°®°®Ð¡ËµÍø > ÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > letters from high latitudes >

µÚ32ÕÂ

letters from high latitudes-µÚ32ÕÂ

С˵£º letters from high latitudes ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



¡¡to¡¡have¡¡repaid¡¡the¡¡exertion£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡think¡¡I¡¡can¡¡give¡¡you¡¡a¡¡better¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡the¡¡general¡¡effect¡¡of¡¡Spitzbergen¡¡scenery£»¡¡than¡¡by¡¡quoting¡¡his¡¡striking¡¡description¡¡of¡¡the¡¡panorama¡¡he¡¡beheld£º

¡¨The¡¡prospect¡¡was¡¡most¡¡extensive¡¡and¡¡grand¡£¡¡A¡¡fine¡¡sheltered¡¡bay¡¡was¡¡seen¡¡to¡¡the¡¡east¡¡of¡¡us£»¡¡an¡¡arm¡¡of¡¡the¡¡same¡¡on¡¡the¡¡north¡­east£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sea£»¡¡whose¡¡glassy¡¡surface¡¡was¡¡unruffled¡¡by¡¡a¡¡breeze£»¡¡formed¡¡an¡¡immense¡¡expanse¡¡on¡¡the¡¡west£»¡¡the¡¡icebergs¡¡rearing¡¡their¡¡proud¡¡crests¡¡almost¡¡to¡¡the¡¡tops¡¡of¡¡mountains¡¡between¡¡which¡¡they¡¡were¡¡lodged£»¡¡and¡¡defying¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡the¡¡solar¡¡beams£»¡¡were¡¡scattered¡¡in¡¡various¡¡directions¡¡about¡¡the¡¡sea¡­coast¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡adjoining¡¡bays¡£¡¡Beds¡¡of¡¡snow¡¡and¡¡ice¡¡filling¡¡extensive¡¡hollows£»¡¡and¡¡giving¡¡an¡¡enamelled¡¡coat¡¡to¡¡adjoining¡¡valleys£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡which¡¡commencing¡¡at¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mountain¡¡where¡¡we¡¡stood¡¡extended¡¡in¡¡a¡¡continued¡¡line¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡north£»¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡the¡¡eye¡¡could¡¡reachmountain¡¡rising¡¡above¡¡mountain£»¡¡until¡¡by¡¡distance¡¡they¡¡dwindled¡¡into¡¡insignificancythe¡¡whole¡¡contrasted¡¡by¡¡a¡¡cloudless¡¡canopy¡¡of¡¡deepest¡¡azure£»¡¡and¡¡enlightened¡¡by¡¡the¡¡rays¡¡of¡¡a¡¡blazing¡¡sun£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡effect¡¡aided¡¡by¡¡a¡¡feeling¡¡of¡¡danger£»¡¡seated¡¡as¡¡we¡¡were¡¡on¡¡the¡¡pinnacle¡¡of¡¡a¡¡rock¡¡almost¡¡surrounded¡¡by¡¡tremendous¡¡precipices£»all¡¡united¡¡to¡¡constitute¡¡a¡¡picture¡¡singularly¡¡sublime¡£

¡¨Our¡¡descent¡¡we¡¡found¡¡really¡¡a¡¡very¡¡hazardous£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡some¡¡instances¡¡a¡¡painful¡¡undertaking¡£¡¡Every¡¡movement¡¡was¡¡a¡¡work¡¡of¡¡deliberation¡£¡¡Having¡¡by¡¡much¡¡care£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡some¡¡anxiety£»¡¡made¡¡good¡¡our¡¡descent¡¡to¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡the¡¡secondary¡¡hills£»¡¡we¡¡took¡¡our¡¡way¡¡down¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡steepest¡¡banks£»¡¡and¡¡slid¡¡forward¡¡with¡¡great¡¡facility¡¡in¡¡a¡¡sitting¡¡posture¡£¡¡Towards¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hill£»¡¡an¡¡expanse¡¡of¡¡snow¡¡stretched¡¡across¡¡the¡¡line¡¡of¡¡descent¡£¡¡This¡¡being¡¡loose¡¡and¡¡soft£»¡¡we¡¡entered¡¡upon¡¡it¡¡without¡¡fear£»¡¡but¡¡on¡¡reaching¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡we¡¡came¡¡to¡¡a¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡solid¡¡ice£»¡¡perhaps¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡yards¡¡across£»¡¡over¡¡which¡¡we¡¡launched¡¡with¡¡astonishing¡¡velocity£»¡¡but¡¡happily¡¡escaped¡¡without¡¡injury¡£¡¡The¡¡men¡¡whom¡¡we¡¡left¡¡below£»¡¡viewed¡¡this¡¡latter¡¡movement¡¡with¡¡astonishment¡¡and¡¡fear¡£¡¨

So¡¡universally¡¡does¡¡this¡¡strange¡¡land¡¡bristle¡¡with¡¡peaks¡¡and¡¡needles¡¡of¡¡stone£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡views¡¡we¡¡ourselves¡¡obtained¡¡though¡¡perhaps¡¡from¡¡a¡¡lower¡¡elevation£»¡¡and¡¡certainly¡¡without¡¡the¡¡riskscarcely¡¡yielded¡¡either¡¡in¡¡extent¡¡or¡¡picturesque¡¡grandeur¡¡to¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡described¡¡by¡¡Dr¡£¡¡Scoresby¡£

Having¡¡pretty¡¡well¡¡overrun¡¡the¡¡country¡¡to¡¡the¡¡northward£»¡¡without¡¡coming¡¡on¡¡any¡¡more¡¡satisfactory¡¡signs¡¡of¡¡deer¡¡than¡¡their¡¡hoof¡­prints¡¡in¡¡the¡¡moss£»¡¡we¡¡returned¡¡on¡¡board¡£¡¡The¡¡next¡¡daybut¡¡I¡¡need¡¡not¡¡weary¡¡you¡¡with¡¡a¡¡journal¡¡of¡¡our¡¡daily¡¡proceedings£»¡¡for£»¡¡however¡¡interesting¡¡each¡¡moment¡¡of¡¡our¡¡stay¡¡in¡¡Spitzbergen¡¡was¡¡to¡¡ourselvesas¡¡much¡¡perhaps¡¡from¡¡a¡¡vague¡¡expectation¡¡of¡¡what¡¡we¡¡might¡¡see£»¡¡as¡¡from¡¡anything¡¡we¡¡actually¡¡did¡¡seea¡¡minute¡¡account¡¡of¡¡every¡¡walk¡¡we¡¡took£»¡¡and¡¡every¡¡bone¡¡we¡¡picked¡¡up£»¡¡or¡¡every¡¡human¡¡skeleton¡¡we¡¡came¡¡upon£»¡¡would¡¡probably¡¡only¡¡make¡¡you¡¡wonder¡¡why¡¡on¡¡earth¡¡we¡¡should¡¡have¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡come¡¡so¡¡far¡¡to¡¡see¡¡so¡¡little¡£¡¡Suffice¡¡it¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡we¡¡explored¡¡the¡¡neighbourhood¡¡in¡¡the¡¡three¡¡directions¡¡left¡¡open¡¡to¡¡us¡¡by¡¡the¡¡mountains£»¡¡that¡¡we¡¡climbed¡¡the¡¡two¡¡most¡¡accessible¡¡of¡¡the¡¡adjacent¡¡hills£»¡¡wandered¡¡along¡¡the¡¡margin¡¡of¡¡the¡¡glaciers£»¡¡rowed¡¡across¡¡to¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bay£»¡¡descended¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡distance¡¡along¡¡the¡¡sea¡­coast£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡fact¡¡exhausted¡¡all¡¡the¡¡lions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vicinity¡£

During¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡period¡¡of¡¡our¡¡stay¡¡in¡¡Spitzbergen£»¡¡we¡¡had¡¡enjoyed¡¡unclouded¡¡sunshine¡£¡¡The¡¡nights¡¡were¡¡even¡¡brighter¡¡than¡¡the¡¡days£»¡¡and¡¡afforded¡¡Fitz¡¡an¡¡opportunity¡¡of¡¡taking¡¡some¡¡photographic¡¡views¡¡by¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡a¡¡MIDNIGHT¡¡sun¡£¡¡The¡¡cold¡¡was¡¡never¡¡very¡¡intense£»¡¡though¡¡the¡¡thermometer¡¡remained¡¡below¡¡freezing£»¡¡but¡¡about¡¡four¡¡o'clock¡¡every¡¡evening£»¡¡the¡¡salt¡­water¡¡bay¡¡in¡¡which¡¡the¡¡schooner¡¡lay¡¡was¡¡veneered¡¡over¡¡with¡¡a¡¡pellicle¡¡of¡¡ice¡¡one¡­eighth¡¡of¡¡an¡¡inch¡¡in¡¡thickness£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡elastic£»¡¡that¡¡even¡¡when¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡beneath¡¡was¡¡considerably¡¡agitated£»¡¡its¡¡surface¡¡remained¡¡unbroken£»¡¡the¡¡smooth£»¡¡round¡¡waves¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡appearance¡¡of¡¡billows¡¡of¡¡oil¡£¡¡If¡¡such¡¡is¡¡the¡¡effect¡¡produced¡¡by¡¡the¡¡slightest¡¡modification¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sun's¡¡power£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡month¡¡of¡¡August£»you¡¡can¡¡imagine¡¡what¡¡must¡¡be¡¡the¡¡result¡¡of¡¡his¡¡total¡¡disappearance¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡horizon¡£¡¡The¡¡winter¡¡is£»¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡unendurable¡£¡¡Even¡¡in¡¡the¡¡height¡¡of¡¡summer£»¡¡the¡¡moisture¡¡inherent¡¡in¡¡the¡¡atmosphere¡¡is¡¡often¡¡frozen¡¡into¡¡innumerable¡¡particles£»¡¡so¡¡minute¡¡as¡¡to¡¡assume¡¡the¡¡appearance¡¡of¡¡an¡¡impalpable¡¡mist¡£¡¡Occasionally¡¡persons¡¡have¡¡wintered¡¡on¡¡the¡¡island£»¡¡but¡¡unless¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡precautions¡¡have¡¡been¡¡taken¡¡for¡¡their¡¡preservation£»¡¡the¡¡consequences¡¡have¡¡been¡¡almost¡¡invariably¡¡fatal¡£¡¡About¡¡the¡¡same¡¡period¡¡as¡¡when¡¡the¡¡party¡¡of¡¡Dutch¡¡sailors¡¡were¡¡left¡¡at¡¡Jan¡¡Mayen£»¡¡a¡¡similar¡¡experiment¡¡was¡¡tried¡¡in¡¡Spitzbergen¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡former¡¡place¡¡it¡¡was¡¡scurvy£»¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡cold£»¡¡which¡¡destroyed¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡wretches¡¡left¡¡there¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡it¡¡out¡¡with¡¡winter£»¡¡at¡¡Spitzbergen£»¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡could¡¡be¡¡gathered¡¡from¡¡their¡¡journal£»¡¡it¡¡appeared¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡perished¡¡from¡¡the¡¡intolerable¡¡severity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡climate£»and¡¡the¡¡contorted¡¡attitudes¡¡in¡¡which¡¡their¡¡bodies¡¡were¡¡found¡¡lying£»¡¡too¡¡plainly¡¡indicated¡¡the¡¡amount¡¡of¡¡agony¡¡they¡¡had¡¡suffered¡£¡¡No¡¡description¡¡can¡¡give¡¡an¡¡adequate¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡the¡¡intense¡¡rigour¡¡of¡¡the¡¡six¡¡months'¡¡winter¡¡in¡¡this¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡Stones¡¡crack¡¡with¡¡the¡¡noise¡¡of¡¡thunder£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡crowded¡¡hut¡¡the¡¡breath¡¡of¡¡its¡¡occupants¡¡will¡¡fall¡¡in¡¡flakes¡¡of¡¡snow£»¡¡wine¡¡and¡¡spirits¡¡turn¡¡to¡¡ice£»¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡burns¡¡like¡¡caustic£»¡¡if¡¡iron¡¡touches¡¡the¡¡flesh£»¡¡it¡¡brings¡¡the¡¡skin¡¡away¡¡with¡¡it£»¡¡the¡¡soles¡¡of¡¡your¡¡stockings¡¡may¡¡be¡¡burnt¡¡off¡¡your¡¡feet£»¡¡before¡¡you¡¡feel¡¡the¡¡slightest¡¡warmth¡¡from¡¡the¡¡fire£»¡¡linen¡¡taken¡¡out¡¡of¡¡boiling¡¡water£»¡¡instantly¡¡stiffens¡¡to¡¡the¡¡consistency¡¡of¡¡a¡¡wooden¡¡board£»¡¡and¡¡heated¡¡stones¡¡will¡¡not¡¡prevent¡¡the¡¡sheets¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡from¡¡freezing¡£¡¡If¡¡these¡¡are¡¡the¡¡effects¡¡of¡¡the¡¡climate¡¡within¡¡an¡¡air¡­tight£»¡¡fire¡­warmed£»¡¡crowded¡¡hutwhat¡¡must¡¡they¡¡be¡¡among¡¡the¡¡dark£»¡¡storm¡­lashed¡¡mountain¡­peaks¡¡outside£¿

It¡¡was¡¡now¡¡time¡¡to¡¡think¡¡of¡¡going¡¡south¡¡again£»¡¡we¡¡had¡¡spent¡¡many¡¡more¡¡days¡¡on¡¡the¡¡voyage¡¡to¡¡Spitzbergen¡¡than¡¡I¡¡had¡¡expected£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡continually¡¡haunted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡dread¡¡of¡¡your¡¡becoming¡¡anxious¡¡at¡¡not¡¡hearing¡¡from¡¡us¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡great¡¡disappointment¡¡to¡¡be¡¡obliged¡¡to¡¡return¡¡without¡¡having¡¡got¡¡any¡¡deer£»¡¡but¡¡your¡¡peace¡¡of¡¡mind¡¡was¡¡of¡¡more¡¡consequence¡¡to¡¡me¡¡than¡¡a¡¡ship¡­load¡¡of¡¡horns£»¡¡and¡¡accordingly¡¡we¡¡decided¡¡on¡¡not¡¡remaining¡¡more¡¡than¡¡another¡¡day¡¡in¡¡our¡¡present¡¡berth¡¡leaving¡¡it¡¡still¡¡an¡¡open¡¡question¡¡whether¡¡we¡¡should¡¡not¡¡run¡¡up¡¡to¡¡Magdalena¡¡Bay£»¡¡if¡¡the¡¡weather¡¡proved¡¡very¡¡inviting£»¡¡the¡¡last¡¡thing¡¡before¡¡quitting¡¡for¡¡ever¡¡the¡¡Spitzbergen¡¡shores¡£

We¡¡had¡¡killed¡¡nothing¡¡as¡¡yet£»¡¡except¡¡a¡¡few¡¡eider¡¡ducks£»¡¡and¡¡one¡¡or¡¡two¡¡ice¡­birdsthe¡¡most¡¡graceful¡¡winged¡¡creatures¡¡I¡¡have¡¡ever¡¡seen£»¡¡with¡¡immensely¡¡long¡¡pinions£»¡¡and¡¡plumage¡¡of¡¡spotless¡¡white¡£¡¡Although¡¡enormous¡¡seals¡¡from¡¡time¡¡to¡¡time¡¡used¡¡to¡¡lift¡¡their¡¡wise£»¡¡grave¡¡faces¡¡above¡¡the¡¡water£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡dignity¡¡of¡¡sea¡­gods£»¡¡none¡¡of¡¡us¡¡had¡¡any¡¡very¡¡great¡¡inclination¡¡to¡¡slay¡¡such¡¡rational¡¡human¡­looking¡¡creatures£»¡¡andwith¡¡the¡¡exception¡¡of¡¡these¡¡and¡¡a¡¡white¡¡fish£»¡¡a¡¡species¡¡of¡¡whaleno¡¡other¡¡living¡¡thing¡¡had¡¡been¡¡visible¡£¡¡On¡¡the¡¡very¡¡morning£»¡¡however£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡day¡¡settled¡¡for¡¡our¡¡departure£»¡¡Fitz¡¡came¡¡down¡¡from¡¡a¡¡solitary¡¡expedition¡¡up¡¡a¡¡hill¡¡with¡¡the¡¡news¡¡of¡¡his¡¡having¡¡seen¡¡some¡¡ptarmigan¡£¡¡Having¡¡taken¡¡a¡¡rifle¡¡with¡¡him¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡a¡¡gun£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡shoot¡¡more¡¡than¡¡one£»¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡back¡¡in¡¡triumph¡¡as¡¡proof¡¡of¡¡the¡¡authenticity¡¡of¡¡his¡¡report£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡extreme¡¡juvenility¡¡of¡¡his¡¡victim¡¡hardly¡¡permitted¡¡us¡¡to¡¡identify¡¡the¡¡species£»¡¡the¡¡hole¡¡made¡¡by¡¡the¡¡bullet¡¡being¡¡about¡¡the¡¡same¡¡size¡¡as¡¡the¡¡bird¡£¡¡Nevertheless£»¡¡the¡¡slightest¡¡prospect¡¡of¡¡obtaining¡¡a¡¡supply¡¡of¡¡fresh¡¡meat¡¡was¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡reconcile¡¡us¡¡to¡¡any¡¡amount¡¡of¡¡exertion£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡strength¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pinch¡¡of¡¡feathers¡¡which¡¡Fitz¡¡kept¡¡gravely¡¡assuring¡¡us¡¡was¡¡the¡¡game¡¡he¡¡had¡¡bagged£»¡¡we¡¡seized¡¡our¡¡gunsI¡¡took¡¡a¡¡rifle¡¡in¡¡case¡¡of¡¡a¡¡possible¡¡bearand¡¡set¡¡our¡¡faces¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡hill¡£¡¡¡¡After¡¡a¡¡good¡¡hour's¡¡pull¡¡we¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡shoulder¡¡which¡¡Fitz¡¡had¡¡indicated¡¡as¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡of¡¡his¡¡exploit£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡patch¡¡of¡¡snow¡¡was¡¡the¡¡only¡¡thing¡¡visible¡£¡¡Suddenly¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡Sigurdr£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡remarkably¡¡sharp¡­sighted£»¡¡run¡¡rapidly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡snow£»¡¡and¡¡bringing¡¡his¡¡gun¡¡up¡¡to¡¡his¡¡shoulder£»¡¡point¡¡itas¡¡well¡¡as¡¡I¡¡could¡¡distinguishat¡¡his¡¡own¡¡toes¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡smoke¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shot¡¡had¡¡cleared¡¡away£»¡¡I¡¡fully¡¡expected¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡Icelander¡¡prostrate£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡was¡¡already¡¡reloading¡¡with¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡expedition¡£¡¡Determined¡¡to¡¡prevent¡¡the¡¡repetition¡¡of¡¡so¡¡dreadful¡¡an¡¡attempt¡¡at¡¡self¡­destruction£»¡¡I¡¡rushed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡spot¡£¡¡Guess¡¡then¡¡my¡¡relief¡¡when¡¡the¡¡bloody¡¡body¡¡of¡¡a¡¡ptarmigandriven¡¡by¡¡so¡¡point¡¡blank¡¡a¡¡discharge¡¡a¡¡couple¡¡of¡¡feet¡¡into¡¡the¡¡snowwas¡¡triumphantly¡¡dragged¡¡forth¡¡by¡¡instalments¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sepulchre¡¡which¡¡it¡¡had¡¡received¡¡contemporaneously¡¡with¡¡its¡¡death¡¡wound£»¡¡and¡¡thus¡¡happily¡¡accounted¡¡for¡¡Sigurdr's¡¡extraordinary¡¡proceeding¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡same¡¡moment¡¡I¡¡perceived¡¡two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡dozen¡¡other¡¡birds£»¡¡brothers¡¡and¡¡sisters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡defunct£»¡¡calmly¡¡strutting¡¡about¡¡under¡¡our¡¡very¡¡noses¡£¡¡By¡¡this¡¡time¡¡Sigurdr¡¡had¡¡reloaded£»¡¡Fitz¡¡had¡¡also¡¡come¡¡up£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡regular¡¡massacre¡¡began¡£¡¡Retiring¡¡to¡¡a¡¡distancefor¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡case¡¡of¡¡Mahomet¡¡and¡¡the¡¡mountain¡¡reversedthe¡¡two¡¡sportsmen¡¡opened¡¡fire¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡innocent¡¡community£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡few¡¡seconds¡¡sixteen¡¡corpses¡¡strewed¡¡the¡¡ground¡£

Scarcely¡¡had¡¡they¡¡finished¡¡off¡¡the¡¡last¡¡survivor¡¡of¡¡this¡¡Niobean¡¡family£»¡¡when¡¡we¡¡were¡¡startled¡¡by¡¡the¡¡distant¡¡report¡¡of¡¡a¡¡volley¡¡of¡¡musketry£»¡¡fired¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡schooner¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡conceive¡¡what¡¡had¡¡happened¡£¡¡Had¡¡a¡¡mutiny¡¡taken¡¡place£¿¡¡Was¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Wyse¡¡re¡­enacting£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡less¡¡docile¡¡ship's¡¡company£»¡¡the¡¡pistol¡¡scene¡¡on¡¡board¡¡the¡¡Glasgow¡¡steamer£¿¡¡Again¡¡resounded¡¡the¡¡rattle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡firing¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡all¡¡events£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡time¡¡to¡¡be¡¡lost¡¡in¡¡getting¡¡back£»¡¡so£»¡¡tying¡¡up¡¡the¡¡birds¡¡in¡¡three¡¡bundles£»¡¡we¡¡flung¡¡ourselves¡¡down¡¡into¡¡the¡¡gully¡¡by¡¡which¡¡we¡¡had¡¡ascended£»¡¡and¡¡leaping¡¡on¡¡from¡¡stone¡¡to¡¡stone£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡infinite¡¡danger¡¡of¡¡our¡¡limbs¡¡and¡¡necks£»¡¡rolled¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡ran¡¡down¡¡the¡¡hill¡£¡¡On¡¡rounding¡¡the¡¡lower¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡curve¡¡which¡¡hitherto¡¡had¡¡hid¡¡what¡¡was¡¡passing¡¡from¡¡our¡¡eyes£»¡¡the¡¡first¡¡I¡¡observed¡¡was¡¡Wilson¡¡breasting¡¡up¡¡the¡¡hill£»¡¡evidently¡¡in¡¡a¡¡state¡¡of¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡agitation¡£¡¡As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡himself¡¡within¡¡earshot£»¡¡he¡¡stopped¡¡dead¡¡short£»¡¡and£»¡¡making¡¡a¡¡speaking¡­trumpet¡¡with¡¡his¡¡hands£»¡¡shrieked£»¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡shouted£»¡¡¡¨If¡¡you¡¡please£»¡¡my¡¡Lord£¡¡¨£¨as¡¡I¡¡have¡¡already¡¡said£»¡¡Wilson¡¡never¡¡forgot¡¡les¡¡convenances£©¡¨If¡¡you¡¡please£»¡¡my¡¡Lord£»¡¡there's¡¡a¡¡b¡­e¡­a¡­a¡­a¡­a¡­r£¡¡¨¡¡prolonging¡¡the¡¡last¡¡word¡¡into¡¡a¡¡polysyllable¡¡of¡¡fearful¡¡import¡£¡¡Concluding¡¡by¡¡the¡¡enthusiasm¡¡he¡¡was¡¡exhibiting£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡animal¡¡in¡¡question¡¡was¡¡at¡¡his¡¡heels£»hidden¡¡from¡¡us¡¡probably¡¡by¡¡the¡¡inequality¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ground£»I¡¡cocked¡¡my¡¡rifle£»¡¡and¡¡prepared¡¡to¡¡roll¡¡him¡¡over¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡he¡¡should¡¡appear¡¡in¡¡sight¡£¡¡But¡¡what¡¡was¡¡my¡¡disappointment£»¡¡when£»¡¡on¡¡looking¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡schooner£»¡¡my¡¡eye¡¡caught¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡our¡¡three¡¡boats¡¡fastened¡¡in¡¡a¡¡row£»¡¡and¡¡towing¡¡behind¡¡them¡¡a¡¡white¡¡floating¡¡object£»¡¡which¡¡my¡¡glass¡¡only¡¡too¡¡surely¡¡resolved¡¡the¡¡next¡¡minute¡¡into¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡bear£¡

On¡¡descending¡¡to¡¡the¡¡shore£»¡¡I¡¡learned¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡story¡£¡¡As¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Wyse¡¡was¡¡pacing¡¡the¡¡deck£»¡¡his¡¡attention¡¡was¡¡suddenly¡¡attracted¡¡by¡¡a¡¡white¡¡speck¡¡in¡¡the¡¡water£»¡¡swimming¡¡across¡¡from¡¡Prince¡¡Charles's¡¡Foreland£»the¡¡long¡¡island¡¡which¡¡lies¡¡over¡¡against¡¡English¡¡Bay¡£¡¡When¡¡first¡¡observed£»¡¡the¡¡creature£»¡¡whatever¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be£»¡¡was¡¡about¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡and¡¡a¡¡half¡¡off£»the¡¡width¡¡of¡¡the¡¡channel¡¡between¡¡the¡¡island¡¡and¡¡the¡¡main¡¡being¡¡about¡¡fiv

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ