United States or Tokelau ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
He began by saying: “I have not yet had the pleasure of a chat with you, Mr. Jeorling, since our departure from Tristan d’Acunha!” “To my regret, captain,” I replied, but with reserve, for I wanted him to make the running. “I beg you to excuse me,” he resumed, “I have so many things to occupy me and make me anxious.
Stationed at the port side, leaning my elbows on the bulwarks, I closely watched the sky line, broken only towards the east. At this moment the boatswain rejoined me, and without preface said: “Will you allow me to give you my opinion, Mr. Jeorling?” “Give it, boatswain,” I replied, “at the risk of my not adopting it if I don’t agree with it.”
“The only one yes at the start,” I insinuated. “But since the half-breed’s revelations about Arthur Pym ” “Ah! You are always harking back on that subject, like brave Dirk Peters.” “Always, Hurliguerly; and only that a deplorable and unforeseen accident made us run aground ” “I leave you to your delusions, Mr. Jeorling, since you believe you have run aground ” “Why? Is not this the case?”
The taking of those amphibious animals either on land or from the sea is profitable, and may lead to a trade which will bring a large number of vessels into these waters. On the day already mentioned, I was accosted while strolling on the port by mine host of mine inn. “Unless I am much mistaken, time is beginning to seem very long to you, Mr. Jeorling?”
Jeorling; we have been going these many years between Australia on the east and America on the west; from Hobart Town to the Kerguelens, to Tristan d’Acunha, to the Falklands, only taking time anywhere to sell our cargo, and sometimes dipping down into the Antarctic Sea.
The boatswain and his men did not lose the opportunity of killing several dozens of penguins with their sticks, not from a ruthless instinct of destruction, but from the legitimate desire to procure fresh food. “Their flesh is just as good as chicken, Mr. Jeorling,” said Hurliguerly. “Did you not eat penguin at the Kerguelens?” “Yes, boatswain, but it was cooked by Arkins.”
Jeorling,” exclaimed Hurliguerly, “and I fear indeed ” “What you also, boatswain you whom I believed to be so confident!” “Confidence, Mr. Jeorling, wears out like the ends of one’s trousers, What would you have me do?
Tell me, you have been talking with Captain Len Guy; have you spoken about me?” “Not yet, Mr. Jeorling. There’s plenty of time. The Halbrane has only just arrived, and ” “Yes, yes, I know. But you understand that I want to be certain as soon as possible.” “There’s nothing to fear. The matter will be all right. Besides, you would not be at a loss in any case.
At all events it was he who induced our captain, by talking of land to the south of Tsalal Island, to make this voyage, and it is owing to him that he has reached the eighty-sixth degree of latitude.” “That is quite true, boatswain.” “And so, Mr. Jeorling, I am always afraid that one of these days somebody will do Peters an ill turn.”
“I suppose you think, boatswain, that our case is less desperate than theirs?” “I do think so, Mr. Jeorling, and I have always thought so. If everything had been done as it was settled, and the lot had fallen to me to go with the boat, I would have given up my turn to one of the others. After all, there is something in feeling dry ground under our feet.
Word Of The Day