Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XXII. In Camp
Theboat,whichwasdrawnbythecurrent,wasalreadysomedistanceoff,andthetidewasfallingrapidly.
Westshoulderedhisgunandfired;asailordroppedintothebottomoftheboat.Asecondshot,firedbyCaptainLenGuy,grazedHearne’sbreast,andtheballwaslostamongtheice-blocksatthemomentwhentheboatdisappearedbehindtheiceberg.
Theonlythingforustodowastocrosstotheothersideofthepoint.Thecurrentwouldcarrythewretchesthither,nodoubt,beforeitborethemnorthward.Iftheypassedwithinrange,andifasecondshotshouldhitHearne,eitherkillingorwoundinghim,hiscompanionsmightperhapsdecideoncomingbacktous.
Aquarterofanhourelapsed.Whentheboatappearedattheothersideofthepoint,itwassofaroffthatourbulletscouldnotreachit.Hearnehadalreadyhadthesailset,andtheboat,impelledbywindandcurrentjointly,wassoonnomorethanawhitespeckonthefaceofthewaters,andspeedilydisappeared.
