Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter XI. From the Sandwich Islands to the Polar Circle
Thesebirdshaverathershort,conicalbeaks,andred-rimmedeyelids;theycanbeknockedoverwithlittledifficulty.AsforthevegetablekingdomintheNewSouthOrkneys,itisrepresentedonlybygreylichenandsomescantyseaweeds.Musselsarefoundingreatabundanceallalongtherocks;oftheseweprocuredanamplesupply.
Theboatswainandhismendidnotlosetheopportunityofkillingseveraldozensofpenguinswiththeirsticks,notfromaruthlessinstinctofdestruction,butfromthelegitimatedesiretoprocurefreshfood.
“Theirfleshisjustasgoodaschicken,Mr.Jeorling,”saidHurliguerly.“DidyounoteatpenguinattheKerguelens?”
“Yes,boatswain,butitwascookedbyAtkins.”
“Verywell,then;itwillbecookedbyEndicotthere,andyouwillnotknowthedifference.”
Andinfactweinthesaloon,likethemenintheforecastle,wereregaledwithpenguin,andacknowledgedthemeritsofourexcellentsea-cook.
TheHalbranesailedonthe26thofNovember,atsixo’clockinthemorning,headingsouth.Shereascendedtheforty-thirdmeridian;thiswewereabletoascertainveryexactlybyagoodobservation.ThisrouteitwasthatWeddellandthenWilliamGuyhadfollowed,and,providedtheschoonerdidnotdeflecteithertotheeastorthewest,shemustinevitablycometoTsalalIsland.Thedifficultiesofnavigationhadtobetakenintoaccount,ofcourse.
