An Antarctic Mystery

every time in a very bad humour with Captain Len Guy. The idea of leaving the Kerguelens on the Halbrane had full possession of me, and I grew more and more angry with her disobliging captain. In f

t of that human hedgehog, but at least I

r the mountains at the back of the bay from the west, clouds scurrying down from the lower zones, an avalanche of

the Halbrane, that could not be done without hailing one of h

better for what I want to say to him, if he persists in his unjustifiable refusal. I will w

s wore away thus. Then, with the instability of the winds in the Kerguelens, the weather became calm before I did. I opened my window, and at the same moment a sailor stepped into one of the boats of t

was out of the inn,

I in a col

struck by the sadness of his eyes, which were a

e a str

at the Kergu

ish nati

Ameri

and I returned

as spoken to you respecting a proposal of mine. That proposal, i

assage on my ship?" int

cise

ret that I could not

ou tell

abit of taking passengers.

second,

nother, just as I find it to my advantage. You must know that I am not in the service of a shipowner.

depends on you to

nly answer you by a refu

I care very little what the destination of your schooner may b

at Captain Len Guy threw a long

rence to me. What I desired above all was to get away fr

e remained in silent thought, but di

honour to listen to me

s,

route of your ship has not been altered, it was your int

haps for the Cape, perhaps for the

ewhere that I want to go," I replied ironical

lain words he made me understand that it was quite useless to insist, that our interview had already lasted too long, t

term-and the conversation, ill begun, seemed likely to end still more

t otherwise. In the course of the voyage of the Halbrane some unforeseen incident might occur to make the presence of a passenger inconve

a and to Connecticut, I don't care whether I get there in three months or in six, or by what

with a question in his tone. And his look sear

he Antarctic seas?" he

an Irish poet has made Sebastian Cabot address some lovely verses to his

isten in his eyes. Then, as though he would escape from some

ture to seek t

e of no practical use," I replied. "Nevertheless there are m

is the word!" mut

n making an attempt with Wilkes's fleet, the Van

to say that an expedition has been sent by t

that the vessels had sailed. That was a year ago, and it is very possi

silence, and came out of his inexp

rom Connect

Connec

re spec

Provid

ow Nantuck

ited it sev

my eyes, "that Nantucket Island was the birthplace of Arthur

at Poe's romance st

ay? That was th

tedly,

sal. But, at any rate, you will only have a few days to wait. The season is about to open. Trading ships and whalers will put in at Christmas Ha

nd the interview ended differently from what I had expe

ued to feel angry with her intractable captain. And why should I not confess that my curiosity was aroused? I fel

captain's obstinate refusal. And-a fact which touched him more nearly-the Green Cormorant had not been visited by either Len Guy or his crew since the arrival of the Halbrane. The men were evidently acting upon orders. So far as Hurliguerly was concerned, it

er went on briskly; but all this was done with regularity, and without such noise and quarrelling as seamen at anchor us

made up my mind to the disappointment, and had no longer any angry feeling about it. When Captain Len Guy and myself met on the quay, we took no notice of each other; nevertheles

, walking briskly too, for it was cold, although dry weather. The sky was studded with stars and the air was very keen. I could not stay out lon

he Halbrane sails to-morrow

lling me that," I repli

if you have not changed your min

ied, "I did not expect th

dd that the Halbrane shall proceed direct to T

-morrow morning, at seven o

bin is p

t of the

answered the captain, "and to your

to-mo

aps he did not perceive my movement in the darkness, at all events he

im in the eating-room of the Green Cormorant and told him

hims as a spoilt child! It is to be hoped he wi

on accompanying me to the ship, partly in order to make his mind easy respecting the sincerity of the captain's repentance, and partl

inly as speech: "Ha! you see now. Our hard-to-manage captain has given in at last. And to whom do you ow

ong reasons for doubting it.

oard the

arrival; this was not surprising, except for the

d the captain and sai

l meet n

ease God,

n took a hearty leave of the innkee

hich rise, the former to two, the other to three thousand fe

D'Arcy Mc