Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XX. “Unmerciful Disaster“
Itisseldomthatashipissoroughlytreatedasourshasbeen,andIconsideritrealbadluck,afterourhavingprofitedbysuchfortunatecircumstances—”
“Thesecircumstancesareallover,Mr.Jeorling,”exclaimedHurliguerly,“andIfearindeed—”
“What—youalso,boatswain—youwhomIbelievedtobesoconfident!”
“Confidence,Mr.Jeorling,wearsoutliketheendsofone’strousers,Whatwouldyouhavemedo?WhenIcomparemylottooldAtkins,installedinhiscosyinn;whenIthinkoftheGreenCormorant,ofthebigparloursdownstairswiththelittletablesroundwhichfriendssipwhiskyandgin,discussingthenewsoftheday,whilethestovemakesmorenoisethantheweathercockontheroof—oh,thenthecomparisonisnotinourfavour,andinmyopinionMr.AtkinsenjoyslifebetterthanIdo.”
“Youshallseethemallagain,boatswain—Atkins,theGreenCormorant,andKerguelen!ForGod’ssakedonotletyourselfgrowdownhearted!Andifyou,asensibleandcourageousman,despairalready—”
“Oh,ifIweretheonlyoneitwouldnotbehalfsobadasitis!”
“Thewholecrewdoesnotdespair,surely?”
“Yes—andno,”repliedHurliguerly,“forIknowsomewhoarenotatallsatisfied!”
“HasHearnebegunhismischiefagain?Isheexcitinghiscompanion?”
“Notopenlyatleast,Mr.Jeorling,andsinceIhavekepthimundermyeyeIhaveneitherseennorheardanything.Besides,heknowswhatawaitshimifhebudges.
