Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XVII. And Pym
TheextraordinarythingisthatCaptainLenGuyandmyself,whohadreadEdgarPoe’sbookoverandoveragain,didnotseeatonce,whenHuntcameontheshipattheFalklands,thatheandthehalf-breedwereidentical!IcanonlyadmitthatwewerebothblindfoldedbysomehiddenactionofFate,justwhencertainpagesofthatbookoughttohaveeffectuallyclearedourvision.
TherewasnodoubtwhateverthatHuntreallywasDirkPeters.Althoughhewaselevenyearsolder,heansweredineveryparticulartothedescriptionofhimgivenbyArthurPym,exceptthathewasnolonger“offierceaspect.”Infact,thehalf-breedhadchangedwithageandtheexperienceofterriblescenesthroughwhichhehadpassed;nevertheless,hewasstillthefaithfulcompaniontowhomArthurPymhadoftenowedhissafety,thatsameDirkPeterswholovedhimashisownson,andwhohadnever—no,never—lostthehopeoffindinghimagainonedayamidtheawfulAntarcticwastes.
Now,whyhadDirkPetershiddenhimselfintheFalklandsunderthenameofHunt?Why,sincehisembarkationontheHalbrane,hadhekeptupthatincognito?Whyhadhenottoldwhohewas,sincehewasawareoftheintentionsofthecaptain,whowasabouttomakeeveryefforttosavehiscountrymenbyfollowingthecourseoftheJane?
Why?Nodoubtbecausehefearedthathisnamewouldinspirehorror.
