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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Still splashing in the sea, Cole greeted me. “No need to ask how ye slept, Mr. Ledward! Ye look a new man!”

I felt one when I had bathed in the cool sea water and resumed my tattered garments, which a London ragpicker would have scorned to accept. The others were rising as I turned inland, walking with the uncertain gait of a year-old child.

Nelson managed to stand at the second attempt, but was forced to sink down again immediately, doubled up with a sharp pain in his stomach. “I’ve a mind to ask you to physic me,” he said with a wry smile.

I shook my head. “It would be imprudent in our state of weakness. Our pain and tenesmus are due to the emptiness of our bowels.”

Bligh joined us at that moment. “Sound advice, sir,” he said; “if a layman may express an opinion. To physic men in our state would but weaken us still more. I have suffered from the same violent pains. We’ll be quit of them once our bellies are filled.” He turned to hail the boatswain. “Come ashore, Mr. Cole, the lot of you.”