Читать книгу Pitcairn's Island. Sea Adventure Novel онлайн

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“He’ll kill him, Isaac! Pitch in!” McCoy shouted. The two men sprang upon his back, tugging and straining with all their strength. Quintal loosed one hand to seize Martin’s arm, giving it such a wrench that he cried out with pain. Meanwhile, with the pressure partly relieved from his throat, Mills gave a desperate heave and, with the others to help him, managed to topple Quintal over. The three men were upon him at once, but their combined strength was not sufficient to keep him down. Breaking Mills’s hold on his legs, he struggled to his feet, the others clinging to him desperately.

“God be praised! Here’s Alex,” McCoy panted. “Quick, mon!”

Before Quintal had time to turn his head, Smith’s burly form was upon him with the others. He fought like a demon, but the odds were now too great. Presently he lay helpless, breathing heavily, his face streaming with sweat and blood, his eyes glaring insanely. “Will ye give in, ye devil?” said Smith. With a bellow of rage Quintal resumed the struggle, and his four antagonists needed all their strength to hold him. “Is there a bit o’ line amongst ye?” Smith panted. “We must seize him up.” “Prudence!” Mills called; “fetch some purau bark!” The girl, who had been looking on in terror, understood at once. Running to a near-by hibiscus tree, she bit through the tough smooth bark of some of the low-hanging branches and quickly ripped it down, in long strips. After a prolonged struggle the four men had Quintal bound, hand and foot. Presently his eyes closed and he fell into a heavy sleep.