Крижаний сфінкс

           ThecaptainoftheHalbrane,whoreceivedthedemonstrativegreetingofAtkinsverycoolly,itseemedtome,wasaboutforty-five,red-faced,andsolidlybuilt,likehisschooner;hisheadwaslarge,hishairwasalreadyturninggrey,hisblackeyesshonelikecoalsoffireunderhisthickeyebrows,andhisstrongwhiteteethweresetlikerocksinhispowerfuljaws;hischinwaslengthenedbyacoarseredbeard,andhisarmsandlegswerestrongandfirm.SuchwasCaptainLenGuy,andheimpressedmewiththenotionthathewasratherimpassivethanhard,ashut-upsortofperson,whosesecretsitwouldnotbeeasytogetat.Iwastoldtheverysamedaythatmyimpressionwascorrect,byapersonwhowasbetterinformedthanAtkins,althoughthelatterpretendedtogreatintimacywiththecaptain.Thetruthwasthatnobodyhadpenetratedthatreservednature.

           ImayaswellsayatoncethatthepersontowhomIhavealludedwastheboatswainoftheHalbrane,amannamedHurliguerly,whocamefromtheIsleofWight.Thispersonwasaboutforty-four,short,stout,strong,andbow-legged;hisarmsstuckoutfromhisbody,hisheadwassetlikeaballonabullneck,hischestwasbroadenoughtoholdtwopairsoflungs(andheseemedtowantadoublesupply,forhewasalwayspuffing,blowing,andtalking),hehaddrollroguisheyes,withanetworkofwrinklesunderthem.Anoteworthydetailwasanear-ring,oneonly,whichhungfromthelobeofhisleftear.