Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XX. “Unmerciful Disaster“
Thewretchedmannotbeingabletocatchholdofanything,wouldhavereboundedintotheseahadnotHearneseizedhim.
Owingtothehalf-breed’sinterventiontherevoltwasinstantlyquelled.Besides,wewerecominguptotheboat,andwithusthoseofourmenwhosehesitationhadnotlastedlong.
Nomatter.Theotherswerestillthirteentoourten.CaptainLenGuymadehisappearance;angershoneinhiseyes,andwithhimwasWest,quiteunmoved.Wordsfailedthecaptainforsomemoments,buthislookssaidwhathistonguecouldnotutter.Atlength,inaterriblevoice,hesaid,—
“Ioughttotreatyouasevil-doers;however,Iwillonlyconsideryouasmadmen!Theboatbelongstoeverybody.Itisnowouronlymeansofsalvation,andyouwantedtostealit—tostealitlikecowards!ListenattentivelytowhatIsayforthelasttime!Thisboat,belongingtotheHalbrane,isnowtheHalbraneherself!Iamthecaptainofit,andlethimwhodisobeysme,beware!”
WiththeselastwordsCaptainLenGuylookedatHearne,forwhomthiswarningwasexpresslymeant.Thesealing-masterhadnotappearedinthelastscene,notopenlyatleast,butnobodydoubtedthathehadurgedhiscomradestomakeoffwiththeboat,andthathehadeveryintentionofdoingthesameagain.
“Nowtothecamp,”saidthecaptain,“andyou,DirkPeters,remainhere!”
Thehalf-breed’sonlyreplywastonodhisbigheadandbetakehimselftohispost.
Thecrewreturnedtothecampwithouttheleasthesitation.
