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

316 страница из 953

All of my personal belongings had been left at Tautira. I told the surgeon of my friend, Tuahu, and that, if I might send him word, he would bring my chest to the ship. Dr. Hamilton asked that I write his name on a slip of paper.

“I will find him,” he said. “Sir Joseph is extremely anxious that these manuscripts of yours should not be lost.”

“It would be a godsend to me, sir, if I might continue my work on the voyage home.”

“Sir Joseph had requested this very thing, in case you should be found,” the surgeon replied. “Captain Edwards will, I believe, grant permission.”

This news cheered me greatly. I should have an occupation that would suffice to make the long confinement endurable, and as Stewart, Coleman, and Skinner were all proficient in the Indian tongue, if we were permitted to converse my studies could be carried on with their help.

Mr. Hamilton glanced at his timepiece.

“I must send you below soon,” he said. “I had Captain Edward’s consent to this interview that I might question you with respect to the manuscripts. He is ashore this morning. I have taken advantage of the fact to enlarge upon my privilege.”