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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“ ‘Do you mean, sir, concerning his present whereabouts?’ I asked.

“ ‘No. Perhaps the question was a little vague. You are quite naturally mystified. We wish to know the particulars, if you recall them, of a conversation said to have taken place on the quarter-deck of the Bounty between Mr. Fletcher Christian and Mr. Byam on the night previous to the mutiny on that ship. Did you overhear such a conversation?’

“I remembered it at once, and it was at that moment, Byam, that light began to dawn upon me.

“ ‘Yes, sir,’ I replied; ‘I remember it quite well.’

“ ‘Reflect carefully, Mr. Tinkler. A man’s life depends upon what you shall now depose concerning that conversation. Take as much time as you need to collect your thoughts. Omit no smallest detail.’

“The whole business came clear to me, Byam. I knew then precisely what was wanted, and you may thank God that my memory is as yet unimpaired by old age. But here’s the extraordinary thing: from the night when you and Christian were talking between the larboard guns on the quarter-deck until the moment when I stood before the Commissioners, I’d forgotten the immensely important fact that Bligh had overheard a part of what you said. Wouldn’t you think that might have stuck in my mind? There’s a reasonable explanation, of course: during the boat voyage to Timor, and afterward, old Bligh never once, to my knowledge, explained why he considered you of Christian’s party. We all believed that the reason was your failing to appear on deck before the launch was veered astern. And we knew that Christian had spoken to you a number of times on the morning of the mutiny. Furthermore, you were Christian’s friend. That was more than enough to make the old rascal damn you straight out.