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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In view of Purcell’s bold statement of half an hour before, it was interesting to observe his nervousness as the throng of savages increased. Many an apprehensive glance did he throw in their direction.

“Keep your eyes on your work, sir!” Bligh ordered. “Your friends ashore will wait for you.”

Presently Tinkler, who had the keenest eyes amongst us, informed Bligh that he had seen three or four of the Indians running up the hill, evidently returning to the large bay on the other side of the mountains.

“They must be sending word to the people over there, sir,” Fryer remarked, anxiously. “No doubt they have canoes in the bay, and mean to get at us by sea.”

“I should think it more than likely, sir,” Bligh replied, quietly. “Nevertheless, we shall have time to finish repairing our weather cloth.”

Never, I fancy, had Purcell worked more earnestly than he did upon this occasion. Bligh watched him grimly and would allow him to skimp nothing.

Just as the work was finished, a large canoe, containing between forty and fifty savages, appeared round the northern promontory, about a mile distant. They had no sail, but, with ten or fifteen paddlers on a side, they came on swiftly.