Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XXII. In Camp
Iwasabouttofollowthemwhenthefollowingwordsarrestedmysteps.
Thehalf-breed,overpoweredbynumbers,hadbeenknockeddown,andatthismomentMartinHolt,ingratitudetothemanwhosavedhislife,wasrushingtohisaid,butHearnecalledouttohim,—
“Leavethefellowalone,andcomewithus!”
MartinHolthesitated.
“Yes,leavehimalone,Isay;leaveDirkPeters,theassassinofyourbrother,alone.”
“Theassassinofmybrother!”
“Yourbrother,killedonboardtheGrampus—”
“Killed!byDirkPeters?”
“Yes!Killedandeaten—eaten—eaten!”repeatedHearne,whopronouncedthehatefulwordswithakindofhowl.
Andthen,atasignfromHearne,twoofhiscomradesseizedMartinHoltanddraggedhimintotheboat.Hearnewasinstantlyfollowedbyallthosewhomhehadinducedtojoininthiscriminaldeed.
AtthatmomentDirkPetersrosefromtheground,andsprangupononeoftheFalklandsmenashewasintheactofsteppingontheplatformoftheboat,liftedhimupbodily,hurledhimroundhisheadanddashedhisbrainsoutagainstarock.
Inaninstantthehalf-breedfell,shotintheshoulderbyabulletfromHearne’spistol,andtheboatwaspushedoff.
ThenCaptainLenGuyandWestcameoutofthecavern—thewholescenehadpassedinlessthanaminute—andrandowntothepoint,whichtheyreachedtogetherwiththeboatswain,Hardy,Francis,andStern
