Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of Black Peter
Anyhow,I’dassoondiewitharoperoundmyneckaswithBlackPeter’sknifeinmyheart.”
“Howcameyouthere?”askedHolmes.
“I’lltellityoufromthebeginning.Justsitmeupalittle,soasIcanspeakeasy.Itwasin’83thatithappened—Augustofthatyear.PeterCareywasmasteroftheSeaUnicorn,andIwasspareharpooner.Wewerecomingoutoftheice-packonourwayhome,withheadwindsandaweek’ssoutherlygale,whenwepickedupalittlecraftthathadbeenblownnorth.Therewasonemanonher—alandsman.ThecrewhadthoughtshewouldfounderandhadmadefortheNorwegiancoastinthedinghy.Iguesstheywerealldrowned.Well,wetookhimonboard,thisman,andheandtheskipperhadsomelongtalksinthecabin.Allthebaggagewetookoffwithhimwasonetinbox.SofarasIknow,theman’snamewasnevermentioned,andonthesecondnighthedisappearedasifhehadneverbeen.Itwasgivenoutthathehadeitherthrownhimselfoverboardorfallenoverboardintheheavyweatherthatwewerehaving.Onlyonemanknewwhathadhappenedtohim,andthatwasme,for,withmyowneyes,Isawtheskippertipuphisheelsandputhimovertherailinthemiddlewatchofadarknight,twodaysbeforewesightedtheShetlandLights.Well,Ikeptmyknowledgetomyself,andwaitedtoseewhatwouldcomeofit.WhenwegotbacktoScotlanditwaseasilyhushedup,andnobodyaskedanyquestions.Astrangerdiedbyaccidentanditwasnobody’sbusinesstoinquire.ShortlyafterPeterCareygaveupthesea,anditwaslongyearsbeforeIcouldfindwherehewas.
