Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter V. Edgar Poe’s Romance
ThendidArthurPym(whosepresenceonboardthemutineerscouldnotsuspect)conceivetheideaofatrickwhichhadsomechanceofsucceeding.Thebodyofthepoisonedsailorwasstilllyingonthedeck;hethoughtitlikely,ifheweretoputonthedeadman’sclothesandappearsuddenlyinthemidstofthosesuperstitioussailors,thattheirterrorwouldplacethematthemercyofDirkPeters.Itwasstilldarkwhenthehalf-breedwentsoftlytowardstheship’sstern,and,exertinghisprodigiousstrengthtotheutmost,threwhimselfuponthemanatthewheelandflunghimoverthepoop.
AugustusBarnardandArthurPymjoinedhiminstantly,eacharmedwithabelaying-pin.LeavingDirkPetersintheplaceofthesteersman,ArthurPym,sodisguisedastopresenttheappearanceofthedeadman,andhiscomrade,postedthemselvesclosetotheheadoftheforecastlegangway.Themate,theship’scook,alltheotherswerethere,somesleeping,theothersdrinkingortalking;gunsandpistolswerewithinreachoftheirhands.
Thetempestragedfuriously;itwasimpossibletostandonthedeck.
AtthatmomentthemategavetheorderforAugustusBarnardandDirkPeterstobebroughttotheforecastle.Thisorderwastransmittedtothemanatthehelm,nootherthanDirkPeters,whowentdown,accompaniedbyAugustusBarnard,andalmostsimultaneouslyArthurPymmadehisappearance.
Theeffectoftheapparitionwasprodigious.Themate,terrifiedonbeholdingtheresuscitatedsailor,sprangup,beattheairwithhishands,andfelldowndead.
