Читать книгу Pitcairn's Island. Sea Adventure Novel онлайн

40 страница из 96

“Let us speak no more of that,” Christian interrupted. “You are here. You little know what comfort that thought brings me.... I was thinking,” he added presently, “what a paradise Pitcairn’s Island might prove, could we have chosen our companions here. We have an opportunity such as chance rarely grants to men—to form a little world cut off from the rest of mankind, and to rear our children in complete ignorance of any life save what they will find on this small island.”

Young nodded. “Whom would you have chosen, could you have had your wish, from the Bounty’s original company?”

“I prefer not to think of the matter,” Christian replied, gloomily. “We must do what we can with those we have. The Indians are fine fellows, with one or, perhaps, two exceptions. I have few regrets concerning them. As for the men of our own blood ...” He broke off, leaving the sentence unfinished.

“Brown and Alex Smith might have been chosen in any event,” Young remarked.

“I should have excepted them. They are good men, both.”