Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter I. The Kerguelen Islands.
Thetakingofthoseamphibiousanimalseitheronlandorfromtheseaisprofitable,andmayleadtoatradewhichwillbringalargenumberofvesselsintothesewaters.
Onthedayalreadymentioned,Iwasaccostedwhilestrollingontheportbyminehostofmineinn.
“UnlessIammuchmistaken,timeisbeginningtoseemverylongtoyou,Mr.Jeorling?”
ThespeakerwasabigtallAmericanwhokepttheonlyinnontheport.
“Ifyouwillnotbeoffended,Mr.Atkins,IwillacknowledgethatIdofinditlong.”
“OfcourseIwon’tbeoffended.AmInotaswellusedtoanswersofthatkindastherocksoftheCapetotherollers?”
“Andyouresistthemequallywell.”
“Ofcourse.FromthedayofyourarrivalatChristmasHarbour,whenyoucametotheGreenCormorant,Isaidtomyselfthatinafortnight,ifnotinaweek,youwouldhaveenoughofit,andwouldbesorryyouhadlandedintheKerguelens.”
“No,indeed,Mr.Atkins;IneverregretanythingIhavedone.”
“That’sagoodhabit,sir.”
“Besides,Ihavegainedknowledgebyobservingcuriousthingshere.Ihavecrossedtherollingplains,coveredwithhardstringymosses,andIshalltakeawaycuriousmineralogicalandgeologicalspecimenswithme.Ihavegonesealing,andtakensea-calveswithyourpeople.Ihavevisitedtherookerieswherethepenguinandthealbatrosslivetogetheringoodfellowship,andthatwaswellworthmywhile.
