Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XX. “Unmerciful Disaster“
IbelieveIamnotmistaken,theslydoghaschangedhistactics.Butwhatdoesnotastonishmeinhim,astonishesmeinMartinHolt.”
“Whatdoyoumean,boatswain?”
“Thattheyseemtobeongoodtermswitheachother.SeehowHearneseeksoutMartinHolt,talkstohimfrequently,andHoltdoesnottreathisoverturesunfavourably.’’
“MartinHoltisnotoneofthosewhowouldlistentoHearne’sadvice,orfollowitifhetriedtoprovokerebellionamongstthecrew.”
“Nodoubt,Mr.Jeorling.However,Idon’tfancyseeingthemsomuchtogether.Hearneisadangerousandunscrupulousindividual,andmostlikelyMartinHoltdoesnotdistrusthimsufficiently.”
“Heiswrong,boatswain.”
“And—waitamoment—doyouknowwhattheyweretalkingabouttheotherdaywhenIoverheardafewscrapsoftheirconversation?”
“Icouldnotpossiblyguessuntilyoutellme,Hurliguerly.
“Well,whiletheywereconversingonthebridgeoftheHalbrane,IheardthemtalkingaboutDirkPeters,andHearnewassaying:‘Youmustnotoweagrudgetothehalf-breed,MasterHolt,becauseherefusedtorespondtoyouradvancesandacceptyourthanks!Ifhebeonlyasortofbrute,hepossessesplentyofcourage,andhasshoweditingettingyououtofabadcornerattheriskofhislife.Andbesides,donotforgetthatheformedpartofthecrewoftheGrampusandyourbrotherNed,ifIdon’tmistake—’“
“Hesaidthat,boatswain;hespokeoftheGrampus!”Iexclaimed.
