Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter IX. Fitting out the Halbrane
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“ShallyounotneedamorenumerouscrewfortheHalbrane?Thoughyouhavemenenoughfortheworkingoftheship,supposeyoufindyouhavetoattackortodefendintheAntarcticwaters?Letusnotforgetthat,accordingtoArthurPym’snarrative,therewerethousandsofnativesonTsalalIsland,andifyourbrother—ifhiscompanionsareprisoners—”
“Ihope,Mr.Jeorling,ourartillerywillprotecttheHalbranebetterthantheJanewasprotectedbyherguns.Totellthetruth,thecrewwehavewouldnotbesufficientforanexpeditionofthiskind.Ihavebeenarrangingforrecruitingourforces.”
“Willitbedifficult?”
“Yesandno;fortheGovernorhaspromisedtohelpme.”
“Isurmise,captain,thatrecruitswillhavetobeattractedbylargerpay.”
“Doublepay,Mr.Jeorling,andthewholecrewmusthavethesame.”
“Youknow,captain,Iamdisposed,and,indeed,desiroustocontributetotheexpensesoftheexpedition.Willyoukindlyconsidermeasyourpartner?”
“Allthatshallbearranged,Mr.Jeorling,andIamverygratefultoyou.Themainpointistocompleteourarmamentwiththeleastpossibledelay.Wemustbereadytoclearoutinaweek.”
ThenewsthattheschoonerwasboundfortheAntarcticseashadproducedsomesensationintheFalklands,atPortEgmont,andintheportsofLaSoledad.Atthatseasonanumberofunoccupiedsailorswerethere,awaitingthepassingofthewhaling-shipstooffertheirservices,forwhichtheywereverywellpaidingeneral.
