Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XX. “Unmerciful Disaster“
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ButImadethemobservethatweshouldbeobligedtodirectourcoursecontrarytowindandcurrent;ourschoonerherselfcouldhardlyhavesucceededindoingthis.Whilsttocontinuetowardsthesouth—
“Towardsthesouth?”repeatedthecaptain,wholookedatmeasthoughhesoughttoreadmythoughts.
“Whynot?”Ianswered.“Iftheiceberghadnotbeenstoppedinitspassage,perhapsitwouldhavedriftedtosomelandinthatdirection,andmightnotourboataccomplishwhatitwouldhavedone?”
Thecaptain,shakinghishead,answerednothing.Westalsowassilent.
“Eh!ouricebergwillendbyraisingitsanchor,”repliedHurliguerly.“Itdoesnotholdtothebottom,liketheFalklandsortheKerguelens!Sothesafestcourseistowait,astheboatcannotcarrytwenty-three,thenumberofourparty.”
Idweltuponthefactthatitwasnotnecessaryforalltwenty-threetoembark.Itwouldbesufficient,Isaid,forfiveorsixofustoreconnoitrefurthersouthfortwelveorfifteenmiles.
“South?”repeatedCaptainLenGuy.
“Undoubtedly,captain,”Iadded.“Youprobablyknowwhatthegeographersfranklyadmit,thattheantarcticregionsareformedbyacappedcontinent.”
“Geographersknownothing,andcanknownothingaboutit,”repliedWest,coldly.
“Itisapity,”saidI,“thataswearesonear,weshouldnotattempttosolvethisquestionofapolarcontinent.”
Ithoughtitbetternottoinsistjustatpresent.
