Chapter XIX. Land?

           “Land”istheonlywordtobefoundatthebeginningofthenineteenthchapterofEdgarPoe’sbook.Ithoughtitwouldbeagoodidea—placingafteritanoteofinterrogation—toputitasaheadingtothisportionofournarrative.

           Didthatword,droppedfromourfore-masthead,indicateanislandoracontinent?And,whetheracontinentoranisland,didnotadisappointmentawaitus?Couldtheybetherewhomwehadcometoseek?AndArthurPym,whowasdead,unquestionablydead,inspiteofDirkPeters’assertions,hadheeversetfootonthisland?

           WhenthewelcomewordresoundedonboardtheJaneonthe17thJanuary,1828—(adayfullofincidentsaccordingtoArthurPym’sdiary)—itwassucceededby“Landonthestarboardbow!”SuchmighthavebeenthesignalfromthemastheadoftheHalbrane.

           Theoutlinesoflandlightlydrawnabovetheskylinewerevisibleonthisside.

           ThelandannouncedtothesailorsoftheJanewasthewildandbarrenBennetIslet.LessthanonedegreesouthofitlayTsalalIsland,thenfertile,habitableandinhabited,andonwhichCaptainLenGuyhadhopedtomeethisfellow-countrymen.Butwhatwouldthisunknownisland,fivedegreesfartheroffinthedepthsofthesouthernsea,beforourschooner?Wasitthegoalsoardentlydesiredandsoearnestlysoughtfor?Werethetwobrothers,WilliamandLenGuy,tomeetatthisplace.