An Antarctic Mystery | Page 5

and I will
pay--"
"All right, Mr. Jeorling! There is a cabin, which has never been used,
and since you don't mind putting your hand in your pocket if
required--however--between ourselves--it will take somebody sharper
than you think, and who isn't good old Atkins, to induce Captain Len
Guy to take a passenger. Yes, indeed, it will take all the smartness of
the good fellow who now drinks to your health, regretting that you
don't return the compliment!"
What a wink it was that accompanied this sentiment! And then the man
took a short black pipe out of the pocket of his jacket, and smoked like
a steamer in full blast.
"Mr. Hurliguery?" said I.
"Mr. Jeorling."
"Why does your captain object to taking me on his ship?"
"Because he does not intend to take anybody on board his ship. He
never has taken a passenger."
"But, for what reason, I ask you."
"Oh! because he wants to go where he likes, to turn about if he pleases
and go the other way without accounting for his motives to anybody.
He never leaves these southern seas, Mr. Jeorling; we have been going
these many years between Australia on the east and America on the
west; from Hobart Town to the Kerguelens, to Tristan d'Acunha, to the
Falklands, only taking time anywhere to sell our cargo, and sometimes
dipping down into the Antarctic Sea. Under these circumstances, you
understand, a passenger might be troublesome, and besides, who would
care to embark on the Halbrane? she does not like to flout the breezes,
and goes wherever the wind drives her."
"The Halbrane positively leaves the Kerguelens in four days?"

"Certainly."
"And this time she will sail westward for Tristan d'Acunha?"
"Probably."
"Well, then, that probability will be enough for me, and since you offer
me your services, get Captain Len Guy to accept me as a passenger."
"It's as good as done."
"All right, Hurliguerly, and you shall have no reason to repent of it."
"Eh! Mr. Jeorling," replied this singular mariner, shaking his head as
though he had just come out of the sea, "I have never repented of
anything, and I know well that I shall not repent of doing you a service.
Now, if you will allow me, I shall take leave of you, without waiting
for Arkins to return, and get on board."
With this, Hurliguerly swallowed his last glass of whisky at a gulp--I
thought the glass would have gone down with the liquor--bestowed a
patronizing smile on me, and departed.
An hour later, I met the innkeeper on the port, and told him what had
occurred.
"Ah! that Hurliguerly!" said he, "always the old story. If you were to
believe him, Captain Len Guy wouldn't blow his nose without
consulting him. He's a queer fellow, Mr. Jeorling, not bad, not stupid,
but a great hand at getting hold of dollars or guineas! If you fall into his
hands, mind your purse, button up your pocket, and don't let yourself
be done."
"Thanks for your advice, Atkins. Tell me, you have been talking with
Captain Len Guy; have you spoken about me?"
"Not yet, Mr. Jeorling. There's plenty of time. The Halbrane has only
just arrived, and--"

"Yes, yes, I know. But you understand that I want to be certain as soon
as possible."
"There's nothing to fear. The matter will be all right. Besides, you
would not be at a loss in any case. When the fishing season comes,
there will be more ships in Christmas Harbour than there are houses
around the Green Cormorant. Rely on me. I undertake your getting a
passage."
Now, these were fair words, but, just as in the case of Hurliguerly, there
was nothing in them. So, notwithstanding the fine promises of the two,
I resolved to address myself personally to Len Guy, hard to get at
though he might be, so soon as I should meet him alone.
The next day, in the afternoon, I saw him on the quay, and approached
him. It was plain that he would have preferred to avoid me. It was
impossible that Captain Len Guy, who knew every dweller in the place,
should not have known that I was a stranger, even supposing that
neither of my would-be patrons had mentioned me to him.
His attitude could only signify one of two things--either my proposal
had been communicated to him, and he did not intend to accede to it; or
neither Hurliguerly nor Arkins had spoken to him since the previous
day. In the latter case, if he held aloof from me, it was because of his
morose nature; it was because he did not choose to enter into
conversation with a stranger.
At the moment when I was about to accost him, the Halbrane's