Читать книгу Pitcairn's Island. Sea Adventure Novel онлайн

37 страница из 96

Maimiti turned to Christian. “You see?” she said. “Did I not tell you so?”

Christian smiled, incredulously. “I have great respect for your judgment, Minarii,” he said, “but in this case I am sure you are wrong. Before us sea birds alone have inhabited this land.”

Minarii inserted his hand into the twist of tapa at his waist and drew forth a small stone adze, beautifully made and ground to perfect smoothness. “Then the sea fowl brought that?” he asked.

It was late afternoon when the party returned to the ship. Smith and Brown went forward, where they were surrounded at once by the other seamen, eager for a report of conditions ashore. Christian retired to his cabin and supped there, alone. Toward sunset he joined Young on deck. For some time he paced up and down, then halted by his companion, who stood at the rail gazing at the high slopes before them, all golden now in the light of the sinking sun.

“We will call this ‘Bounty Bay,’ Mr. Young, unless you have a better suggestion?”

“I was thinking that ‘Christian’s Landing’ would be a suitable name, sir.”