Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter IV. From the Kerguelen Isles to Prince Edward Island
“Ofwhomdoyouspeak?”
“OfthecaptainandcrewoftheEnglishschoonerwhichpickedupArthurPymandDirkPetersafterthefrightfulshipwreckoftheGrampus,andbroughtthemacrossthePolarSeatoTsalalIsland—”
“Captain,”saidI,justasthoughIentertainednodoubtoftheauthenticityofEdgarPoe’sromance,“isitnotthecasethatallthesemenperished,someintheattackontheschooner,theothersbytheinfernaldeviceofthenativesofTsalal?”
“Whocantell?”repliedthecaptaininavoicehoarsefromemotion.“Whocansaybutthatsomeoftheunfortunatecreaturessurvived,andcontrivedtoescapefromthenatives?”
“Inanycase,”Ireplied,“itwouldbedifficulttoadmitthatthosewhohadsurvivedcouldstillbeliving.”
“Andwhy?”
“Becausethefactswearediscussingareelevenyearsold.”
“Sir,”repliedthecaptain,“sinceArthurPymandDirkPeterswereabletoadvancebeyondTsalalIslandfartherthantheeighty-thirdparallel,sincetheyfoundmeansoflivinginthemidstofthoseAntarcticlands,whyshouldnottheircompanions,iftheywerenotallkilledbythenatives,iftheyweresofortunateastoreachtheneighbouringislandssightedduringthevoyage—whyshouldnotthoseunfortunatecountrymenofminehavecontrivedtolivethere?Whyshouldtheynotstillbethere,awaitingtheirdeliverance?”
“Yourpityleadsyouastray,captain,”Ireplied.“Itwouldbeimpossible.
