Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XVII. And Pym
Aforsakenboatlaythere,atthebackofthebay,containingsomedriedmeatandseveralcasksofwater.Thehalf-breedgotintoit,andasouthwind—yes,south,verystrong,thesamethathaddriventheiceblock,withthecrosscurrent,towardsTsalalIsland—carriedhimonforweeksandweeks—totheicebergbarrier,throughapassageinit—youmaybelieveme,IamtellingyouonlywhatDirkPeterstoldme—andheclearedthepolarcircle.”
“Andbeyondit?”Iinquired.
“Beyondit.HewaspickedupbyanAmericanwhaler,theSandyHook,andtakenbacktoAmerica.”
Now,onethingatalleventswasclear.EdgarPoehadneverknownArthurPym.Thiswasthereasonwhy,toleavehisreadersinexcitinguncertainty,hehadbroughtPymtoanend“assuddenasitwasdeplorable,”withoutindicatingthemannerorthecauseofhisdeath.
“Andyet,althoughArthurPymdidnotreturn,coulditbereasonablyadmittedthathehadsurvivedhiscompanionforanylengthoftime,thathewasstillliving,elevenyearshavingelapsedsincehisdisappearance?”
“Yes,yes,”repliedHunt.
AndthisheaffirmedwiththestrongconvictionthatDirkPetershadinfusedintohismindwhilethetwowerelivingtogetherinVandalia,inIllinois.
