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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“Never fear, sir,” Cole ventured to remark. “We’re with ye to a man. And thank God for Captain Bligh to lead us—eh, lads?”

There was a hearty chorus from the people: “Aye!” “Well spoken!” “Ye can lay to that!”

As the morning advanced we sighted several flocks of birds, hovering over shoals of fish—a sure indication of land. Once we passed through the midst of a school of tunnies, leaping and thrashing the sea into foam, yet none would seize our hook. We were now keeping a sharp lookout, and a little before noon land was discovered—a small flat island, bearing southwest, about four leagues distant. Other islands appeared, and by three in the afternoon we could count eight on the horizon, from south around through the west to north.

“The Feejee Islands,” said Mr. Bligh, who had been awakened from a refreshing sleep by the first shout of “Land!” “We are the first white men to set eyes on them!”

“Can’t we land here, sir?” asked the carpenter.

“Spoken like a fool, Mr. Purcell,” said Bligh bluntly. “You’ve a short memory if you’ve so soon forgotten Tofoa! We could commit no greater folly than to land here. Captain Cook never saw these islands; but when I was master of the Resolution, in 1777, he learned much of their inhabitants from the Friendly Islanders. They are known to be fierce and treacherous, and eaters of human flesh. No. We shall keep well clear of these fellows!”