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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“Byam, we may as well face the facts. You are in grave danger. Mr. Nelson, who knew of your intention to go in the launch with Bligh, is dead. Norton, the quartermaster, who could have corroborated your story of Christian’s intention to escape from the Bounty on the night before the mutiny, is dead.”

“I know it, sir. I had the information from Dr. Hamilton.”

“Your chance of acquittal depends almost entirely upon the testimony of one man: your friend Robert Tinkler.”

“But he returned safely to England.”

“Yes, but where is he now? ... He must be found at once. You say that he is a brother-in-law of Fryer, the master of the Bounty?”

“Yes, sir.”

“In that case I should be able to get trace of him. I can learn, at the Admiralty, on what ship Fryer is now serving.”

I had, somehow, taken it for granted that Tinkler would know of the need I should have for him if ever I returned home; but Sir Joseph pointed out to me the fact that Tinkler would be quite ignorant of this.

“It is not at all likely,” he said, “that he will know of Bligh’s depositions at the Admiralty. And it will no more have occurred to him than it did to you that your conversation with Christian could be construed as evidence against you. The chances are that Tinkler will have forgotten that Bligh overheard it. No; take my word for it, he will have no fears on your account. Not a moment must be lost in finding him.”