Chapter VII. Tristan D’Acunha

           Fourdayslater,theHalbranenearedthatcuriousislandofTristand’Acunha,whichmaybedescribedasthebigboileroftheAfricanseas.BythattimeIhadcometorealizethatthe“hallucination”ofCaptainLenGuywasatruth,andthatheandthecaptainoftheJane(alsoareality)wereconnectedwitheachotherbythisoceanwaiffromtheauthenticexpeditionofArthurPym.MylastdoubtswereburiedinthedepthsoftheoceanwiththebodyofPatterson.

           Andnow,whatwasCaptainLenGuygoingtodo?Therewasnotashadowofdoubtonthatpoint.HewouldtaketheHalbranetoTsalalIsland,asmarkeduponPatterson’snote-book.Hislieutenant,JamesWest,wouldgowhithersoeverhewasorderedtogo;hiscrewwouldnothesitatetofollowhim,andwouldnotbestoppedbyanyfearofpassingthelimitsassignedtohumanpower,forthesouloftheircaptainandthestrengthoftheirlieutenantwouldbeinthem.

           This,then,wasthereasonwhyCaptainLenGuyrefusedtotakepassengersonboardhisship,andwhyhehadtoldmethathisroutesneverwerecertain;hewasalwayshopingthatanopportunityforventuringintotheseaoficemightarise.Whocouldtellindeed,whetherhewouldnothavesailedforthesouthatoncewithoutputtinginatTristand’Acunha,ifhehadnotwantedwater?AfterwhatIhadsaidbeforeIwentonboardtheHalbrane,Ishouldhavehadnorighttoinsistonhisproceedingtotheislandforthesolepurposeofputtingmeashore.