letters from high latitudes-第31章
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ese circumstances； the only thing to be done was to get back to where the ice was looser； and attempt a landing wherever a favourable opening presented itself。 But even to extricate ourselves from our present position； was now no longer of such easy performance。 Within the last hour the wind had shifted into the North…West； that is to say； it was now blowing right down the path along which we had picked our way； in order to return； therefore； it would be necessary to work the ship to windward through a sea as thickly crammed with ice as a lady's boudoir is with furniture。 Moreover； it had become evident； from the obvious closing of the open spaces； that some considerable pressure was acting upon the outside of the field； but whether originating in a current or the change of wind； or another field being driven down upon it； I could not tell： Be that as it might； out we must get；unless we wanted to be cracked like a walnut…shell between the drifting ice and trio solid belt to leeward； so sending a steady hand to the helm；for these unusual phenomena had begun to make some of my people lose their heads a little； no one on board having ever seen a bit of ice before；I stationed myself in the bows； while Mr。 Wyse conned the vessel from the square yard。 Then there began one of the prettiest and most exciting pieces of nautical manoeuvring that can be imagined。 Every single soul on board was summoned upon deck； to all； their several stations and duties were assignedalways excepting the cook； who was merely directed to make himself generally useful。 As soon as everybody was ready； down went the helm；about came the ship；and the critical part of the business commenced。 Of course； in order to wind and twist the schooner in and out among the devious channels left between the hummocks； it was necessary she should have considerable way on her； at the same time so narrow were some of the passages； and so sharp their turnings； that unless she had been the most handy vessel in the world； she would have had a very narrow squeak for it。 I never saw anything so beautiful as her behaviour。 Had she been a living creature； she could not have dodged； and wound； and doubled； with more conscious cunning and dexterity； and it was quite amusing to hear the endearing way in which the people spoke to her； each time the nimble creature contrived to elude some more than usually threatening tongue of ice。 Once or twice； in spite of all our exertions； it was impossible to save her from a collision； all that remained to be done； as soon as it became evident she could not clear some particular floe； or go about in time to avoid it； was to haul the staysail sheet a…weather in order to deaden her way as much as possible； andputting the helm downlet her go right at it； so that she should receive the blow on her stem； and not on the bluff of the bow； while all hands； armed with spars and fenders； rushed forward to ease off the shock。 And here I feel it just to pay a tribute of admiration to the cook； who on these occasions never failed to exhibit an immense amount of misdirected energy； breakingI rememberat the same moment； both the cabin sky…light； and an oar； in single combat with a large berg that was doing no particular harm to us； but against which he seemed suddenly to have conceived a violent spite。 Luckily a considerable quantity of snow overlaid the ice； which； acting as a buffer； in some measure mitigated the violence of the concussion； while the very fragility of her build diminishing the momentum； proved in the end the little schooner's greatest security。 Nevertheless； I must confess that more than once； while leaning forward in expectation of the scrunch I knew must come； I have caught myself half murmuring to the fair face that seemed to gaze so serenely at the cold white mass we were approaching： 〃O Lady； is it not now fit thou shouldest befriend the good ship of which thou art the pride？〃
At last； after having received two or three pretty severe bumps；though the loss of a little copper was the only damage they entailed；we made our way back to the northern end of the island； where the pack was looser； and we had at all events a little more breathing room。
It had become very coldso cold； indeed； that Mr。 Wyse no longer able to keep a clutch of the rigginghad a severe tumble from the yard on which he was standing。 The wind was freshening； and the ice was evidently still in motion； but although very anxious to get back again into open water； we thought it would not do to go away without landing； even if it were only for an hour。 So having laid the schooner right under the cliff； and putting into the gig our own discarded figure…head； a white ensign； a flag…staff； and a tin biscuit…box； containing a paper on which I had hastily written the schooner's name； the date of her arrival； and the names of all those who sailed on board；we pulled ashore。 A ribbon of beach not more than fifteen yards wide； composed of iron…sand； augite； and pyroxene； running along under the basaltic precipiceupwards of a thousand feet highwhich serves as a kind of plinth to the mountain； was the only standing room this part of the coast afforded。 With considerable difficulty； and after a good hour's climb； we succeeded in dragging the figure…head we had brought ashore with us； up a sloping patch of snow； which lay in a crevice of the cliff； and thence a little higher； to a natural pedestal formed by a broken shaft of rock； whereafter having tied the tin box round her neck； and duly planted the white ensign of St。 George beside her；we left the superseded damsel； somewhat grimly smiling across the frozen ocean at her feet； until some Bacchus of a bear should come to relieve the loneliness of my wooden Ariadne。
On descending to the water's edge； we walked some little distance along the beach without observing anything very remarkable； unless it were the network of vertical and horizontal dikes of basalt which shot in every direction through the scoriae and conglomerate of which the cliff seemed to be composed。 Innumerable sea…birds sat in the crevices and ledges of the uneven surface； or flew about us with such confiding curiosity； that by reaching out my hand I could touch their wings as they poised themselves in the air alongside。 There was one old sober…sides with whom I passed a good ten minutes tete…a…tete； trying who could stare the other out of countenance。
It was now high time to be off。 As soon then as we had collected some geological specimens； and duly christened the little cove； at the bottom of which we had landed； 〃Clandeboye Creek；〃we walked back to the gig。 Butso rapidly was the ice drifting down upon the island；we found it had already become doubtful whether we should not have to carry the boat over the patch whichduring the couple of hours we had spent on shorehad almost cut her off from access to the water。 If this was the case with the gig； it was very evident the quicker we got the schooner out to sea again the better。 So immediately we returned on board； having first fired a gun in token of adieu to the desolate land we should never again set foot on； the ship was put about； and our task of working out towards the open water recommenced。 As this operation was likely to require some time； directly breakfast was over； （it was now about eleven o'clock A。M。；） and after a vain attempt had been made to take a photograph of the mountain； which the mist was again beginning to envelope； I turned in to take a nap； which I rather needed；fully expecting that by the time I awoke we should be beginning to get pretty clear of the pack。 On coming on deck； however； four hours later； although we had reached away a considerable distance from the land； and had even passed the spot； where； the day before； the sea was almost free；the floes seemed closer than ever； and； what was worse； from the mast…head not a vestige of open water was to be discovered。 On every side； as far as the eye could reach； there stretched over the sea one cold white canopy of ice。
The prospect of being beset； in so slightly built a craft； wasto say the leastunpleasant； it looked very much as if fresh packs were driving down upon us from the very direction in which we were trying to push out； yet it had
