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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No word had been spoken during this time. We waited with deep anxiety to learn what Captain Bligh’s intentions were.

“Trim the sails,” he ordered.

We headed up, approaching to within a quarter of a mile of a small cove that resembled, in a general way, the one at Tofoa; but here there was a smooth sandy beach instead of a rocky one, and the vegetation was of the richest green; indeed, the island seemed a paradise to our famished, sea-weary eyes. The sail was dropped and two men were set at the oars to keep us off the land.

“Now, Mr. Purcell,” said Bligh, “we will repair our weather cloth. Look alive, for I wish to lose no more time here than is necessary.”

Our weather cloth had been much damaged by the sea the night before.

A deep silence followed this order. Purcell remained where he was. Presently he raised his head, sullenly.

“Mr. Bligh,” he said, “if you mean to go on from here without giving us a chance to refresh ourselves, I’m opposed; and there’s more that feels as I do.”

For all the stiffness in his legs, Bligh got to his feet in an instant. His lips were drawn in a thin line and his eyes were blazing with anger, but as he looked at the forlorn figures before him the expression on his face softened and he checked himself.