Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter VI. An Ocean Waif
”
Hurliguerlycameupatthismomentandplantedhiselbowsonthebulwark,alongsideofmine.
“Whatdoyouthinkofit,boatswain?”Iasked.
“Itismyopinion,Mr.Jeorling,”repliedtheboatswain,“thatwhatweseethereisneitherablowernorawreck,butmerelyalumpofice.”
“Hurliguerlyisright,”saidJamesWest;“itisalumpofice,apieceofanicebergwhichthecurrentshavecarriedhither.”
“What?”saidI,“totheforty-fifthparallel?”
”Yes,sir,”answeredWest,“thathasoccurred,andtheicesometimesgetsupashighastheCape,ifwearetotakethewordofaFrenchnavigator,CaptainBlosseville,whometoneatthisheightin1828.”
“Thenthismasswillmeltbeforelong,”Iobserved,feelingnotalittlesurprisedthatWesthadhonouredmebysolengthyareply.
”Itmustindeedbedissolvedingreatpartalready,”hecontinued,“andwhatweseeistheremainsofamountainoficewhichmusthaveweighedmillionsoftons.”
CaptainLenGuynowappeared,andperceivingthegroupofsailorsaroundWest,hecameforward.Afewwordswereexchangedinalowtonebetweenthecaptainandthelieutenant,andthelatterpassedhisglasstotheformer,whoturnedituponthefloatingobject,nowatleastamilenearertous.
“Itisice,”saidhe,”anditisluckythatitisdissolving.TheHalbranemighthavecometoseriousgriefbycollisionwithitinthenight.
