Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XV. Bennet Islet
Invariousplacesweobservedfragmentsofcoralreef,andbêche-de-merwassoabundantthatourschoonermighthavetakenafullcargoofit.Huntwalkedoninsilencewithdowncasteyes,untilaswewerecloseuponthebeachtotheeast,he,beingabouttenpacesahead,stoppedabruptly,andsummonedustohimbyahurriedgesture.
Inaninstantwewerebyhisside.Hunthadevincednosurpriseonthesubjectofthepieceofwoodfirstfound,buthisattitudechangedwhenhekneltdowninfrontofaworm-eatenplanklyingonthesand.Hefeltitalloverwithhishugehands,asthoughhewereseekingsometraceryonitsroughsurfacewhosesignificationmightbeintelligibletohim.Theblackpaintwashiddenunderthethickdirtthathadaccumulateduponit.Theplankhadprobablyformedpartofaship’sstern,astheboatswainrequestedustoobserve.
“Yes,yes,”repeatedCaptainLenGuy,“itmadepartofastern.”
Hunt,whostillremainedkneeling,noddedhisbigheadinassent.
“But,”Iremarked,“thisplankmusthavebeencastuponBennetIsletfromawreck!Thecross-currentsmusthavefounditintheopensea,and—”
“Ifthatwereso—”criedthecaptain.
Thesamethoughthadoccurredtobothofus.Whatwasoursurprise,indeedouramazement,ourunspeakableemotion,whenHuntshoweduseightletterscutintheplank,notpainted,buthollowanddistinctlytraceablewiththefinger.
Itwasonlytooeasytorecognizethelettersoftwonames,arrangedintwolines,thus:
AN
LI.E.PO.L.
