Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XIX. Land?
WouldtheHalbranecometheretotheendofavoyagewhosesuccesswouldbedefinitelysecuredbytherestorationofthesurvivorsoftheJanetotheircountry?
IrepeatthatIwasjustlikethehalf-breed.Ouraimwasnotmerelytodiscoverthesurvivors,norwassuccessinthismattertheonlysuccesswelookedfor.However,sincelandwasbeforeoureyes,wemustgetnearertoitfirst.
Thatcryof”Land”causedanimmediatediversionofourthoughts.InolongerdweltuponthesecretDirkPetershadjusttoldme—andperhapsthehalf-breedforgotitalso,forherushedtothebowandfixedhiseyesimmovablyonthehorizon.AsforWest,whomnothingcoulddivertfromhisduty,herepeatedhiscommands.Gratiancametotakethehelm,andHearnewasshutupinthehold.
Onthewholethiswasajustpunishment,andnoneoftheoldcrewprotestedagainstit,forHearne’sinattentionorawkwardnesshadreallyendangeredtheschooner,forashorttimeonly.
FiveorsixoftheFalklandssailorsdid,however,murmuralittle.
Asignfromthematesilencedthem,andtheyreturnedatoncetotheirposts.
Needlesstosay,CaptainLenGuy,uponhearingthecryofthelook-outman,hadtumbledupfromhiscabin:andeagerlyexaminedthislandattenortwelvemilesdistance.
AsIhavesaid,IwasnolongerthinkingaboutthesecretDirkPetershadconfidedtome.Besides,solongasthesecretremainedbetweenustwo—andneitherwouldbetrayit—therewouldbenothingtofear.
