Читать книгу Pitcairn's Island. Sea Adventure Novel онлайн

35 страница из 96

Their meal was under way before Smith and Brown appeared. Both were enthusiastic over what they had found.

“It’s as fine a little place as ever I see, Mr. Christian,” Smith said, warmly. “We climbed to the top of that peak, yonder.”

“How much land is there beyond the western ridge?”

“Little enough, sir, and what there is, is all rocks and gullies.”

Christian turned to Brown. “What have you found in the way of useful plants and trees?”

“I needn’t speak of the coconut palms and the pandanus, sir. Ye’ve seen for yourself that there’s more than enough for our needs. Then there’s miro and sandalwood, and the tutui ...”

“The candlenut? There is a useful find indeed!”

“There’s a good few scattered about; and the miro, as ye know, is a fine wood for house-building. As for food plants, it’s as well we’ve a stock on board. We’ve found wild yams and a kind of taro, but little else.”

“You could overlook the whole of the island from the peak?”

“Aye, sir,” Smith replied.

“What would you say of its extent, judging roughly?”