Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XVII. And Pym
“Iwillobeyyourorders,whatevertheymaybe!ItisourdutynottoforsakeWilliamGuyandtheotherssolongasanychanceofsavingthemremains.”
Theboatswainpausedforamoment,whileseveralofthesailorsgaveunequivocalsignsofapprobation.
“AsforwhatconcernsArthurPym—”
“ThereisnoquestionofArthurPym,”struckinthecaptain,“butonlyofmybrotherWilliamandhiscompanions.”
IsawatthismomentthatDirkPeterswasabouttoprotest,andcaughtholdofhisarm.Heshookwithanger,butkeptsilence.
Thecaptaincontinuedhisquestioningofthemen,desiringtoknowbynameallthoseuponwhomhemightreckon.Theoldcrewtoamanacquiescedinhisproposals,andpledgedthemselvestoobeyhisordersimplicitlyandfollowhimwhithersoeverhechosetogo.
Threeonlyoftherecruitsjoinedthosefaithfulseamen;thesewereEnglishsailors.TheotherswereofHearne’sopinion,holdingthatforthemthecampaignwasendedatTsalalIsland.Theythereforerefusedtogobeyondthatpoint,andformallydemandedthattheshipshouldbesteerednorthwardsoastocleartheicebergsatthemostfavourableperiodoftheseason.
Twentymenwereontheirside,andtoconstrainthemtolendahandtotheworkingoftheshipifsheweretobedivertedtothesouthwouldhavebeentoprovokethemtorebel.Therewasbutoneresource:toarousetheircovetousness,tostrikethechordofself-interest.
Iintervened,therefore,andaddressedtheminatonewhichplacedtheseriousnessofmyproposalbeyondadoubt.
