Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter VII. Tristan D’Acunha
IrelatedthefindingofthebodyofPatterson,themateoftheJane,andIaddedthateverythingledtothebeliefthatthecaptainoftheJaneandfiveofhiscompanionswerestilllivingonanislandintheaustralregions,atlessthansixdegreesfromthePole.
“Ah,Mr.Jeorling,”criedGlass,“ifsomedayWilliamGuyandhissailorsmightbesaved!Theyseemedtometobesuchfinefellows.”
“ThatisjustwhattheHalbraneiscertainlygoingtoattempt,sosoonassheisready,forhercaptain,LenGuy,isWilliamGuy’sownbrother.”
“Isitpossible?Well,althoughIdonotknowCaptainLenGuy,Iventuretoassertthatthebrothersdonotresembleeachother—atleastintheirbehaviourtotheGovernorofTristand’Acunha!”
ItwasplainthattheGovernorwasprofoundlymortified,butnodoubtheconsoledhimselfbytheprospectofsellinghisgoodsattwenty-fivepercentabovetheirvalue.
Onethingwascertain:CaptainLenGuyhadnointentionofcomingashore.Thiswasthemoresingular,inasmuchashecouldnotbeunawarethattheJanehadputinatTristand’Acunhabeforeproceedingtothesouthernseas.SurelyhemightbeexpectedtoputhimselfincommunicationwiththelastEuropeanwhohadshakenhandswithhisbrother!
Nevertheless,CaptainLenGuyremainedpersistentlyonboardhisship,withoutevengoingondeck;and,lookingthroughtheglassskylightofhiscabin,Isawhimperpetuallystoopingoverthetable,whichwascoveredwithopenbooksandout-spreadcharts
