Читать книгу Men Against the Sea – Book Set. The Greatest Maritime Adventure Novels: The Bounty Trilogy, Lost Island, The Hurricane, Botany Bay, The Far Lands, Tales of the South Seas… онлайн

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He glanced at Churchill, who nodded, still standing with folded arms. “No, Mr. Byam,” said the master-at-arms, “we had it out in the forecastle last night—a regular Dover-court. Not a man on the ship but wishes you well, but we can’t allow it.”

“They are right,” said Christian gloomily; “we can neither leave you on Tahiti nor let you set foot on shore. The men were for keeping the lot of you below decks, under guard, but I persuaded them that if you and Mr. Stewart and Mr. Morrison would give parole not to mention the mutiny to the Indians, nor to say anything which might prejudice our interests, we might safely permit you to come on deck while we are at anchor in Matavai.”

“I think I understand, sir,” I replied, “though I must admit that we had hoped to be left in Tahiti, whither we supposed the ship to be bound.”

“Impossible!” Christian said. “I hate to carry you away against your will, but it is essential to the safety of your shipmates. None of us will ever see England again—we must make up our minds to that. You may tell the others that it is my intention to search out one of the many unknown islands in this sea, land our stores and livestock, destroy the ship, and settle there for good, hoping never again to see a strange white face.”