Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter IV. From the Kerguelen Isles to Prince Edward Island
Iconcludedthereforethatthemonotonyofourvoyagewouldcontinueunbrokentotheend.But,onthemorningofthe20thofAugust,tomyextremesurprise,CaptainLenGuycameondeck,approachedme,andsaid,speakingverylow,—
”Sir,Ihavesomethingtosaytoyou.”
“Iamreadytohearyou,captain.”
“Ihavenotspokenuntilto-day,forIamnaturallytaciturn.”Herehehesitatedagain,butafterapause,continuedwithaneffort,—
“Mr.Jeorling,haveyoutriedtodiscovermyreasonforchangingmymindonthesubjectofyourpassage?”
“Ihavetried,butIhavenotsucceeded,captain.Perhaps,asIamnotacompatriotofyours,you—”
“ItispreciselybecauseyouareanAmericanthatIdecidedintheendtoofferyouapassageontheHalbrane.”
“BecauseIamanAmerican?”
“Also,becauseyoucomefromConnecticut.”
“Idon’tunderstand.”
“YouwillunderstandifIaddthatIthoughtitpossible,sinceyoubelongtoConnecticut,sinceyouhavevisitedNantucketIsland,thatyoumighthaveknownthefamilyofArthurGordonPym.”
“TheheroofEdgarPoe’sromance?”
“Thesame.HisnarrativewasfoundeduponthemanuscriptinwhichthedetailsofthatextraordinaryanddisastrousvoyageacrosstheAntarcticSeawasrelated.”
IthoughtImustbedreamingwhenIheardCaptainLenGuy’swords.EdgarPoe’sromancewasnothingbutafiction,aworkofimaginationbythemostbrilliantofourAmericanwriters.
