Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter IV. From the Kerguelen Isles to Prince Edward Island
HehadconceivedthenotionthathewasofkintotheunfortunatecaptainoftheJane!Andthishadbroughthimtohispresentstate,thiswasthesourceofhispassionatepityforthefateoftheimaginaryshipwreckedmariners!
ItwouldhavebeeninterestingtodiscoverwhetherJamesWestwasawareofthestateofthecase,whetherhischiefhadevertalkedtohimofthefollieshehadrevealedtome.Butthiswasadelicatequestion,sinceitinvolvedthementalconditionofCaptainLenGuy;andbesides,anykindofconversationwiththelieutenantwasdifficult.OnthewholeIthoughtitsafertorestrainmycuriosity.InafewdaystheschoonerwouldreachTristand’Acunha,andIshouldpartwithherandhercaptainforgoodandall.Never,however,couldIlosetherecollectionthatIhadactuallymetandsailedwithamanwhotookthefictionsofEdgarPoe’sromanceforsoberfact.NevercouldIhavelookedforsuchanexperience!
Onthe22ndofAugusttheoutlineofPrinceEdward’sIslandwassighted,southlatitude46°55’,and37°46’eastlongitude.Wewereinsightoftheislandfortwelvehours,andthenitwaslostintheeveningmists.
OnthefollowingdaytheHalbraneheadedinthedirectionofthenorth-west,towardsthemostnorthernparallelofthesouthernhemispherewhichshehadtoattaininthecourseofthatvoyage.
