20000 лье под водой

Chapter 5. At Random!

           Thenextday,the5thofNovember,attwelve,thedelaywould(morallyspeaking)expire;afterthattime,CommanderFarragut,faithfultohispromise,wastoturnthecoursetothesouth-eastandabandonforeverthenorthernregionsofthePacific.

           Thefrigatewasthenin31º15’N.lat.and136º42’E.long.ThecoastofJapanstillremainedlessthantwohundredmilestoleeward.Nightwasapproaching.Theyhadjuststruckeightbells;largecloudsveiledthefaceofthemoon,theninitsfirstquarter.Theseaundulatedpeaceablyunderthesternofthevessel.

           AtthatmomentIwasleaningforwardonthestarboardnetting.Conseil,standingnearme,waslookingstraightbeforehim.Thecrew,perchedintheratlines,examinedthehorizonwhichcontractedanddarkenedbydegrees.Officerswiththeirnightglassesscouredthegrowingdarkness:sometimestheoceansparkledundertheraysofthemoon,whichdartedbetweentwoclouds,thenalltraceoflightwaslostinthedarkness.

           InlookingatConseil,Icouldseehewasundergoingalittleofthegeneralinfluence.AtleastIthoughtso.Perhapsforthefirsttimehisnervesvibratedtoasentimentofcuriosity.

           "Come,Conseil,"saidI,"thisisthelastchanceofpocketingthetwothousanddollars."

           "MayIbepermittedtosay,sir,"repliedConseil,"thatIneverreckonedongettingtheprize;and,hadthegovernmentoftheUnionofferedahundredthousanddollars,itwouldhavebeennonethepoorer."

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 29 из 384