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

860 страница из 953

“There’s no need to fash yersel’,” said McCoy. “Wasn’t it Christian that made the offer? And he’ll bide by it; that we know.”

“Who’s sayin’ he won’t? But I want us to mind what he’s said.... There’s the rum, now. He’s promised us our grog as long as it lasts, and we’ve had none these two days.”

“Curse ye, John, for mindin’ us o’ that,” said McCoy with a wry smile.

“And how would we have it with us workin’ aboard and the spirits ashore?” said Smith.

“Aye, we’re no settled yet,” said McCoy. “Gie him time. We’ll have our tot afore the evening.”

“There’s Alex would a had us go without altogether,” said Mills.

“Ye’ve a thick skull, John. I was for makin’ it last a good few years, and, as Christian says, ye can’t do that and claim seamen’s rations now. How much do we have? Ye know as well as myself, there’s but the two puncheons—that’s 164 gallons—and the three five-gallon cags.”

“There’s but eight of us to drink it, Alex. Brown’s an abstainer.”

“Aye,” said McCoy, fervently. “God be thanked for Brown and the Indians! If they was fond o’ grog ...”