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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“Yes, take your time,” said Sir Joseph. “We’ll say no more of it to-night.”

Captain Montague took leave of us early; afterward Sir Joseph led me to his study, hung with weapons and ornaments from distant lands.

“Byam,” he said, when we had settled ourselves before the fire, “there is a question I have long desired to ask you. You know me for a man of honour; if you see fit to answer, you have my word that I will never divulge the reply.”

He paused. “Proceed, sir,” I said; “I will do my best.”

“Where is Fletcher Christian—can you tell me?”

“Upon my word, sir,” I replied, “I do not know, nor could I hazard a guess.”

He looked at me for a moment with his shrewd blue eyes, rose briskly, and pulled down a great chart of the Pacific from its roller on the wall. “Fetch the lamp, Byam,” he said.

Side by side, while I held the lamp, we scanned the chart of the greatest ocean in the world. “Here is Tahiti,” he said. “What course was the Bounty steering when last seen?”

“Northeast by north, I should say.”