Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter II. The Schooner Halbrane
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“Whydoesyourcaptainobjecttotakingmeonhisship?”
“Becausehedoesnotintendtotakeanybodyonboardhisship.Heneverhastakenapassenger.”
“But,forwhatreason,Iaskyou.”
“Oh!becausehewantstogowherehelikes,toturnaboutifhepleasesandgotheotherwaywithoutaccountingforhismotivestoanybody.Heneverleavesthesesouthernseas,Mr.Jeorling;wehavebeengoingthesemanyyearsbetweenAustraliaontheeastandAmericaonthewest;fromHobartTowntotheKerguelens,toTristand’Acunha,totheFalklands,onlytakingtimeanywheretosellourcargo,andsometimesdippingdownintotheAntarcticSea.Underthesecircumstances,youunderstand,apassengermightbetroublesome,andbesides,whowouldcaretoembarkontheHalbrane?shedoesnotliketofloutthebreezes,andgoeswhereverthewinddrivesher.”
“TheHalbranepositivelyleavestheKerguelensinfourdays?”
“Certainly.”
“AndthistimeshewillsailwestwardforTristand’Acunha?”
“Probably.”
“Well,then,thatprobabilitywillbeenoughforme,andsinceyouoffermeyourservices,getCaptainLenGuytoacceptmeasapassenger.”
“It’sasgoodasdone.”
“Allright,Hurliguerly,andyoushallhavenoreasontorepentofit.”
“Eh!Mr.Jeorling,”repliedthissingularmariner,shakinghisheadasthoughhehadjustcomeoutofthesea,“Ihaveneverrepentedofanything,andIknowwellthatIshallnotrepentofdoingyouaservice.
