Читать книгу Pitcairn's Island. Sea Adventure Novel онлайн

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“Please do. Speak your mind to me at all times.”

“The men are impatient, I know, to learn of your plans. Would it not be well to tell them, to-night, how the island impresses you?”

Christian reflected for a moment. “Good. I agree,” he said. “Call them aft, will you?”

He paced the quarter-deck while Young was carrying out this order. The men, both white and brown, gathered in a half-circle by the mizzenmast to await Christian’s pleasure. The women assembled behind them, peering over their shoulders and talking in subdued voices. It was a strange ship’s company that gathered on the Bounty’s deck to listen to the words of their leader.

“Before anything more is done,” he began, “I wish to be sure that you are satisfied with this island as a home for us. You were all agreed that we should search for the place, and that, if we found it suitable, we should settle here. You will have learned from your shipmates who went ashore with me what the island has to offer us. Remember, if we go ashore, we go to stay. If any object, now is the time to speak.”