Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter XVI. Tsalal Island
Hunttheboatswain,MartinHolt,fourmen,andmyselftookourplacesintheboatwithoutarms;fortherewasnolongeranythingtofear.
Wedisembarkedatouryesterday’slanding-place,andHuntagainledthewaytowardsthehillofKlock-Klock.Nothingremainedoftheeminencethathadbeencarriedawayintheartificiallandslip,fromwhichthecaptainoftheJane,Patterson,hissecondofficer,andfiveofhismenhadhappilyescaped.ThevillageofKlock-Klockhadthusdisappeared;anddoubtlessthemysteryofthestrangediscoveriesnarratedinEdgarPoe’sworkwasnowandeverwouldremainbeyondsolution.
Wehadonlytoregainourship,returningbytheeastsideofthecoast.Huntbroughtusthroughthespacewhereshedshadbeenerectedforthepreparationofthebêche-demer,andwesawtheremainsofthem.Onallsidessilenceandabandonmentreigned.
WemadeabriefpauseattheplacewhereArthurPymandDirkPetersseizedupontheboatwhichborethemtowardshigherlatitudes,eventothathorizonofdarkvapourwhoserentspermittedthemtodiscernthehugehumanfigure,thewhitegiant.
Huntstoodwithcrossedarms,hiseyesdevouringthevastextentofthesea.
“Well,Hunt?”saidI,tentatively.
Huntdidnotappeartohearme;hedidnotturnhisheadinmydirection.
“Whatarewedoinghere?”Iaskedhim,andtouchedhimontheshoulder.
Hestarted,andcastaglanceuponmewhichwenttomyheart.
“Comealong,Hunt,”criedHurliguerly
