letters from high latitudes-第34章

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h　indifference；　nay；　almost　with　delight。　　Ever　since　we　had　commenced　sailing　in　a　southerly　direction；　we　had　been　obliged　to　beat；　but　during　the　last　four…and…twenty　hours　the　wind　kept　dodging　us　every　time　we　tacked；　as　a　nervous　pedestrian　sets　to　you　sometimes　on　a　narrow　trottoir。　This　spell　of　ill…luck　the　Icelander　heathenishly　thought　would　only　be　removed　by　a　sacrifice　to　Rhin；　the　goddess　of　the　sea；　in　which　light　he　trusted　she　would　look　upon　the　goat's　body　when　it　came　to　be　thrown　overboard。

Whether　the　change　which　followed　upon　the　consignment　of　her　remains　to　the　deep　really　resulted　from　such　an　influence；　I　am　not　prepared　to　say。　The　weather　immediately　thereafter　certainly　DID　change。　First　the　wind　dropped　altogether；　but　though　the　calm　lasted　several　hours；　the　sea　strangely　enough　appeared　to　become　all　the　rougher；　tossing　and　tumbling　restlessly　UP　AND　DOWN（not　over　and　over　as　in　a　gale）like　a　sick　man　on　a　fever　bed；　the　impulse　to　the　waves　seeming　to　proceed　from　all　four　quarters　of　the　world　at　once。　Then；　like　jurymen　with　a　verdict　of　death　upon　their　lips；　the　heavy；　ominous　clouds　slowly　passed　into　the　north…west。

A　dead　stillness　followeda　breathless　pauseuntil；　at　some　mysterious　signal；　the　solemn　voice　of　the　storm　hurtled　over　the　deep。　Luckily　we　were　quite　ready　for　it；　the　gale　came　from　the　right　quarter；　and　the　fiercer　it　blew　the　better。　For　the　next　three　days　and　three　nights　it　was　a　scurry　over　the　sea　such　as　I　never　had　before；　nine　or　ten　knots　an　hour　was　the　very　least　we　ever　went；　and　240　miles　was　the　average　distance　we　made　every　four…and…twenty　hours。

Anything　grander　and　more　exciting　than　the　sight　of　the　sea　under　these　circumstances　you　cannot　imagine。　The　vessel　herself　remains　very　steady；　when　you　are　below　you　scarcely　know　you　are　not　in　port。　But　on　raising　your　head　above　the　companion　the　first　sight　which　meets　your　eye　is　an　upright　wall　of　black　water；　towering；　you　hardly　know　how　many　feet；　into　the　air　over　the　stern。　Like　a　lion　walking　on　its　hind　legs；　it　comes　straight　at　you；　roaring　and　shaking　its　white　mane　with　fury…it　overtakes　the　vesselthe　upright　shiny　face　curves　inwardsthe　white　mane　seems　to　hang　above　your　very　head；　but　ere　it　topples　over；　the　nimble　little　ship　has　already　slipped　from　underneath。　　You　hear　the　disappointed　jaws　of　the　sea…monster　snap　angrily　together；the　schooner　disdainfully　kicks　up　her　heeland　raging　and　bubbling　up　on　either　side　the　quarter；　the　unpausing　wave　sweeps　on；　and　you　see　its　round　back　far　ahead；　gradually　swelling　upwards；　as　it　gathers　strength　and　volume　for　a　new　effort。

We　had　now　got　considerably　to　the　southward　of　North　Cape。　We　had　already　seen　several　ships；　and　you　would　hardly　imagine　with　what　childish　delight　my　people　hailed　these　symptoms　of　having　again　reached　more　〃Christian　latitudes；〃　as　they　called　them。

I　had　always　intended；　ever　since　my　conversation　with　Mr。　T。　about　the　Malstrom；　to　have　called　in　at　Loffoden　Islands　on　our　way　south；　and　ascertain　for　myself　the　real　truth　about　this　famous　vortex。　To　have　blotted　such　a　bugbear　out　of　the　map　of　Europe；　if　its　existence　really　was　a　myth；　would　at　all　events　have　rendered　our　cruise　not　altogether　fruitless。　But；　since　leaving　Spitzbergen；　we　had　never　once　seen　the　sun；　and　to　attempt　to　make　so　dangerous　a　coast　in　a　gale　of　wind　and　a　thick　mist；　with　no　more　certain　knowledge　of　the　ship's　position　than　our　dead　reckoning　afforded；　was　out　of　the　question；　so　about　one　o'clock　in　the　morning；　the　weather　giving　no　signs　of　improvement；　the　course　I　had　shaped　in　the　direction　of　the　island　was　altered；　and　we　stood　away　again　to　the　southward。　　This　manoeuvre　was　not　unobserved　by　Wilson；　but　he　mistook　its　meaning。　Having；　I　suppose；　overheard　us　talking　at　dinner　about　the　Malstrom；　he　now　concluded　the　supreme　hour　had　arrived。　He　did　not　exactly　comprehend　the　terms　we　used；　but　had　gathered　that　the　spot　was　one　fraught　with　danger。　Concluding　from　the　change　made　in　the　vessel's　course　that　we　were　proceeding　towards　the　dreadful　locality；　he　gave　himself　up　to　despair；　and　lay　tossing　in　his　hammock　in　sleepless　anxiety。　At　last　the　load　of　his　forebodings　was　greater　than　he　could　bear；　he　gets　up；　steals　into　the　Doctor's　cabin；　wakes　him　up；　and　standing　over　himas　the　messenger　of　ill　tidings　once　stood　over　Priamwhispers；　〃SIR！〃　〃What　is　it？〃　says　Fitz；　thinking；　perhaps；　some　one　was　ill。　〃Do　you　know　where　we　are　going？〃　〃Why；　to　Throndhjem；〃　answered　Fitz。　〃We　were　going　to　Throndhjem；〃　rejoins　Wilson；　〃but　we　ain't　nowthe　vessel's　course　was　altered　two　hours　ago。　Oh；　Sir！　we　are　going　to　Whirlpool…to　WHIRL…RL…POOO…L！　Sir！〃　in　a　quaver　of　consternation；and　so　glides　back　to　bed　like　a　phantom；　leaving　the　Doctor　utterly　unable　to　divine　the　occasion　of　his　visit。

The　whole　of　the　next　day　the　gale　continued。　We　had　now　sailed　back　into　night；　it　became　therefore　a　question　how　far　it　would　be　advisable　to　carry　on　during　the　ensuing　hours　of　darkness；　considering　how　uncertain　we　were　as　to　our　real　position。　As　I　think　I　have　already　described　to　you；　the　west　coast　of　Norway　is　very　dangerous；　a　continuous　sheet　of　sunken　rocks　lies　out　along　its　entire　edge　for　eight　or　ten　miles　to　sea。　There　are　no　lighthouses　to　warn　the　mariner　off；　and　if　we　were　wrong　in　our　reckoning；　as　we　might　very　well　be；　it　was　possible　we　might　stumble　on　the　land　sooner　than　we　expected。　I　knew　the　proper　course　would　be　to　lie　to　quietly　until　we　could　take　an　observation；　but　time　was　so　valuable；　and　I　was　so　fearful　you　would　be　getting　anxious。　The　night　was　pretty　clear。　High　mountains；　such　as　we　were　expecting　to　make；　would　be　seen；　even　at　night；　several　miles　off。　　According　to　our　log　we　were　still　150　miles　off　the　land；　and；　however　inaccurate　our　calculation　might　be；　the　error　could　not　be　of　such　magnitude　as　that　amounted　to。　To　throw　away　so　fair　a　wind　seemed　such　a　pity；　especially　as　it　might　be　days　before　the　sun　appeared；　we　had　already　been　at　sea　about　a　fortnight　without　a　sight　of　him；　and　his　appearance　at　all　during　the　summer　is　not　an　act　DE　RIGUEUR　in　this　part　of　the　world；　we　might　spend　yet　another　fortnight　in　lying　to；　and　then　after　all　have　to　poke　our　way　blindfold　to　the　coast；　at　all　events　it　would　be　soon　enough　to　lie　to　the　next　night。　Such　were　the　considerations；　whichafter　an　anxious　consultation　with　Mr。　Wyse　in　the　cabin；　and　much　fingering　of　the　charts；determined　me　to　carry　on　during　the　night。

Nevertheless；　I　confess　I　was　very　uneasy；　Though　I　went　to　bed　and　fell　asleepfor　at　sea　nothing　prevents　that　processmy　slumbers　were　constantly　agitated　by　the　most　vivid　dreams　that　I　ever　remember　to　have　had。　　Dreams　of　an　arrival　in　England；　and　your　coming　down　to　meet　us；　and　all　the　pleasure　I　had　in　recounting　our　adventures　to　you；　then　suddenly　your　face　seemed　to　fade　away　beneath　a　veil　of　angry　grey　surge　that　broke　over　low；　sharp…pointed　rocks；　and　the　next　moment　there　resounded　over　the　ship　that　cry　which　has　been　the　preface　to　so　many　a　disasterthe　ring　of　which；　none　who　have　ever　heard　it　are　likely　to　forget〃Breakers　ahead！〃

In　a　moment　I　was　on　deck；　dressedfor　it　is　always　best　to　dress；and　there；　sure　enough；　right　ahead；　about　a　mile　and　a　half　off；　through　the　mist；　which　had　come　on　very　thick；　I　could　distinguish　the　upward　shooting　fluff　of　seas　shattering　against　rocks。　No　land　was　to　be　seen；　but　the　line　of　breakers　every　instant　became　more　evident；　at　the　pace　we　were　going；　in　seven　or　eight　minutes　we　should　be　upon　them。　Now；　thought　I　to　myself；　we　shall　see　whether　a　stout　heart　beats　beneath　the　silk　tartan！　The　result　covered　that　brilliant　garment　with　glory　and　salt　water。　To　tack　was　impossible；　we　could　only　wear；and　to　wear　in　such　a　sea　was　no　very　pleasant　operation。　But　the　little　ship　seemed　to　know　what　she　was　about；　as　well　as　any　of　us：　up　went　the　helm；　round　came　the　schooner　into　the　trough　of　the　sea；high　over　her　quarter　toppled　an　enormous　sea；　built　up　of　I　know　not　how　many　tons　of　water；　and　hung　over　the　deck；by　some　unaccountable　wriggle；　an　instant　ere　it　thundered　down　she　had　twisted　her　stern　on　one　side；　and　the　waves　passed　underneath。　　In　another　minute　her　head　was　to　the　sea；　the　mainsail　was　eased　over；　and　all　danger　was　past。

What　was　now　to　be　done？　That　the　land　we　had　seen　was　the　coast　of　Norway　I　could　not　believe。　Wrong　as　our　dead　reckoning　evidently　was；　it　could　not　be　so　wrong　as　that。　Yet　only　one　other　supposition　was　possible；　viz。；　that　we　had　not　come　so　far　south　as　we　imagined；　and　that　we　had　stumbled　upon　Roosta　little　rocky　island　that　lies　about　twenty　miles　to　the　southward　of　the　Loffoden　Islands。　　Whether　this　conjecture　was　correct　or　not；　did　not　much　matter；　to　go　straight　away　to　sea；　and　lie　to　until　we　could　get　an　observation；　was　the　only　thing　to　be　done。　　Away　then　we　went；　struggling　against　a　tremendous　sea　for　a　good　nine　hours；　until　we　judged　ourselves　to　be　seventy　or　eighty　miles　from　where　we　had　sighted　the　breakers；when　we　lay　to；　not　in　the　best　of　tempers。　The　next　morning；　not　only　was　it　blowing　as　hard　as　ever；　but　all　chance　of　getting　a　sight　that　day　seemed　also　out　of　the　question。　　I　could　have　eaten　my　head　with　impatience。　However；　as　it　is　best　never　to　throw　a　chance　away；　about　half…past　eleven　o'clock；　though　the　sky　resembled　an　even　sheet　of　lead；　I　got　my　sextant　ready；　and　told　Mr。　Wyse　to　do　the　same。

Now；　out　of　tenderness　for　your　feminine　ignorance　I　must　state；　that　in　order　to　take　an　observation；　it　is　necessary　to　get　a　sight　of　the　sun　at　a　particular　moment　of　the　day：　this　moment　is　noon。　When；　therefore；　twelve　o'clock　came；　and　one　could　not　so　much　as　guess　in　what　quarter　of　the　heavens　he　might　be　lying　perdu；　you　may　suppose　I　almost　despaired。　Ten　minutes　passed。　It　was　evident　we　were　doomed　to　remain；　kicking　our　heels　for　another　four…and…twenty　hours　where　we　were。　No！yes！no！　By　Phoebus！　there　he　is！　A　faint　spongy　spot　of　brightness　gleamed　through　the　grey　roof　overhead。　The　indistinct　outline　grew　a　little　clearer；　one…half　of　him；　though　still　behind　a　cloud；　hardened　into　a　sharp　edge。　Up　went　the　sextant。　〃52。43！〃　（or　whatever　it　was）　I　shouted　to　Mr。　　Wyse。　〃52。41；　my　Lord！〃　cried　he；　in　return；　there　was　only　the　discrepancy　of　a　mile　between　us。　We　had　got　the　altitude；　the　sun　might　go　to　bed　for　good　and　all　now；　we　did　not　care；we　knew　our　position　to　an　inch。　There　had　been　an　error　of　something　like　forty　miles　in　our　dead　reckoning；　in　consequenceas　I　afterwards　foundof　a　current　that　sets　to　the　northward；　along　the　west　coast　of　Norway；　with　a　velocity　varying　from　one　to　three　miles　an　hour。　The　island　upon　which　we　had　so　nearly　run　WAS　Roost。　We　were　still　nearly　200　miles　from　our　port。　　〃Turn　the　hands　up！　Make　sail！〃　and　away　we　went　again　in　the　same　course　as　before；　at　the　rate　of　ten　knots　an　hour。

〃The　girls　at　home　have　got　hold　of　the　tow…rope；　I　think；　my　Lord；〃　said　Mr。　Wyse；　as　we　bounded　along　over　the　thundering　seas。

＇Figure：　fig…p192。gif＇

By　three　o'clock　next　day　we　were　up　with　Vigten；　and　now　a　very　nasty　piece　of　navigation　began。