Хребты безумия
I
ThepublicknowsoftheMiskatonicExpeditionthroughourfrequentwirelessreportstotheArkhamAdvertiserandAssociatedPress,andthroughthelaterarticlesofPabodieandmyself. WeconsistedoffourmenfromtheUniversity-Pabodie,Lakeofthebiologydepartment,Atwoodofthephysicsdepartment-alsoameteorologist-andmyself,representinggeologyandhavingnominalcommand-besidessixteenassistants: sevengraduatestudentsfromMiskatonicandnineskilledmechanics. Ofthesesixteen,twelvewerequalifiedaeroplanepilots,allbuttwoofwhomwerecompetentwirelessoperators. Eightofthemunderstoodnavigationwithcompassandsextant,asdidPabodie,Atwood,andI. Inaddition,ofcourse,ourtwoships-woodenex-whalers,reinforcedforiceconditionsandhavingauxiliarysteam-werefullymanned.
TheNathanielDerbyPickmanFoundation,aidedbyafewspecialcontributions,financedtheexpedition; henceourpreparationswereextremelythorough,despitetheabsenceofgreatpublicity. Thedogs,sledges,machines,campmaterials,andunassembledpartsofourfiveplanesweredeliveredinBoston,andthereourshipswereloaded. Weweremarvelouslywell-equippedforourspecificpurposes,andinallmatterspertainingtosupplies,regimen,transportation,andcampconstructionweprofitedbytheexcellentexampleofourmanyrecentandexceptionallybrilliantpredecessors. Itwastheunusualnumberandfameofthesepredecessorswhichmadeourownexpedition-amplethoughitwas-solittlenoticedbytheworldatlarge.
Asthenewspaperstold,wesailedfromBostonHarboronSeptember2nd,1930,takingaleisurelycoursedownthecoastandthroughthePanamaCanal,andstoppingatSamoaandHobart,Tasmania,atwhichlatterplacewetookonfinalsupplies.
