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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Though we sailed well, the weather remained serene that day and during the two days following. On Tuesday we passed fresh coconut husks and driftwood which appeared to have been in the water no more than a week. We had the good fortune to catch three boobies on this day; without their blood and raw flesh I am convinced that two or three of us must have succumbed. The sun was so hot at midday that I felt faint and sick. On Wednesday it was apparent to all that the land was close ahead. The clouds to the west were fixed, and there were innumerable birds about, though we could catch none. The heat of the sun again caused much suffering.

“Soak what rags you can spare in the sea, and make turbans of them!” said the captain, when he heard some of the people complaining of the heat. He laughed. “English seamen are hard to please! I’d rather be hot than cold any day, and dry than wet, for that matter! Wring out your turbans frequently. The cool water’ll soon make you feel like fighting cocks. We should sight the reefs to-morrow, with this breeze.”