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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Mr. Bligh’s face looked drawn in the gray light, but his eyes were cool and alert. Each wave sent sheets of wind-driven spray into the boat; presently a sea greater than the others swung us high and curled over the transom. Above the roaring of the waves I heard faint cries and curses from the men as a rush of water swept forward in the bilges. Then, while I plied a coconut shell, snatched up in an instant, I heard Bligh’s voice, audible in the calm of the trough. He was shouting to Hall, who sat with Lamb in the bows:—

“The bread! The bread!”

The man had been crouching with his head in his arms, shivering with the cold. He stared aft dazedly. Our bread had been stowed in the bow of the launch, the place least exposed to the driving spray. It was in three bags, and had been covered with the spare mainsail.

“Aye, aye, sir!” Hall shouted back, bending down to raise the canvas and examine what was beneath. A moment later he straightened his back. “One sack is wet, sir!” he shouted. “The lot will be spoiled if it’s left here!”