Having, I trust, allayed13 all tremors14 by these preliminary remarks, let me go on to say that while all sane15 civilized16 persons believe this earth of ours to be more or less globular in shape, it probably occurs to but few that the shortest distance from point to point on a globe is along a curve. But in order to get any170 substantial gain out of this knowledge in the direction of shortening a ship’s passage, it is necessary first of all to have a considerable stretch of sea whereon to draw your curve, which is after all a straight line, since it is the shortest distance between two points. Even the fine open ocean between England and America is hardly sufficient to induce navigators to make use of Great Circle Sailing on outward or homeward passages, the gain being so small. When, however, the captain of an outward bound ship has wriggled17 through the baffling belt of hesitating winds that have hindered his progress southward from the equator to Cape18, and begins to look for the coming of the brave westerly gales19 that shall send him flying before them to Australia or New Zealand, an opportunity occurs as in no other part of the world for putting the pretty Great Circle theory into practice.
It may be necessary to remind the reader that Great Circles are those which divide a globe into two equal parts, such as the equator and the meridians21. If, then, the navigator at Cape in South America draws a thread tightly on a terrestrial globe between that point and, say, the south-east cape of Tasmania, the line it describes will be the arc of a Great Circle, and consequently the shortest distance between the two places. But when he comes to lay down the track which that thread has described upon his Mercator chart he finds that, instead of steering22 almost a straight course between the two places, he must describe a huge curve, with its vertex or highest southerly point well within the Antarctic circle. Now, no sane seaman23 would171 dream of seeking such a latitude24 upon any voyage but one of exploration, since it is well known what kind of weather awaits the unfortunate mariner25 there. But, without saying that Captain Jellico was a lunatic, it is necessary to remark that he was no ordinary shipmaster, and those who knew him best often prophesied26 that one day his persistent27 pursuit of hobbies and fads28 would involve him and all his unfortunate crew in some extraordinary disaster.
On the present voyage he commanded an ancient teak built barque that had long ago seen her best days, and was, besides, so slow that any of the ordinary methods of economizing29 time were a ridiculous waste of energy when applied30 to her. Of course, she carried stunsails, those infernal auxiliaries31 that are or were responsible for more sin on board ship than any other invention of man. She was bound to Auckland, and by the time she had waddled32 as far south as Cape had already consumed as many days as a smart clipper ship would have needed to do the whole passage. Yet Captain Jellico was so proud of the ugly old tub (bathing machine, the men called her), principally because he was half-owner of her, that he was perfectly34 blind to her slothful and unhandy qualities. Day by day he held forth35 to his disgusted mate upon the beauty of the Great Circle problem, and the desirability of putting it into practice, announcing his firm intention of carrying it out in its entirety this trip. He wasn’t going to piffle with any “composite” Great Circle track, not he. Half-hearted seamen36 might choose to follow the great curve down as far as 50° S.172 or so, and then shirk the whole business by steering due east for a couple of thousand miles, but he would do the trick properly, and touch the vertex, unless, indeed, it happened to be on the mainland of Antarctica. After an hour or two of this sort of talk the mate would go on deck feeling mighty37 sick, and muttering fervent38 prayers that his commander would meet with some entirely39 disabling accident soon, one that would effectually hinder him from carrying out his oft-reiterated intention. But no such answer was afforded to Mr. Marline’s impious aspirations41. The steadfast42 westerly wind began as usual, and the clumsy old Chanticleer, under every rag of canvas, stunsails and all, began to plunder43 along that hateful curve, steering about south-east by south. Gradually the wind strengthened, until, much to the delight of the scanty44 crew, the fluttering rags that hung precariously45 at the yard-arms were taken in and stowed snugly46 away, the booms and irons were sent down from aloft, and lashed47 along the scuppers with the spare spars and stunsail carrying, for that passage, at any rate, became only a wretched memory. Sterner and stronger blew the wind as day succeeded day and higher latitudes48 were successively reached, until, although it was the Antarctic summer, all hands were wearing nearly every garment they possessed49 in the vain endeavour to keep a little warmth in their thin blood.
One topic now overlaid every other in the endless causeries that were held in the gloomy den40 where the sailors lived. It was the course steered50. The position of the ship is always more or less a matter of conjecture173 to the men forward, except when some well-known island or headland is sighted, but all sailors are able to judge fairly well from the courses steered what track is being made, and the present persistence51 in a southerly direction was disquieting52 in the extreme to them all. The weather worsened every day, and occasional icebergs53 showed their awful slopes through the surrounding greyness, making every man strain his eyes when on the look-out or at the wheel in painful anxiety lest the ship should suddenly come full tilt54 upon one of them. A deep discontent was heavy upon the heart of every member of the crew, with the sole exception of the skipper. Snugly wrapped in a huge fur-lined jacket, and with an eared sealskin cap drawn55 down over his ears, he paced the poop jauntily56, as merry as Father Christmas, and utterly57 oblivious58 of everything and everybody but the grand way in which he was following up his Great Circle. At last, when a dull settled misery59 seemed to have loaded all hands so that they appeared to have lost the heart even to growl60, a dense61 mist settled fatefully down upon the ship, a white pall33 that was not dispelled63 again by the strong, bitter wind. The skipper hardly ever left the deck, but his almost sleepless64 vigilance had no effect upon his high spirits. Suddenly at mid-day, when by dead reckoning he was within a day’s sail of the vertex, the sea, which had been running in mountainous masses for weeks past, occasionally breaking over all and seething65 about the sodden66 decks, became strangely smooth and quiet, although the wind still howled behind them. Such a change sent a thrill of terrible174 dread67 through every heart. Even the skipper, with all his stubborn fortitude68, looked troubled, and faltered69 in his unresting tramp fore20 and aft the poop. Then gradually the wind failed until it was almost calm, and the enshrouding mist closed down upon the ship so densely70 that it was hardly possible to see a fathom71’s length away. The silence became oppressive, all the more so because underlying72 it there was the merest suggestion of a sound that always has a fateful significance for the mariner, the hoarse73, unsatisfied murmur74 of the sea sullenly75 beating against an immovable barrier. And thus they waited and endured all the agony and suspense76 born of ignorance of the dangers that they knew must surround them, and utter incapability77 to do anything whatever. Full thirty-six hours crept leaden-footed away before there came any lightening of their darkness. Then gradually the rolling wreaths of mist melted away and revealed to them their position. At first they could hardly credit the evidence of their senses, believing that what they saw hemming78 them in on every side was but the reluctant fog taking on fantastic shapes of mountain, valley, and plateau. But when at last the wintry sun gleamed palely, and they could discern the little surf glittering against the bases of the ice-cliffs, all elusive79 hopes fled, and they became fully62 aware of their horrible position. The vessel3 lay motionless in a blue lake bounded on every side by white walls of ice, the snowy glare of their cliffs contrasting curiously80 with the deep blue of the sea. Some of the peaks soared to a height of over one thousand feet, others again rose175 sheer from the water for several hundreds of feet, and then terminated in flat table-like summits of vast area. But all were alike in their grim lifelessness. They looked as if they had thus existed for ages; it was impossible to imagine any change in their terrible solidity.
After the first shock of the discovery had passed, the relief that always comes from knowing the worst came to them, and they began to speculate upon the manner in which they could have entered this apparently82 ice-locked lake. Presently the skipper, in a strangely altered voice, ordered the long boat to be got out, a task of great difficulty, since, as in most vessels of the Chanticleer’s class, the long boat was, besides being hampered83 up by a miscellaneous collection of all the rubbish in the ship, secured as if she was never intended to be used under any circumstances. But the tough job gave the hands something to take their minds off their unhappy position, while the exertion84 kept off the icy chill of their surroundings. When at last the boat was in the water, although she was so leaky that one man was kept constantly baling, the skipper entered her, and, with four oarsmen, started to explore their prison. With the utmost caution, they surveyed every fathom of the sea line, no detail of the ice-barrier escaping their anguished85 scrutiny86; but when at last, after six hours’ absence, they returned on board, they had been unable to discover the slightest vestige87 of a passage, no, not so much as would admit their boat. The only conclusion that could be arrived at was that they had passed in through176 the opening of a horseshoe-shaped berg of enormous area, and that another smaller berg had drifted in after them and turned over in the channel, effectually closing it against their return. Slowly and sadly they had returned to the ship, the skipper looking heartbroken at this tragic88 termination to his enthusiastic scheme of navigation. After ascertaining89 his position by means of an artificial horizon, he called all hands aft, and thus addressed them, “Men, we’m all fellow-sufferers now, I reckon, and the only thing to do ’es to wait God’s good time for lettin’ us get out. I find we’m in 61° S., 50° E., and I reckon our only hope lies in the fact that this can’t be no shore ice; it must be a floatin’ berg, ef ’tes a most amazin’ big un. Consequently it must be a driftin’ to the norrard a little; they all do, and sooner or later the sun ’ll melt us out. One good job, we got ’nough pervisions in the cargo90 ter las’ us six years, an’ as for water, well, I reckon there’s more fresh water froze around us than all the ships in the world ’ud ever want. So we’ll just take care of ourselves, try an’ keep alive,’n look after the old barky, for we shall certinly sail away in her yet.” His speech was received in silence, but all hands looked brighter and happier than they had done for a long time. They towed the vessel into a sort of cove81, and moored91 her firmly with kedges and hawsers92 to the ice, then turned their attention to the invention of all sorts of expedients93 for preventing the time hanging too heavily. Better feeding became the order of the day, for the old man at once drew upon the cargo, which included an immense assortment94 of preserved177 food of the best brands, as well as many luxuries. And every day there was a slight change in the position, showing that, as the skipper had said, the whole body of ice was drifting north as well as east. So uneventfully and tediously two months passed away, leaving everything pretty much the same, except that the skipper seemed to have aged95 ten years.
Then one afternoon, when the enwrapped mist was so thick that even the deck beneath their feet was scarcely visible, there came a tremendous crash that made the old vessel quiver from keel to truck. It was followed by loud splashes as of falling blocks of ice, and strange sounds that resembled human voices. Presently the fog lifted, and revealed a great gap in the ice-wall just ahead of the vessel, and on one side of its cliffs the wreck96 of a splendid ship, whose crew were huddled97 upon the precipitous crags of the berg. The sight sent all hands into frantic98 activity on the instant. Toiling99 like giants, they rescued all the nearly frozen men, who were in such evil case that they could hardly ask whence their rescuers had come, and then, as if incapable100 of fatigue101, they strained every ounce of strength they possessed to warp102 their long-imprisoned ship out of that terrible dock. Once escaped, it is hardly necessary to say that Captain Jellico lost no time in getting north and running his easting down upon a parallel of 42° S. Great Circle Sailing had lost all its charms for him. And in due time the Chanticleer arrived at Auckland, two hundred and forty-six days out from home, with all her passengers and crew in the best of health and mutually pleased with each other.
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1
navigate
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| v.航行，飞行；导航，领航 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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treatise
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| n.专著；(专题)论文 | |
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guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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maritime
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| adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的 | |
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averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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nautical
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| adj.海上的，航海的，船员的 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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allayed
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| v.减轻，缓和( allay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tremors
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| 震颤( tremor的名词复数 )； 战栗； 震颤声； 大地的轻微震动 | |
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sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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wriggled
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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gales
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| 龙猫 | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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meridians
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| n.子午圈( meridian的名词复数 )；子午线；顶点；（权力，成就等的）全盛时期 | |
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steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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latitude
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| n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区 | |
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mariner
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| n.水手号不载人航天探测器，海员，航海者 | |
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prophesied
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| v.预告，预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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fads
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| n.一时的流行，一时的风尚( fad的名词复数 ) | |
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economizing
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| v.节省，减少开支( economize的现在分词 ) | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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auxiliaries
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| n.助动词 ( auxiliary的名词复数 )；辅助工，辅助人员 | |
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waddled
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| v.（像鸭子一样）摇摇摆摆地走( waddle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pall
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| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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steadfast
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| adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的 | |
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plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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precariously
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| adv.不安全地；危险地；碰机会地；不稳定地 | |
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snugly
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| adv.紧贴地；贴身地；暖和舒适地；安适地 | |
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lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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latitudes
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| 纬度 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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persistence
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| n.坚持，持续，存留 | |
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disquieting
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| adj.令人不安的，令人不平静的v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的现在分词 ) | |
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icebergs
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| n.冰山，流冰( iceberg的名词复数 ) | |
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tilt
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| v.(使)倾侧；(使)倾斜；n.倾侧；倾斜 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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jauntily
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| adv.心满意足地；洋洋得意地；高兴地；活泼地 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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dispelled
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| v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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sodden
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| adj.浑身湿透的；v.使浸透；使呆头呆脑 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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densely
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| ad.密集地；浓厚地 | |
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fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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underlying
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| adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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incapability
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| n.无能 | |
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hemming
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| 卷边 | |
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elusive
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| adj.难以表达(捉摸)的；令人困惑的；逃避的 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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81
cove
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| n.小海湾，小峡谷 | |
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82
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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83
hampered
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| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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85
anguished
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| adj.极其痛苦的v.使极度痛苦(anguish的过去式) | |
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86
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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87
vestige
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| n.痕迹，遗迹，残余 | |
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88
tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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89
ascertaining
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 ) | |
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90
cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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91
moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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92
hawsers
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| n.（供系船或下锚用的）缆索，锚链( hawser的名词复数 ) | |
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93
expedients
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| n.应急有效的，权宜之计的( expedient的名词复数 ) | |
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94
assortment
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| n.分类，各色俱备之物，聚集 | |
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95
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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96
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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97
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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98
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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99
toiling
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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100
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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101
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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102
warp
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| vt.弄歪，使翘曲，使不正常，歪曲，使有偏见 | |
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