Chapter III. Captain Len Guy
Isleptill.AgainandagainI“dreamedthatIwasdreaming.”Now—thisisanobservationmadebyEdgarPoe—whenonesuspectsthatoneisdreaming,thewakingcomesalmostinstantly.Iwokethen,andeverytimeinaverybadhumourwithCaptainLenGuy.TheideaofleavingtheKerguelensontheHalbranehadfullpossessionofme,andIgrewmoreandmoreangrywithherdisobligingcaptain.Infact,Ipassedthenightinafeverofindignation,andonlyrecoveredmytemperwithdaylight.NeverthelessIwasdeterminedtohaveanexplanationwithCaptainLenGuyabouthisdetestableconduct.PerhapsIshouldfailtogetanythingoutofthathumanhedgehog,butatleastIshouldhavegivenhimapieceofmymind.
Iwentoutateighto’clockinthemorning.Theweatherwasabominable.Rain,mixedwithsnow,astormcomingoverthemountainsatthebackofthebayfromthewest,cloudsscurryingdownfromthelowerzones,anavalancheofwindandwater.ItwasnotlikelythatCaptainLenGuyhadcomeashoremerelytoenjoysuchawettingandblowing.
Nooneonthequay;ofcoursenot.Asformygettingon’boardtheHalbrane,thatcouldnotbedonewithouthailingoneofherboats,andtheboatswainwouldnotventuretosenditforme.
“Besides,”Ireflected,“onhisquarter-deckthecaptainisathome,andneutralgroundisbetterforwhatIwanttosaytohim,ifhepersistsinhisunjustifiablerefusal.Iwillwatchhimthistime,andifhisboattouchesthequay,heshallnotsucceedinavoidingme.
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