Хребты безумия
II
ThestartwasmadeJanuary22ndat4A.M.,andthefirstwirelessmessagewereceivedcameonlytwohourslater,whenLakespokeofdescendingandstartingasmall-scaleice-meltingandboreatapointsomethreehundredmilesawayfromus. Sixhoursafterthatasecondandveryexcitedmessagetoldofthefrantic,beaver-likeworkwherebyashallowshafthadbeensunkandblasted,culminatinginthediscoveryofslatefragmentswithseveralmarkingsapproximatelyliketheonewhichhadcausedtheoriginalpuzzlement.
Threehourslaterabriefbulletinannouncedtheresumptionoftheflightintheteethofarawandpiercinggale; andwhenIdispatchedamessageofprotestagainstfurtherhazards,Lakerepliedcurtlythathisnewspecimensmadeanyhazardworthtaking. Isawthathisexcitementhadreachedthepointofmutiny,andthatIcoulddonothingtocheckthisheadlongriskofthewholeexpedition’ssuccess; butitwasappallingtothinkofhisplungingdeeperanddeeperintothattreacherousandsinisterwhiteimmensityoftempestsandunfathomedmysterieswhichstretchedoffforsomefifteenhundredmilestothehalf-known,half-suspectedcoastlineofQueenMaryandKnoxLands.
Then,inaboutanhourandahalfmore,camethatdoublyexcitedmessagefromLake’smovingplane,whichalmostreversedmysentimentsandmademewishIhadaccompaniedtheparty:
"10:05P.M.Onthewing. Aftersnowstorm,havespiedmountainrangeaheadhigherthananyhithertoseen. MayequalHimalayas,allowingforheightofplateau. ProbableLatitude76°15’,Longitude113°10’E. Reachesfarascanseetorightandleft. Suspicionoftwosmokingcones. AllpeaksblackandbareofsnowGaleblowingoffthemimpedesnavigation."
