Ледяной сфинкс

Chapter I. The Kerguelen Islands.

           Neverthelessitisnotimpossiblethatthefancymaytakeyousomeday—”

           Mr.Atkinsansweredbyavigorousandconvincingshakeofthehead.ItwasverypleasanttohearthisworthyAmericantalk.Hewascompletelyacclimatizedonhisarchipelago,andtotheconditionsoflifethere.Helivedwithhisfamilyasthepenguinslivedintheirrookeries.Hiswifewasa“valiant”womanoftheScripturaltype,hissonswerestrong,hardyfellows,whodidnotknowwhatsicknessmeant.Hisbusinesswasprosperous.TheGreenCormoranthadthecustomofalltheships,whalersandothers,thatputinatKerguelen.Atkinssuppliedthemwitheverythingtheyrequired,andnosecondinnexistedatChristmasHarbour.Hissonswerecarpenters,sailmakers,andfishers,andtheyhuntedtheamphibiansinallthecreeksduringthehotseason.Inshort,thiswasafamilyofhonestfolkwhofulfilledtheirdestinywithoutmuchdifficulty.

           “Oncemore,Mr.Atkins,letmeassureyou,”Iresumed,“IamdelightedtohavecometoKerguelen.Ishallalwaysremembertheislandskindly.Nevertheless,Ishouldnotbesorrytofindmyselfatseaagain.”

           “Come,Mr.Jeorling,youmusthavealittlepatience,”saidthephilosopher,“youmustnotforgetthatthefinedayswillsoonbehere.Infiveorsixweeks—”

           “Yes,andinthemeantime,thehillsandtheplains,therocksandtheshoreswillbecoveredthickwithsnow,andthesunwillnothavestrengthtodispelthemistsonthehorizon.”

           “Now,thereyouareagain,Mr.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 5 из 317