Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XVII. And Pym
”
“AndArthurPymmaybe—”
“There,”answeredHunt,inaloudvoice,bendingtowardsthesouthernline,fromwhichhehadnotdivertedhisgazeforamoment.
Couldsuchanassertionprevailagainstthegeneralincredulity?No,assuredlynot!MartinHoltnudgedHurliguerlywithhiselbow,andbothregardedHuntwithpity,whileWestobservedhimwithoutspeaking.CaptainLenGuymademeasign,meaningthatnothingseriouswastobegotoutofthispoorfellow,whosementalfacultiesmusthavebeenoutofgearforalongtime.
Andnevertheless,whenIlookedkeenlyatHunt,itseemedtomethatasortofradianceoftruthshoneoutofhiseyes:
ThenIsettoworktointerrogatetheman,puttingtohimpreciseandpressingquestionswhichhetriedtoanswercategorically,asweshallsee,andnotoncedidhecontradicthimself.
“Tellme,”Iasked,“didArthurPymreallycometoTsalalIslandonboardtheGrampus?”
“Yes.”
“DidArthurPymseparatehimself,withthehalf-breedandoneofthesailors,fromhiscompanionswhileCaptainWilliamGuyhadgonetothevillageofKlock-Klock?”
“Yes.ThesailorwasoneAllen,andhewasalmostimmediatelystifledunderthestones.”
“Thenthetwootherssawtheattack,andthedestructionoftheschooner,fromthetopofthehill?”
“Yes.”
“Then,sometimelater,thetwolefttheisland,aftertheyhadgotpossessionofoneoftheboatswhichthenativescouldnottakefromthem?”
“Yes.
