Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter X. The Outset of the Enterprise
HurliguerlyborewitnessthatHunt,forallhisawkwardandclumsybuild,wasinhimselfworththreemen.
“Afamousrecruit,”saidhe.
“Yes,indeed,”Ireplied,“andgainedjustatthelastmoment.”
“Verytrue,Mr.Jeorling!Butwhatafaceandheadhehas,thatHunt!”
“IhaveoftenmetAmericanslikehimintheregionsoftheFarWest,”Ianswered,“andIshouldnotbesurprisedifthismanhadIndianbloodinhisveins.DoyouevertalkwithHunt?”
“Veryseldom,Mr.Jeorling.Hekeepshimselftohimself,andawayfromeverybody.Andyet,itisnotforwantofmouth.Ineversawanythinglikehis!Andhishands!Haveyouseenhishands?Beonyourguard,Mr.Jeorling,ifeverhewantstoshakehandswithyou.”
“Fortunately,boatswain,Huntdoesnotseemtobequarrelsome.Heappearstobeaquietmanwhodoesnotabusehisstrength.”
“No—exceptwhenheissettingahalyard.ThenIamalwaysafraidthepulleywillcomedownandtheyardwithit.”
Huntcertainlywasastrangebeing,andIcouldnotresistobservinghimwithcuriosity,especiallyasitstruckmethatheregardedmeattimeswithacuriousintentness.
Onthe10thofNovember,atabouttwointheafternoon,thelook-outshouted,—
“Landahead,starboard!”
Anobservationhadjustgiven55°7’latitudeand41°13’longitude.ThislandcouldonlybetheIsledeSaintPierre—itsBritishnamesareSouthGeorgia,NewGeorgia,andKingGeorge’sIsland—anditbelongstothecircumpolarregions.
