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

872 страница из 953

Prudence returned from the brook and seated herself again at Mills’s side.

“How is it with ye, lass?”

She laughed and pointed to the bottle. “More,” she replied.

“There’s a proper wench, John,” said Martin, admiringly. “Damn my eyes if she won’t make a proper boozer, give her time. All she needs is a sup o’ water to follow.”

Mills smiled down at her, proudly. “She’ll do,” he said. “Here, darlin’, drink hearty.”

“Ahoy there, mates!”

The three men looked up quickly to find Quintal standing behind them.

“God love us! It’s Matt himself,” said McCoy, uneasily.

“Come aboard, Matt; we was wishin’ for ye,” Martin put in with an attempt at heartiness.

Quintal squatted on the balls of his feet, his brawny hands on his knees, and grinned at them accusingly. “I’ve no doubt o’ that,” he said, “and searchin’ for me far and wide. And where did ye find all this?”

“Never ye mind, Matt. We ain’t thieved it. It’s private stock. Would ye relish a taste?”

Quintal looked longingly at the bottle. “Ye know damned well I would. No, don’t coax me, Isaac. I’d best leave it alone.”