Дни грёз
A Saga Of The Seas
Afriendortwoofmyownage,fromamongtheboysIknew;afriendortwofromcharactersinthebooksIknew;andafriendortwofromNo-man’s-land,whereeveryfellow’sabornsailor;andthecrewwascomplete.Iaddressedthemonthepoop,dividedthemintowatches,gaveinstructionsIshouldbesummonedonthefirstsignofpirates,whales,orFrenchmen,andretiredbelowtoawell-earnedspellofrelaxation.
ThatwastherightsortofcabinthatIsteppedinto,shuttingthedoorbehindmewithaclick.Ofcourse,fire-armswerethefirstthingIlookedfor,andtheretheywere,sureenough,intheirracks,dozensof’em—double-barrelledguns,andrepeating-rifles,andlongpistols,andshinyplatedrevolvers.Irangupthestewardandorderedtea,withscones,andjaminitsnativepots—noneofyourfinickingshallowglassdishes;and,whenproperlystreakedwithjam,andblownoutwithtea,Iwentthroughthearmoury,clickedtheriflesandrevolvers,testedtheedgesofthecutlasseswithmythumb,andfilledthecartridge-beltschock-full.Everythingwasthere,andofthebestquality,justasifIhadspentawholefortnightknockingaboutPlymouthandorderingthings.Clearly,ifthiscruisecametogrief,itwouldnotbeforwantofequipment.
JustasIwasbeginningonthelockersandthedrawers,thewatchreportedicebergsonbothbows—and,whatwasmoretothepoint,coveysofPolarbearsontheicebergs.Igraspedarifleortwo,andhastenedondeck.Thespectaclewasindeedmagnificent—itgenerallyis,withicebergsonbothbows,andthesewereexceptionallyenormousicebergs.
