionwouldthushavecometoaconclusionworthyofsuchrashnessandimprudence!
Atlast,theinstinctofself-preservationtriumphed,andexceptHearne,whostoodsomedistanceoffandaffectedsilence,allthemenshouted:“Totheboat!totheboat!”
Theseunfortunatefellowswereoutoftheirmind.Terrorledthemastray.Theyrushedtowardsthecragwhereouroneboat(whichcouldnotholdthemall)hadbeenshelteredduringtheunloadingoftheschooner.
CaptainLenGuyandJemWestrushedafterthem.Ijoinedthemimmediately,followedbytheboatswain.Wewerearmed,andresolvedtomakeuseofourarms.Wehadtopreventthesefuriousmenfromseizingtheboat,whichdidnotbelongtoafew,buttoall!
“Hallo,sailors!”criedthecaptain.
“Hallo!”repeatedWest,“stopthere,orwefireonthefirstwhogoesastepfarther!”
Boththreatenedthemenwiththeirpistols.Theboatswainpointedhisgunatthem.Iheldmyrifle,readytofire.
