Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter II. The Schooner Halbrane
Whatacontrasttothecaptainoftheschooner,andhowdidtwosuchdissimilarbeingscontrivetogetontogether?Theyhadcontrivedit,somehow,fortheyhadbeenatseaineachother’scompanyforfifteenyears,firstinthebrigPower,whichhadbeenreplacedbytheschoonerHalbrane,sixyearsbeforethebeginningofthisstory.
AtkinshadtoldHurliguerlyonhisarrivalthatIwouldtakepassageontheHalbrane,ifCaptainLenGuyconsentedtomydoingso,andtheboatswainpresentedhimselfonthefollowingmorningwithoutanynoticeorintroduction.Healreadyknewmyname,andheaccostedmeasfollows:
“Mr.Jeorling,Isaluteyou.”
“Isaluteyouinmyturn,myfriend.Whatdoyouwant?”
“Toofferyoumyservices.”
“Onwhataccount?”
“OnaccountofyourintentiontoembarkontheHalbrane.”
“Whoareyou?”
“IamHurliguerly,theboatswainoftheHalbrane,andbesides,IamthefaithfulcompanionofCaptainLenGuy,whowilllistentomewillingly,althoughhehasthereputationofnotlisteningtoanybody.”
“Well,myfriend,letustalk,ifyouarenotrequiredonboardjustnow.”
“Ihavetwohoursbeforeme,Mr.Jeorling.Besides,there’sverylittletobedoneto-day.Ifyouarefree,asIam—”
Hewavedhishandtowardstheport.
“Cannotwetalkverywellhere?”Iobserved.
“Talk,Mr.Jeorling,talkstandingup,andourthroatsdry,whenitissoeasytositdowninacorneroftheGreenCormorantinfrontoftwoglassesofwhisky.
