Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter IV. From the Kerguelen Isles to Prince Edward Island
Thepersonalappearanceofthelieutenantwasasfollows:middleheight,slightlybuilt,allnervesandmuscles,stronglimbsasagileasthoseofagymnast,thetruesailor’s“look,”butofveryunusualfar-sightednessandsurprisingpenetration,sunburntface,hairthickandshort,beardlesscheeksandchin,regularfeatures,thewholeexpressiondenotingenergy,courage,andphysicalstrengthattheirutmosttension.
JamesWestspokebutrarely—onlywhenhewasquestioned.Hegavehisordersinaclearvoice,notrepeatingthem,butsoastobeheardatonce,andhewasunderstood.IcallattentiontothistypicalofficeroftheMerchantMarine,whowasdevotedbodyandsoultoCaptainLenGuyastotheschoonerHalbrane.Heseemedtobeoneoftheessentialorgansofhisship,andiftheHalbranehadaheartitwasinJamesWest’sbreastthatitbeat.
Thereisbutonemorepersontobementioned;theship’scook—anegrofromtheAfricancoastnamedEndicott,thirtyyearsofage,whohadheldthatpostforeightyears.Theboatswainandheweregreatfriends,andindulgedinfrequenttalks.
Lifeonboardwasveryregular,verysimple,anditsmonotonywasnotwithoutacertaincharm.Sailingisreposeinmovement,arockinginadream,andIdidnotdislikemyisolation.OfcourseIshouldhavelikedtofindoutwhyCaptainLenGuyhadchangedhismindwithrespecttome;buthowwasthistobedone?Toquestionthelieutenantwouldhavebeenlossoftime.
