Читать книгу Pitcairn's Island. Sea Adventure Novel онлайн

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“Smith!” he called.

A brawny young seaman, who had been standing by the mainmast, hastened aft, touching his turban of bark cloth.

“Clew up the courses, and make ready to catch what water you can.”

“Aye, aye, sir!”

Smith went forward, shouting: “All hands, here! Shorten sail!”

A group of white seamen appeared from the forecastle. The brown men turned quickly from the rail, and several of the girls stood up.

“To your stations!” Smith ordered. “Fore and main courses—let go sheets and tacks! Clew lines—up with the clews!”

The lower extremities of the two large sails rose to the quarters of the yards, the native men and half a dozen lusty girls shouting and laughing as they put their backs into the work. Smith turned to the seaman nearest him.

“McCoy! Take Martin and rig the awning to catch water. Look alive!”

Christian had been pacing the quarter-deck, with an eye on the blackening sky to the north. “To the braces, Smith!” he now ordered. “Put her on the larboard tack.”

“Braces it is, sir.”