Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter VII. Tristan D’Acunha
IperfectlyrecallthisWilliamGuy,asifhewerebeforeme.Hewasafine,open-heartedfellow,andIsoldhimacargoofseal-skins.Hehadtheairofagentleman,ratherproud,butgood-natured.”
“AndtheJane!”
“IcanseehernowathermooringsinthesameplaceastheHalbrane.Shewasahandsomevesselofonehundredandeightytons,veryslenderfor’ards.ShebelongedtotheportofLiverpool.”
“Yes;thatistrue,allthatistrue.”
“AndistheJanestillafloat,Mr.Jeorling?”
“No,Mr.Glass.”
“Wasshelost?”
“Thefactisonlytootrue,andthegreaterpartofhercrewwithher.”
“Willyoutellmehowthishappened?”
“Willingly.OnleavingTristand’AcunhatheJaneheadedforthebearingsoftheAuroraandotherislands,whichWilliamGuyhopedtorecognizefrominformation—”
“Thatcamefromme,”interruptedtheex-corporal.“Andthoseotherislands,mayIlearnwhethertheJanediscoveredthem?”
“No,northeAuroraseither,althoughWilliamGuyremainedseveralweeksinthosewaters,runningfromeasttowest,withalook-outalwaysatthemasthead.”
“Hemusthavelosthisbearings,Mr.Jeorling,for,ifseveralwhalers,whowerewelldeservingofcredit,aretobebelieved,theseislandsdoexist,anditwasevenproposedtogivethemmyname.”
“Thatwouldhavebeenbutjust,”Irepliedpolitely.
