Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XXI. Amid the Mists
Ateighto’clockthateveningthehalf-condensedmistwassocompactthatitwasdifficulttowalkthroughit.Thecompositionoftheairseemedtobechanged,asthoughitwerepassingintoasolidstate.Itwasnotpossibletodiscernwhetherthefoghadanyeffectuponthecompass.Iknewthematterhadbeenstudiedbymeteorologists,andthattheybelievetheymaysafelyaffirmthattheneedleisnotaffectedbythisconditionoftheatmosphere.IwilladdherethatsincewehadlefttheSouthPolebehindnoconfidencecouldbeplacedintheindicationsofthecompass;ithadgonewildattheapproachtothemagneticpole,towhichwewerenodoubtontheway.Nothingcouldbeknown,therefore,concerningthecourseoftheiceberg.
Thesundidnotsetquitebelowthehorizonatthisperiod,yetthewaterswerewrappedintolerablydeepdarknessatnineo’clockintheevening,whenthemusterofthecrewtookplace.
OnthisoccasioneachmanasusualansweredtohisnameexceptDirkPeters.
ThecallwasrepeatedintheloudestofHurliguerly’sstentoriantones.Noreply.
“HasnobodyseenDirkPetersduringtheday?”inquiredthecaptain.
“Nobody,”answeredtheboatswain.
“Cananythinghavehappenedtohim?”
“Don’tbeafraid,”criedtheboatswain.“DirkPetersisinhiselement,andasmuchathiseaseinthefogasapolarbear.Hehasgotoutofonebadscrape;hewillgetoutofasecond!”
IletHurliguerlyhavehissay,knowingwellwhythehalf-breedkeptoutoftheway.
