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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“What is your name?”

“Roger Byam.”

“You were a midshipman on His Majesty’s armed vessel, the Bounty?”

“Yes, sir.”

“How many of the Bounty’s company are now on the island of Tahiti?”

“Three, I believe, not counting myself.”

“Who are they?”

I gave him their names.

“Where is Fletcher Christian, and where is the Bounty?”

I told him of Christian’s departure with eight of the mutineers, and of all the events that had taken place at Tahiti since that time. I told him of the building of the schooner, under Morrison’s supervision, and of Morrison’s intention to sail with her to Batavia, where he hoped to find a homeward-bound ship.

“A likely story!” he said grimly. “In that case, why did not you go with him?”

“Because the schooner was not well found for so long a voyage. It seemed to me wiser to wait here for the arrival of an English ship.”

“Which you never expected to see, no doubt. You will be surprised to learn that Captain Bligh, and the men who were driven from his ship with him, have succeeded in reaching England?”