Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter XIII. Along the Front of the Icebergs
Thenavigationoftheschoonernaturallybecameamoredelicatematterinthemidstofthosedim,wanmassessoiledwiththeexcretaofbirds.Manyofthemhadaleprouslook:comparedwiththeiralreadyconsiderablevolume,howsmallourlittleship,overwhosemastsomeoftheicebergsalreadytowered,musthaveappeared!
CaptainLenGuyadmirablycombinedboldnessandprudenceinhiscommandofhisship.Heneverpassedtoleewardofaniceberg,ifthedistancedidnotguaranteethesuccessofanymanoeuvrewhatsoeverthatmightsuddenlybecomenecessary.Hewasfamiliarwithallthecontingenciesofice-navigation,andwasnotafraidtoventureintothemidstoftheseflotillasofdriftsandpacks.Thatdayhesaidtome,—
“Mr.Jeorling;thisisnotthefirsttimethatIhavetriedtopenetrateintothePolarSea,andwithoutsuccess.Well,ifImadetheattempttodothiswhenIhadnothingbutpresumptionastothefateoftheJanetogoupon,whatshallInotdonowthatpresumptionischangedintocertainty?”
“Iunderstandthat,captain,andofcourseyourexperienceofnavigationinthesewatersmustincreaseourchancesofsuccess.”
“Undoubtedly.Nevertheless,allthatliesbeyondthefixedicebergsisstilltheunknownforme,asitisforothernavigators.”
“TheUnknown!No,notabsolutely,captain,sincewepossesstheimportantreportsofWeddell,and,Imustadd,ofArthurPymalso.”
“Yes,Iknow;theyhavespokenoftheopensea.
