Free An Antarctic Mystery by Jules Verne Page A

the
oil of marine animals, and his affairs were prosperous. As he
appeared very willing to talk, I entered briskly into conversation
with this self-appointed Governor of a contented little colony, by
asking him,—
    "Do many ships put in to Tristan d'Acunha?"
    "As many as we require," he replied, rubbing his bands together
behind his back, according to his invariable custom.
    "In the fine season?"
    "Yes, in the fine season, if indeed we can be said to have any
other in these latitudes."
    "I congratulate you, Mr. Glass. But it is to be regretted that
Tristan d'Acunha has not a single port. If you possessed a
landing-stage, now?"
    "For what purpose, sir, when nature has provided us with such a
bay as this, where there is shelter from gales, and it is easy to
lie snug right up against the rocks? No, Tristan has no port, and
Tristan can do without one."
    Why should I have contradicted this good man? He was proud of his
island, just as the Prince of Monaco is justly proud of his tiny
principality.
    I did not persist, and we talked of various things. He offered to
arrange for me an excursion to the depths of the thick forests,
which clothed the volcano up to the middle of the central cove.
    I thanked him, but declined his offer, preferring to employ my
leisure on land in some mineralogical studies. Besides, the
Halbrane
was to set sail so soon as she had taken in her provisions.
    "Your captain is in a remarkable hurry!" said Governor Glass.
    "You think so?"
    "He is in such haste that his lieutenant does not even talk of
buying skins or oil from me."
    "We require only fresh victuals and fresh water, Mr. Glass."
    "Very well," replied the Governor, who was rather annoyed,
"what the
Halbrane
will not take other vessels will."
    Then he resumed,—
    "And where is your schooner bound for on leaving us?"
    "For the Falklands, no doubt, where she can be repaired."
    "You, sir, are only a passenger, I suppose?"
    "As you say, Mr. Glass, and I had even intended to remain at
Tristan d'Acunha for some weeks. But I have had to relinquish that
project."
    "I am sorry to hear it, sir. We should have been happy to offer
you hospitality while awaiting the arrival of another ship."
    "Such hospitality would have been most valuable to me," I
replied, "but unfortunately I cannot avail myself of it."
    In fact, I had finally resolved not to quit the schooner, but to
embark for America from the Falkland Isles with out much delay. I
felt sure that Captain Len Guy would not refuse to take me to the
islands. I informed Mr. Glass of my intention, and he remarked,
still in a tone of annoyance,—
    "As for your captain, I have not even seen the colour of his
hair."
    "I don't think he has any intention of coming ashore."
    "Is he ill?"
    "Not to my knowledge. But it does not concern you, since he has
sent his lieutenant to represent him."
    "Oh, he's a cheerful person! One may extract two words from him
occasionally. Fortunately, it is easier to get coin out of his
pocket than speech out of his lips."
    "That's the important thing, Mr. Glass."
    "You are right, sir—Mr. Jeorling, of Connecticut, I believe?"
    I assented.
    "So! I know your name, while I have yet to learn that of the
captain of the
Halbrane
."
    "His name is Guy—Len Guy."
    "An Englishman?"
    "Yes—an Englishman."
    "He might have taken the trouble to pay a visit to a countryman of
his, Mr. Jeorling! But stay! I had some dealings formerly with a
captain of that name. Guy, Guy—"
    "William Guy?" I asked, quickly.
    "Precisely. William Guy."
    "Who commanded the
Jane
?"
    "The
Jane
? Yes. The same man."
    "An English schooner which put in at Tristan d'Acunha eleven
years ago?"
    "Eleven years, Mr. Jeorling. I had been settled in the island
where Captain Jeffrey, of the
Berwick
, of London, found me in the
year 1824, for full seven years. I perfectly recall this William
Guy, as if he were before me. He was a fine, open-hearted fellow,
and I sold him a cargo of seal-skins. He had the air of a gentleman,
rather proud,