Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter V. Edgar Poe’s Romance
Throughthetrap-doorArthurPymreachedhishiding-place,whichwasahugewoodenchestwithaslidingsidetoit.Thischestcontainedamattress,blankets,ajarofwater,ship’sbiscuit,smokedsausage,aroastquarterofmutton,afewbottlesofcordialsandliqueurs,andalsowriting-materials.ArthurPym,suppliedwithalantern,candles,andtinder,remainedthreedaysandnightsinhisretreat.AugustusBarnardhadnotbeenabletovisithimuntiljustbeforetheGrampussetsail.
Anhourlater,ArthurPymbegantofeeltherollingandpitchingofthebrig.Hewasveryuncomfortableinthechest,sohegotoutofit,andinthedark,whileholdingonbyaropewhichwasstretchedacrosstheholdtothetrapofhisfriend’scabin,hewasviolentlysea-sickinthemidstofthechaos.Thenhecreptbackintohischest,ate,andfellasleep.
SeveraldayselapsedwithoutthereappearanceofAugustusBarnard.Eitherhehadnotbeenabletogetdownintotheholdagain,orhehadnotventuredtodoso,fearingtobetraythepresenceofArthurPym,andthinkingthemomentforconfessingeverythingtohisfatherhadnotyetcome.
ArthurPym,meanwhile,wasbeginningtosufferfromthehotandvitiatedatmosphereofthehold.Terriblenightmarestroubledhissleep.Hewasconsciousofraving,andinvainsoughtsomeplaceamidthemassofcargowherehemightbreathealittlemoreeasily.InoneofthesefitsofdeliriumheimaginedthathewasgrippedintheclawsofanAfricanlion,(1)andinaparoxysmofterrorhewasabouttobetrayhimselfbyscreaming,whenhelostconsciousness.
