Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter XI. From the Sandwich Islands to the Polar Circle
Hehadfounditeasytogettheupperhandoftheothersailorsbyhisroughmannerandthesurlyaudacitythatwasexpressedbyhiswholepersonality.HearnewasanAmerican,andforty-fiveyearsofage.Hewasanactive,vigorousman,andIcouldseehiminmymind’seye,standinguponhisdoublebowedwhaling-boatbrandishingtheharpoon,dartingitintotheflankofawhale,andpayingouttherope.Hemusthavebeenfinetosee.Grantedhispassionforthisbusiness,Icouldnotbesurprisedthathisdiscontentshoweditselfuponoccasion.Inanycase,however,ourschoonerwasnotfittedoutforfishing,andtheimplementsofwhalingwerenotonboard.
Oneday,aboutthreeo’clockintheafternoon,Ihadgoneforwardtowatchthegambolsofa“school”ofthehugeseamammals.Hearnewaspointingthemouttohiscompanions,andmutteringindisjointedphrases,—
“There,lookthere!That’safin-back!There’sanother,andanother;threeofthemwiththeirdorsalfinsfiveorsixfeethigh.Justseethemswimmingbetweentwowaves,quietly,makingnojumps.Ah!ifIhadaharpoon,IbetmyheadthatIcouldsenditintooneofthefouryellowspotstheyhaveontheirbodies.Butthere’snothingtobedoneinthistraffic-box;onecannotstretchone’sarms.Deviltakeit!Intheseseasitisfishingweoughttobeat,not—”
Then,stoppingshort,hesworeafewoaths,andcriedout,“Andthatotherwhale!”
“Theonewithahumplikeadromedary?”askedasailor.
“Yes.Itisahumpback,”repliedHearne.
