Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter XVI. Tsalal Island
“Areyougoingtotakerootonthisrock?Don’tyouseetheHalbranewaitingforusathermoorings?Comealong.Weshallbeoffto-morrow.Thereisnothingmoretodohere.”
ItseemedtomethatHunt’stremblinglipsrepeatedtheword“nothing,”whilehiswholebearingprotestedagainstwhattheboatswainsaid.
Theboatbroughtusbacktotheship.CaptainLenGuyhadnotlefthiscabin.West,havingreceivednoorders,waspacingthedeckaft.Iseatedmyselfatthefootofthemainmast,observingtheseawhichlayopenandfreebeforeus.
Atthismomentthecaptaincameondeck;hewasverypale,andhisfeatureslookedpinchedandweary.
“Mr.Jeorling,”saidhe,“IcanaffirmconscientiouslythatIhavedoneallitwaspossibletodo.CanIhopehenceforththatmybrotherWilliamandhiscompanions—No!No!Wemustgoaway—beforewinter—”
Hedrewhimselfup,andcastalastglancetowardsTsalalIsland.
“To-morrow,Jim,”hesaidtoWest,“tomorrowwewillmakesailasearlyaspossible.”
Atthismomentaroughvoiceutteredthewords:
“AndPym—poorPym!”
Irecognizedthisvoice.
ItwasthevoiceIhadheardinmydream.