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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The anxiety of the night that followed is painful to recall. Morrison, Muspratt, and I made no pretense of sleeping. We sat by one of the ports, now and then peering out into the darkness toward the Brunswick, talking in low voices of the men who had gone. We knew well enough that it was their last night of life. The fact that we had been left behind gave us reason to hope that their fate was not to be ours. My heart went out to poor Muspratt, whose anguish of mind may be imagined. I did not dare hint, even now, at what Sir Joseph had told me concerning him, but I was glad that Morrison encouraged him to hope.

“Your case has been taken under consideration, Muspratt; I am sure of it,” he said. “I have never doubted that it would be. The fact that we have been left here proves that there is something in the wind concerning us.”

“What do you think, Mr. Byam?” asked Muspratt.

“That Morrison is right,” I replied. “He has been recommended to the King’s clemency. The Court’s appeal on his behalf must have been granted. You and I have been left here with him. Don’t you see, Muspratt? If they intended to hang us, we would have been sent to the Brunswick with the rest.”