the works of edgar allan poe-3-第27章

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entrance。

　　　　　January　14。…This　morning　we　reached　the　western　extremity　of　the
field　which　had　impeded　us；　and；　weathering　it；　came　to　an　open　sea；
without　a　particle　of　ice。　Upon　sounding　with　two　hundred　fathoms；　we
here　found　a　current　setting　southwardly　at　the　rate　of　half　a　mile
per　hour。　The　temperature　of　the　air　was　forty…seven；　that　of　the
water　thirtyfour。　We　now　sailed　to　the　southward　without　meeting　any
interruption　of　moment　until　the　sixteenth；　when；　at　noon；　we　were　in
latitude　81　degrees　21'；　longitude　42　degrees　W。　We　here　again
sounded；　and　found　a　current　setting　still　southwardly；　and　at　the
rate　of　three　quarters　of　a　mile　per　hour。　The　variation　per　azimuth
had　diminished；　and　the　temperature　of　the　air　was　mild　and　pleasant；
the　thermometer　being　as　high　as　fifty…one。　At　this　period　not　a
particle　of　ice　was　to　be　discovered。　All　hands　on　board　now　felt
certain　of　attaining　the　pole。

　　　　　January　17。…　This　day　was　full　of　incident。　Innumerable　flights
of　birds　flew　over　us　from　the　southward；　and　several　were　shot　from
the　deck；　one　of　them；　a　species　of　pelican；　proved　to　be　excellent
eating。　About　midday　a　small　floe　of　ice　was　seen　from　the　masthead
off　the　larboard　bow；　and　upon　it　there　appeared　to　be　some　large
animal。　As　the　weather　was　good　and　nearly　calm；　Captain　Guy　ordered
out　two　of　the　boats　to　see　what　it　was。　Dirk　Peters　and　myself
accompanied　the　mate　in　the　larger　boat。　Upon　coming　up　with　the
floe；　we　perceived　that　it　was　in　the　possession　of　a　gigantic
creature　of　the　race　of　the　Arctic　bear；　but　far　exceeding　in　size
the　largest　of　these　animals。　Being　well　armed；　we　made　no　scruple　of
attacking　it　at　once。　Several　shots　were　fired　in　quick　succession；
the　most　of　which　took　effect；　apparently；　in　the　head　and　body。
Nothing　discouraged；　however；　the　monster　threw　himself　from　the　ice；
and　swam　with　open　jaws；　to　the　boat　in　which　were　Peters　and　myself。
Owing　to　the　confusion　which　ensued　among　us　at　this　unexpected　turn
of　the　adventure；　no　person　was　ready　immediately　with　a　second　shot；
and　the　bear　had　actually　succeeded　in　getting　half　his　vast　bulk
across　our　gunwale；　and　seizing　one　of　the　men　by　the　small　of　his
back；　before　any　efficient　means　were　taken　to　repel　him。　In　this
extremity　nothing　but　the　promptness　and　agility　of　Peters　saved　us
from　destruction。　Leaping　upon　the　back　of　the　huge　beast；　he　plunged
the　blade　of　a　knife　behind　the　neck；　reaching　the　spinal　marrow　at　a
blow。　The　brute　tumbled　into　the　sea　lifeless；　and　without　a
struggle；　rolling　over　Peters　as　he　fell。　The　latter　soon　recovered
himself；　and　a　rope　being　thrown　him；　returned　in　triumph　to　the
schooner；　towing　our　trophy　behind　us。　This　bear；　upon　admeasurement；
proved　to　be　full　fifteen　feet　in　his　greatest　length。　His　wool　was
perfectly　white；　and　very　coarse；　curling　tightly。　The　eyes　were　of　a
blood　red；　and　larger　than　those　of　the　Arctic　bear；　the　snout　also
more　rounded；　rather　resembling　the　snout　of　the　bulldog。　The　meat
was　tender；　but　excessively　rank　and　fishy；　although　the　men　devoured
it　with　avidity；　and　declared　it　excellent　eating。

　　　　　Scarcely　had　we　got　our　prize　alongside；　when　the　man　at　the
masthead　gave　the　joyful　shout　of　〃land　on　the　starboard　bow！〃　All
hands　were　now　upon　the　alert；　and；　a　breeze　springing　up　very
opportunely　from　the　northward　and　eastward；　we　were　soon　close　in
with　the　coast。　It　proved　to　be　a　low　rocky　islet；　of　about　a　league
in　circumference；　and　altogether　destitute　of　vegetation；　if　we
except　a　species　of　prickly　pear。　In　approaching　it　from　the
northward；　a　singular　ledge　of　rock　is　seen　projecting　into　the　sea；
and　bearing　a　strong　resemblance　to　corded　bales　of　cotton。　Around
this　ledge　to　the　westward　is　a　small　bay；　at　the　bottom　of　which　our
boats　effected　a　convenient　landing。

　　　　　It　did　not　take　us　long　to　explore　every　portion　of　the　island；
but；　with　one　exception；　we　found　nothing　worthy　of　our　observation。
In　the　southern　extremity；　we　picked　up　near　the　shore；　half　buried
in　a　pile　of　loose　stones；　a　piece　of　wood；　which　seemed　to　have
formed　the　prow　of　a　canoe。　There　had　been　evidently　some　attempt　at
carving　upon　it；　and　Captain　Guy　fancied　that　he　made　out　the　figure
of　a　tortoise；　but　the　resemblance　did　not　strike　me　very　forcibly。
Besides　this　prow；　if　such　it　were；　we　found　no　other　token　that　any
living　creature　had　ever　been　here　before。　Around　the　coast　we
discovered　occasional　small　floes　of　ice…　but　these　were　very　few。
The　exact　situation　of　the　islet　（to　which　Captain　Guy　gave　the　name
of　Bennet's　Islet；　in　honour　of　his　partner　in　the　ownership　of　the
schooner）　is　82　degrees　50'　S。　latitude；　42　degrees　20'　W。　longitude。

　　　　We　had　now　advanced　to　the　southward　more　than　eight　degrees
farther　than　any　previous　navigators；　and　the　sea　still　lay　perfectly
open　before　us。　We　found；　too；　that　the　variation　uniformly　decreased
as　we　proceeded；　and；　what　was　still　more　surprising；　that　the
temperature　of　the　air；　and　latterly　of　the　water；　became　milder。　The
weather　might　even　be　called　pleasant；　and　we　had　a　steady　but　very
gentle　breeze　always　from　some　northern　point　of　the　compass。　The　sky
was　usually　clear；　with　now　and　then　a　slight　appearance　of　thin
vapour　in　the　southern　horizon…　this；　however；　was　invariably　of
brief　duration。　Two　difficulties　alone　presented　themselves　to　our
view；　we　were　getting　short　of　fuel；　and　symptoms　of　scurvy　had
occurred　among　several　of　the　crew。　These　considerations　began　to
impress　upon　Captain　Guy　the　necessity　of　returning；　and　he　spoke　of
it　frequently。　For　my　own　part；　confident　as　I　was　of　soon　arriving
at　land　of　some　description　upon　the　course　we　were　pursuing；　and
having　every　reason　to　believe；　from　present　appearances；　that　we
should　not　find　it　the　sterile　soil　met　with　in　the　higher　Arctic
latitudes；　I　warmly　pressed　upon　him　the　expediency　of　persevering；
at　least　for　a　few　days　longer；　in　the　direction　we　were　now　holding。
So　tempting　an　opportunity　of　solving　the　great　problem　in　regard　to
an　Antarctic　continent　had　never　yet　been　afforded　to　man；　and　I
confess　that　I　felt　myself　bursting　with　indignation　at　the　timid　and
ill…timed　suggestions　of　our　commander。　I　believe；　indeed；　that　what
I　could　not　refrain　from　saying　to　him　on　this　head　had　the　effect　of
inducing　him　to　push　on。　While；　therefore；　I　cannot　but　lament　the
most　unfortunate　and　bloody　events　which　immediately　arose　from　my
advice；　I　must　still　be　allowed　to　feel　some　degree　of　gratification
at　having　been　instrumental；　however　remotely；　in　opening　to　the　eye
of　science　one　of　the　most　intensely　exciting　secrets　which　has　ever
engrossed　its　attention。

~~~　End　of　Text　of　Chapter　17　~~~

CHAPTER　18



　　　　January　18。…　This　morning　｛*4｝　we　continued　to　the　southward；
with　the　same　pleasant　weather　as　before。　The　sea　was　entirely
smooth；　the　air　tolerably　warm　and　from　the　northeast；　the
temperature　of　the　water　fifty…three。　We　now　again　got　our
sounding…gear　in　order；　and；　with　a　hundred　and　fifty　fathoms　of
line；　found　the　current　setting　toward　the　pole　at　the　rate　of　a　mile
an　hour。　This　constant　tendency　to　the　southward；　both　in　the　wind
and　current；　caused　some　degree　of　speculation；　and　even　of　alarm；　in
different　quarters　of　the　schooner；　and　I　saw　distinctly　that　no
little　impression　had　been　made　upon　the　mind　of　Captain　Guy。　He　was
exceedingly　sensitive　to　ridicule；　however；　and　I　finally　succeeded
in　laughing　him　out　of　his　apprehensions。　The　variation　was　now　very
trivial。　In　the　course　of　the　day　we　saw　several　large　whales　of　the
right　species；　and　innumerable　flights　of　the　albatross　passed　over
the　vessel。　We　also　picked　up　a　bush；　full　of　red　berries；　like　those
of　the　hawthorn；　and　the　carcass　of　a　singular…looking　land…animal。
It　was　three　feet　in　length；　and　but　six　inches　in　height；　with　four
very　short　legs；　the　feet　armed　with　long　claws　of　a　brilliant
scarlet；　and　resembling　coral　in　substance。　The　body　was　covered　with
a　straight　silky　hair；　perfectly　white。　The　tail　was　peaked　like　that
of　a　rat；　and　about　a　foot　and　a　half　long。　The　head　resembled　a
cat's；　with　the　exception　of　the　ears…　these　were　flopped　like　the
ears　of　a　dog。　The　teeth　were　of　the　same　brilliant　scarlet　as　the
claws。

　　　　January　19。…　To…day；　being　in　latitude　83　degrees　20'；　longitude
43　degrees　5'　W。　（the　sea　being　of　an　extraordinarily　dark　colour）；
we　again　saw　land　from　the　masthead；　and；　upon　a　closer　scrutiny；
found　it　to　be　one　of　a　group　of　very　large　islands。　The　shore　was
precipitous；　and　the　interior　seemed　to　be　well　wooded；　a
circumstance　which　occasioned　us　great　joy。　In　about　four　hours　from
our　first　discovering　the　land　we　came　to　anchor　in　ten　fathoms；
sandy　bottom；　a　league　from　the　coast；　as　a　high　surf；　with　strong
ripples　here　and　there；　rendered　a　nearer　approach　of　doubtful
expediency。　The　two　largest　boats　were　now　ordered　out；　and　a　party；
well　armed　（among　whom　were　Peters　and　myself）；　proceeded　to　look　for
an　opening　in　the　reef　which　appeared　to　encircle　the　island。　After
searching　about　for　some　time；　we　discovered　an　inlet；　which　we　were
entering；　when　we　saw　four　large　canoes　put　off　from　the　shore；
filled　with　men　who　seemed　to　be　well　armed。　We　waited　for　them　to
come　up；　and；　as　they　moved　with　great　rapidity；　they　were　soon
within　hail。　Captain　Guy　now　held　up　a　white　handkerchief　on　the
blade　of　an　oar；　when　the　strangers　made　a　full　stop；　and　commenced　a
loud　jabbering　all　at　once；　intermingled　with　occasional　shouts；　in
which　we　could　distinguish　the　words　Anamoo…moo！　and　Lama…Lama！　They
continued　this　for　at　least　half　an　hour；　during　which　we　had　a　good
opportunity　of　observing　their　appearance。

　　　　　In　the　four　canoes；　which　might　have　been　fifty　feet　long　and
five　broad；　there　were　a　hundred　and　ten　savages　in　all。　They　were
about　the　ordinary　stature　of　Europeans；　but　of　a　more　muscular　and
brawny　frame。　Their　complexion　a　jet　black；　with　thick　and　long
woolly　hair。　They　were　clothed　in　skins　of　an　unknown　black　animal；
shaggy　and　silky；　and　made　to　fit　the　body　with　some　degree　of　skill；
the　hair　being　inside；　except　where　turned　out　about　the　neck；
wrists；　and　ankles。　Their　arms　consisted　principally　of　clubs；　of　a
dark；　and　apparently　very　heavy　wood。　Some　spears；　however；　were
observed　among　them；　headed　with　flint；　and　a　few　slings。　The　bottoms
of　the　canoes　were　full　of　black　stones　about　the　size　of　a　large　egg。

　　　　　When　they　had　concluded　their　harangue　（for　it　was　clear　they
intended　their　jabbering　for　such）；　one　of　them　who　seemed　to　be　the
chief　stood　up　in　the　prow　of　his　canoe；　and　made　signs　for　us　to
bring　our　boats　alongside　of　him。　This　hint　we　pretended　not　to
understand；　thinking　it　the　wiser　plan　to　maintain；　if　possible；　the
interval　between　us；　as　their　number　more　than　quadrupled　our　own。
Finding　this　to　be　the　case；　the　chief　ordered　the　three　other　canoes
to　hold　back；　while　he　advanced　toward　us　with　his　own。　As　soon　as　he
came　up　with　us　he　leaped　on　board　the　largest　of　our　boats；　and
seated　himself　by　the　side　of　Captain　Guy；　pointing　at　the　same　time
to　the　sc