Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XXI. Amid the Mists
AndIthoughtitwasamatterofgreatregretthatwecouldnotgetagroundononeortheothersideofthisvaststrait,whosesurfacewouldpresentlybesolidifiedbythecomingofwinter.
WhenIexpressedthissentimenttoCaptainLenGuy,hemademetheonlylogicalanswer:
“Whatwouldyouhave,Mr.Jeorling?Wearepowerless.Thereisnothingtobedone,andthepersistentfogistheworstpartofourillluck.Inolongerknowwhereweare.Itisimpossibletotakeanobservation,andthisbefallsusjustasthesunisabouttodisappearforlongmonths.”
“Letmecomebacktothequestionoftheboat,”saidI,“forthelasttime.Couldwenot,withtheboat—”
“Goonadiscoverycruise?Canyouthinkofsuchathing?ThatwouldbeanimprudenceIwouldnotcommit,eventhoughthecrewwouldallowme.”
Iwasonthepointofexclaiming:“Andwhatifyourbrotherandyourcountrymenhavefoundrefugeonsomespotofthelandthatundoubtedlyliesaboutus?”
ButIrestrainedmyself.Ofwhatavailwasittoreawakenourcaptain’sgrief?He,too,musthavecontemplatedthiseventuality,andhehadnotrenouncedhispurposeoffurthersearchwithoutbeingfullyconvincedofthefollyofalastattempt.
DuringthosethreedaysoffogIhadnotcaughtsightofDirkPeters,orratherhehadmadenoattempttoapproach,buthadremainedinflexiblyathispostbytheboat.
