Part 6 (1/2)
On the 2lst of October, Captain Len Guy said to lected to ensure the success of our enterprise Everything that can be foreseen has been foreseen, and if the Halbrane is to perish in some catastrophe, it will be because it is not perns of God”
”I have good hopes, captain, as I have already said Your vessel and her crew are worthy of confidence But, supposing the expedition should be ed, perhaps the supply of provisions--”
”We shall carry sufficient for two years, and those shall be of good quality Port Eg we require”
”Put it, Mr Jeorling, put it”
”Shall you not need a h for the working of the shi+p, suppose you find you have to attack or to defend in the Antarctic waters? Let us not forget that, according to Arthur Pym's narrative, there were thousands of natives on Tsalal Island, and if your brother--if his co, our artillery will protect the Halbrane better than the Jane was protected by her guns To tell the truth, the cree have would not be sufficient for an expedition of this kind I have been arranging for recruiting our forces”
”Will it be difficult?”
”Yes and no; for the Governor has promised to help me”
”I surer pay”
”Double pay, Mr Jeorling, and the whole crew must have the same”
”You know, captain, I am disposed, and, indeed, desirous to contribute to the expenses of the expedition Will you kindly considcr ed, Mr Jeorling, and I arateful to you The main point is to complete our armament with the least possible delay We must be ready to clear out in a week”
The news that the schooner was bound for the Antarctic seas had produced somont, and in the ports of La Soledad At that season a nu of the whaling-shi+ps to offer their services, for which they were vcry well paid in general If it had been only for a fishi+ng can on the borders of tile Polar Circle, between the Sandwich Islands and New Georgia, Captain Len Guy would have e was a very different thing; and only the old sailors of the Halbrane were entirely indifferent to the dangers of such an enterprise, and ready to follow their chief whithersoever it o
In reality it was necessary to treble the crew of the schooner Counting the captain, the mate, the boatswain, the cook and myself, ere thirteen on board Now, thirty-two or thirty-four men would not be too many for us, and it ht on board the Jane
In this eency the Governor exerted hiely-extra pay that was offered, Captain Len Guy procured his full tale of seaned articles for the duration of the can, which could not be fixed beforehand, but was not to extend beyond Tsalal Island
The crew, counting every man on board except myself, numbered thirty-one, and a thirty-second for whom I bespeak especial attention On the eve of our departure, Captain Len Guy was accosted at the angle of the port by an indlvidual whonized as a sailor by his clothes, his walk, and his speech
This individual said, in a rough and hardly intelligible voice,-- ”Captain, I have to make a proposal to you”
”What is it?”
”Have you still a place?”
”For a sailor?”
”For a sailor”
”Yes and no”
”Is it yes?”
”It is yes, if the man suits me”
”Will you take me?”
”You are a seaman?”
”I have served the sea for twenty-five years?”
”Where?”
”In the Southern Seas,”
”Far?”
”Yes, far, far”
”Your age?”
”Forty-four years”
”And you are at Port Egmont?”
”I shall have been there three years, co whale-shi+p?”
”No”
”Then ere you doing here?”
”Nothing, and I did not think of going to sea again”
”Then why seek a berth?”
”Just an idea The news of the expedition your schooner is going on was spread I desire, yes, I desire to take part in it--with your leave, of course”
”You are known at Port Egmont?”
”Well known, and I have incurred no reproach since I came here”
”Very well,” said the captain ”I willyou”
”Inquire, captain, and if you say yes, ”