Part 14 (2/2)
”Whether it is a continent,” said he, ”that lies before us, or whether it is an island, we have at present noIf it be a continent, we must conclude that the current has an issue towards the south-east”
”And it is quite possible,” I replied, ”that the solid part of the Antarctic region may be reduced to a mere polar mound In any case, it is well to note any of those observations which are likely to be accurate”
”That is just what I a back a mass of information about this portion of the southern sea which will prove useful to navigators”
”If ever any venture to come so far south, captain! We have penetrated so far, thanks to the help of particular circumstances, the earliness of the summer season, an abnormal temperature and a rapid thaw Such conditions may only occur once in twenty or fifty years!”
”Wherefore, Mr Jeorling, I thank Providence for this, and hope revives in me to some extent As the weather has been constantly fine, what is there to make it impossible for my brother and my fellow-countrymen to have landed on this coast, whither the wind and the tide bore them? What our schooner has done, their boat ht prolonged to an indefinite time without a proper supply of provisions! Why should they not have found the resources as those afforded to the years? They had ammunition and arms elsewhere Fish abound in these waters, water-fowl also Oh yes! my heart is full of hope, and I wish I were a few hours older!”
Without being quite so sanguine as Len Guy, I was glad to see he had regained his hopeful ht be able to have them continued in Arthur Pye land which ere approaching
The Halbrane was going along slowly on these clear waters, which swar to the same species as we had already met The sea-birds were htened; for they kept flying round thein the yards Several whitish ropes about five or six feet long were brought on board They were chaplets for jets of feathery water from their blow-holes, appeared at a distance, and I remarked that all them took a southerly direction There was therefore reason to believe that the sea extended far and wide in that direction
The schooner covered two or three miles of her course without any increase of speed This coast evidently Stretched from north-west to south-east Nevertheless, the telescopes revealed no distinctive features--even after three hours' navigation
The crew, gathered together on the forecastle, were looking on without revealing their i aloft to the fore-cross-trees, where he had re precise Stationed at the port side, leaning my elbows on the bulwarks, I closely watched the sky line, broken only towards the east
At this moment the boatswain rejoined ive you ?”
”Give it, boatswain,” I replied, ”at the risk of ree with it”
”It is correct, and according as we get nearer one must really be blind not to adopt it!”
”And what idea have you got?”
”That it is not land which lies before us, Mr Jeorling!”
”What is it you are saying?”
”Look attentively, putting one finger before your eyes--look there--out a--starboard”
I did as Hurliguerly directed
”Do you see?” he began again ”May I lose e place, not with regard to the schooner, but with regard to themselves!”
”And what do you conclude fros?”
”Sure enough, Mr Jeorling”
Was not the boatswain mistaken? Were we in for a disappoint ice-mountains in the distance instead of a shore?
Presently, there was no doubt on the subject; for soer believed existence of land in that direction
Ten minutes afterwards, the s were co north-west, in an oblique direction, into the course of the Halbrane
This news produced a great sensation on board Our last hope was suddenly extinguished And what a blow to Captain Len Guy! We should have to seek land of the austral zone under higher latitudes without being sure of ever co across it!
And then the cry, ”Back shi+p! back shi+p!” sounded almost unanimously on board the Halbrane
Yes, indeed, the recruits froh Hearne was not there to fan the flareater part of the old tars seeree with the to iive a turn to wheel, whilst his co to ease off the sheets
Dirk Peters reainst the fore-mast, his head down, his body bent, and his mouth set firm Not a word passed his lips
But now he turned towards ave me!
I don't knohat irresistible ain to protest! A final arguht could not be disputed
So I began to speak, and I did so with such conviction that none tried to interrupt me
The substance of what I said was as follows:-- ”No! all hope s which are formed in the open sea by the accus must have broken off from the solid base of a continent or an island Now, since the thaw begins at this season of the year, the drift will last for only a short time Behind them we must meet the coast on which they were forht at the most, if the land does not appear, Captain Len Guy will steer to the north again!”
Had I convinced the crew, or ought I to take advantage of Hearne's absence and of the fact that he could not communicate with the deccived, and to repeat to theer the schooner if our course were now to be reversed
The boatswain caood-humoured voice exclaimed,-- ”Very well reasoned, and for 's opinion assuredly, land is near! If we seek it beyond those icebergs, we shall discover it without ree farther south, when it is a question of putting a hundred additional dollars into one's pocket? And let us not forget that if they are acceptable when they go in, they are none the less so when they come out!”
Upon this, Endicott, the cook, caood things indeed are dollars!” cried he, showing ts of shi+ning white teeth
Did the crew intend to yield to Hurliguerly's argument, or would they try to resist if the Halbrane went on in the direction of the icebergs?
Captain Len Guy took up his telescope again, and turned it upon thesemasses; he observed them with much attention, and cried out in a loud voice,-- ”Steer south-sou'-west!”
West gave orders to execute the manoeuvres The sailors hesitated an instant Then, recalled to obedience, they began to brace the yards and slack the sheets, and the schooner increased her speed
When the operation was over, I went up to Hurliguerly, and drawing him aside, I said,-- ”Thank you, boatswain”
”Ah, Mr Jeorling,” he replied, shaking his head, ”it is all very fine for this tiainstwhich is not at least probable,” I answered sharply
”I don't deny that fact, Mr Jeorling”
”Yes, Hurliguerly, yes--I believe what I have said, and I have no doubt but that we shall really see the land beyond the icebergs”