Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter XI. From the Sandwich Islands to the Polar Circle
“Whenheisnotonthewatch,”resumedtheboatswain,“thatsavageleansallthetimewithhiselbowsontheside,asmotionlessasheismute.Hisrightplacewouldbeattheendofourbow,wherehewoulddoforafigureheadtotheHalbrane,andaveryuglyoneatthat!Andthen,whenheisatthehelm,Mr.Jeorling,justobservehim!Hisenormoushandsclutchthehandlesasthoughtheywerefastenedtothewheel;hegazesatthebinnacleasthoughthemagnetofthecompassweredrawinghiseyes.Ipridemyselfonbeingagoodsteersman,butasforbeingtheequalofHunt,I’mnot!Withhim,notforaninstantdoestheneedlevaryfromthesailing-line,howeverroughalurchshemaygive.IamsurethatifthebinnaclelampweretogooutinthenightHuntwouldnotrequiretorelightit.Thefireinhiseyeswouldlightupthedialandkeephimright.”
Forseveraldaysournavigationwentoninunbrokenmonotony,withoutasingleincident,andunderfavourableconditions.Thespringseasonwasadvancing,andwhalesbegantomaketheirappearanceinlargenumbers.
Inthesewatersaweekwouldsufficeforshipsofheavytonnagetofilltheircaskswiththepreciousoil.Thusthenewmenofthecrew,andespeciallytheAmericans,didnotconcealtheirregretforthecaptain’sindifferenceinthepresenceofsomanyanimalsworththeirweightingold,andmoreabundantthantheyhadeverseenwhalesatthatperiodoftheyear.TheleadingmalcontentwasHearne,asealing-master,towhomhiscompanionswerereadytolisten.
