Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter XIV. A Voice in a Dream
”
Ineednotsaythatrecoursewashadtothesurestguidewithinourreach,thatveraciousnarrativeofArthurGordonPym,whichIreadandre-readwithintenseattention,fascinatedasIwasbytheideathatImightbepermittedtobeholdwithmyowneyesthosestrangephenomenaofnatureintheAntarcticworldwhichI,incommonwithallEdgarPoe’sreaders,hadhithertoregardedascreationsofthemostimaginativewriterwhoevergavevoicebyhispentothephantasiesofauniquebrain.NodoubtagreatpartofthewondersofArthurGordonPym’snarrativewouldprovepurefiction,butifevenalittleofthemarvellousstorywerefoundtobetrue,howgreataprivilegewouldbemine!
ThepicturesqueandwonderfulsideofthestorywewerestudyingasgospeltruthhadlittlecharmandbutslightinterestforCaptainLenGuy;hewasindifferenttoeverythinginPym’snarrativethatdidnotrelatedirectlytothecastawaysofTsalalIsland:hismindwassolelyandconstantlysetupontheirrescue.
AccordingtothenarrativeofArthurPymJaneexperiencedseriousdifficulties,duetobadweather,fromthe1sttothe4thofJanuary,1828.Itwasnotuntilthemorningofthe5th,inlatitude23°15’thatshefoundafreepassagethroughthelasticebergthatbarredherway.
