Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter IX. Fitting out the Halbrane
”
“Isityes?”
“Itisyes,ifthemansuitsme.”
“Willyoutakeme?”
“Youareaseaman?”
“Ihaveservedtheseafortwenty-fiveyears."
“Where?”
“IntheSouthernSeas.”
“Far?”
“Yes,far,far.”
“Yourage?”
“Forty-fouryears.”
“AndyouareatPortEgmont?”
“Ishallhavebeentherethreeyears,comeChristmas.”
“Didyouexpecttogetonapassingwhale-ship?”
“No.”
“Thenwhatwereyoudoinghere?”
“Nothing,andIdidnotthinkofgoingtoseaagain.”
“Thenwhyseekaberth?”
“Justanidea.Thenewsoftheexpeditionyourschoonerisgoingonwasspread.Idesire,yes,Idesiretotakepartinit—withyourleave,ofcourse.”
“YouareknownatPortEgmont?”
“Wellknown,andIhaveincurrednoreproachsinceIcamehere.”
“Verywell,”saidthecaptain.“Iwillmakeinquiryrespectingyou.”
“Inquire,captain,andifyousayyes,mybagshallbeonboardthisevening.”
“Whatisyourname?”
“Hunt.”
“Andyouare—?”
“AnAmerican.”
ThisHuntwasamanofshortstature,hisweatherbeatenfacewasbrickred,hisskinofayellowish-brownlikeanIndian’s,hisbodyclumsy,hisheadverylarge,hislegswerebowed,hiswholeframedenotedexceptionalstrength,especiallythearms,whichterminatedinhugehands.
