Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XXII. In Camp
Onthefollowingday,the7thofFebruary,everybodysettoworkearlywithawill.Theboatwasletdownwithalldueprecautiontothebaseoftheiceberg,anddrawnupbythemenonalittlesandybeachoutofreachofthewater.Itwasinperfectlygoodcondition,andthoroughlyserviceable.
TheboatswainthensettoworkontheformercontentsoftheHalbrane,furniture,bedding,sails,clothing,instruments,andutensils.Stowedawayinacabin,thesethingswouldnolongerbeexposedtotheknockingaboutanddamageoftheiceberg.Thecasescontainingpreservedfoodandthecasksofspiritswererapidlycarriedashore.
IworkedwiththecaptainandWestatthisoneroustask,andDirkPetersalsoturnedupandlentthevaluableassistanceofhisgreatstrength,buthedidnotutterawordtoanyone.
Ouroccupationcontinuedonthe8th,9th,and10thFebruary,andourtaskwasfinishedintheafternoonofthe10th.Thecargowassafelystowedintheinteriorofalargegrotto,withaccesstoitbyanarrowopening.Weweretoinhabittheadjoininggrotto,andEndicottsetuphiskitcheninthelatter,ontheadviceoftheboatswain.Thusweshouldprofitbytheheatofthestove,whichwastocookourfoodandwarmthecavernduringthelongdays,orratherthelongnightsoftheaustralwinter.
Duringtheprocessofhousingandstoring,IobservednothingtoarousesuspicioninthebearingofHearneandtheFalklandsmen.Nevertheless,thehalf-breedwaskeptonguardattheboat,whichmighteasilyhavebeenseizeduponthebeach.
