An Antarctic Mystery | Page 4

considerable and considered man in the
archipelago--consequently he secured the best listeners. The matter in
dispute was whether the schooner in sight was or was not the Halbrane.
The majority maintained that she was not, but Atkins was positive she
was, although on this occasion he had only two backers.
The dispute was carried on with warmth, the host of the Green
Cormorant defending his view, and the dissentients maintaining that the
fast-approaching schooner was either English or American, until she
was near enough to hoist her flag and the Union Jack went fluttering up
into the sky. Shortly after the Halbrane lay at anchor in the middle of
Christmas Harbour.
The captain of the Habrane, who received the demonstrative greeting
of Atkins very coolly, it seemed to me, was about forty-five, red-faced,

and solidly built, like his schooner; his head was large, his hair was
already turning grey, his black eyes shone like coals of fire under his
thick eyebrows, and his strong white teeth were set like rocks in his
powerful jaws; his chin was lengthened by a coarse red beard, and his
arms and legs were strong and firm. Such was Captain Len Guy, and he
impressed me with the notion that he was rather impassive than hard, a
shut-up sort of person, whose secrets it would not be easy to get at. I
was told the very same day that my impression was correct, by a person
who was better informed than Atkins, although the latter pretended to
great intimacy with the captain. The truth was that nobody had
penetrated that reserved nature.
I may as well say at once that the person to whom I have alluded was
the boatswain of the Halbrane, a man named Hurliguerly, who came
from the Isle of Wight. This person was about forty-four, short, stout,
strong, and bow-legged; his arms stuck out from his body, his head was
set like a ball on a bull neck, his chest was broad enough to hold two
pairs of lungs (and he seemed to want a double supply, for he was
always puffing, blowing, and talking), he had droll roguish eyes, with a
network of wrinkles under them. A noteworthy detail was an ear-ring,
one only, which hung from the lobe of his left ear. What a contrast to
the captain of the schooner, and how did two such dissimilar beings
contrive to get on together? They had contrived it, somehow, for they
had been at sea in each other's company for fifteen years, first in the
brig Power, which had been replaced by the schooner Halbrane, six
years before the beginning of this story.
Atkins had told Hurliguerly on his arrival that I would take passage on
the Halbrane, if Captain Len Guy consented to my doing so, and the
boatswain presented himself on the following morning without any
notice or introduction. He already knew my name, and he accosted me
as follows:
"Mr. Jeorling, I salute you."
"I salute you in my turn, my friend. What do you want?"
"To offer you my services."

"On what account?"
"On account of your intention to embark on the Halbrane."
"Who are you?"
"I am Hurliguerly, the boatswain of the Halbrane, and besides, I am the
faithful companion of Captain Len Guy, who will listen to me willingly,
although he has the reputation of not listening to anybody."
"Well, my friend, let us talk, if you are not required on board just now."
"I have two hours before me, Mr. Jeorling. Besides, there's very little to
be done to-day. If you are free, as I am--"
He waved his hand towards the port.
"Cannot we talk very well here?" I observed.
"Talk, Mr. Jeorling, talk standing up, and our throats dry, when it is so
easy to sit down in a corner of the Green Cormorant in front of two
glasses of whisky."
"I don't drink."
"Well, then, I'll drink for both of us. Oh! don't imagine you are dealing
with a sot! No! never more than is good for me, but always as much!"
I followed the man to the tavern, and while Atkins was busy on the
deck of the ship, discussing the prices of his purchases and sales, we
took our places in the eating room of his inn. And first I said to
Hurliguerly: "It was on Atkins that I reckoned to introduce me to
Captain Len Guy, for he knows him very intimately, if I am not
mistaken."
"Pooh! Atkins is a good sort, and the captain has an esteem for him.
But he can't do what I can. Let me act for you, Mr. Jeorling."
"Is it so difficult a matter to arrange, boatswain, and is there not a cabin

on board the Halbrane? The smallest would do for me,