Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XX. “Unmerciful Disaster“
Whatweretobetheconsequencesofourbeingnolongercastawayatthatplace?Thecurrentwasnowcarryingusinthedirectionofthepole!Thefirstfeelingofjoyinspiredbythisconvictionwas,however,succeededbyalltheterrorsoftheunknown!andwhatanunknown!
DirkPetersonlywasentirelyrejoicedthatwehadresumedtheroutewhich,hebelieved,wouldleadustothediscoveryoftracesofhis“poorPym”—farotherideasoccupiedthemindsofhiscompanions.
CaptainLenGuynolongerentertainedanyhopeofrescuinghiscountrymen,andhavingreachedtheconditionofdespair,hewasboundbyhisdutytotakehiscrewbacktothenorth,soastocleartheantarcticcirclewhiletheseasonrendereditpossibletodoso.Andwewerebeingcarriedawaytowardsthesouth!
Naturallyenough,wewerealldeeplyimpressedbythefearfulnessofourposition,whichmaybesummedupinafewwords.Wewerenolongercastaway,withapossibleship,butthetenantsofafloatingiceberg,withnohopebutthatourmonstertenementmightencounteroneofthewhalingshipswhosebusinessinthedeepwatersliesbetweentheOrkneys,NewGeorgia,andtheSandwichIslands.Aquantityofthingshadbeenthrownintotheicebythecollisionwhichhadsetouricebergafloat,butthesewerechieflyarticlesbelongingtotheHalbrane.Owingtotheprecautionthathadbeentakenonthepreviousday,whenthecargowasstowedawayintheclefts,ithadbeenonlyslightlydamaged.
