Chapter III. Captain Len Guy

           Isleptill.AgainandagainI“dreamedthatIwasdreaming.”Now—thisisanobservationmadebyEdgarPoe—whenonesuspectsthatoneisdreaming,thewakingcomesalmostinstantly.Iwokethen,andeverytimeinaverybadhumourwithCaptainLenGuy.TheideaofleavingtheKerguelensontheHalbranehadfullpossessionofme,andIgrewmoreandmoreangrywithherdisobligingcaptain.Infact,Ipassedthenightinafeverofindignation,andonlyrecoveredmytemperwithdaylight.NeverthelessIwasdeterminedtohaveanexplanationwithCaptainLenGuyabouthisdetestableconduct.PerhapsIshouldfailtogetanythingoutofthathumanhedgehog,butatleastIshouldhavegivenhimapieceofmymind.

           Iwentoutateighto’clockinthemorning.Theweatherwasabominable.Rain,mixedwithsnow,astormcomingoverthemountainsatthebackofthebayfromthewest,cloudsscurryingdownfromthelowerzones,anavalancheofwindandwater.ItwasnotlikelythatCaptainLenGuyhadcomeashoremerelytoenjoysuchawettingandblowing.

           Nooneonthequay;ofcoursenot.Asformygettingon’boardtheHalbrane,thatcouldnotbedonewithouthailingoneofherboats,andtheboatswainwouldnotventuretosenditforme.

           “Besides,”Ireflected,“onhisquarter-deckthecaptainisathome,andneutralgroundisbetterforwhatIwanttosaytohim,ifhepersistsinhisunjustifiablerefusal.Iwillwatchhimthistime,andifhisboattouchesthequay,heshallnotsucceedinavoidingme.