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 close-hauled, the luff of the mainsail was shivering a little at the time. Bligh shrugged his shoulders. “Hard alee!” he ordered. “Let go the halyards and get her on the other tack!”

We had not sailed a quarter of a mile on the larboard tack, when it was evident that we were embayed. The east wind had caught us unaware, and we could not lay clear of the points to north or south. We turned the launch north once more.

“Who can pull an oar?” Bligh asked.

Lenkletter, Lebogue, and Elphinstone attempted to rise, and sank back ashamed of their weakness. Fryer, Purcell, Cole, and Peckover took their places at the thwarts. They pulled grimly and feebly; in spite of their courage, they had not sufficient strength to enable us to clear the point of reef about two miles ahead.

“Now, by God!” Bligh exclaimed. “We must weather the point or shoot the breakers—one of the two! ... Mr. Tinkler! Are you strong enough to steer? Take the tiller and point up as close as you can!”

The captain set a tholepin on the lee side, ran out an oar, and began to pull strongly and steadily.