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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“What a strange man!” said Nanai, wiping the tears of mirth from her eyes.

Sarah nodded. “He thinks only of himself. I shall never understand his ways.”

“What of the men who have no wives?” asked Moetua, presently.

“How miserable they are!” said Hutia, laughing. “Who is to comfort them?”

“Not I,” remarked Balhadi. “I am content with my man, and will do nothing to cause him pain or anger.”

“Why should he be angry for so small a thing?” asked Nanai.

“You know nothing of white men,” said Prudence. “They consider it a shameful thing for the woman of one man to give herself to another. Nevertheless, I will be one of those to be kind to the wifeless men.”

“And I!” exclaimed Susannah. “I fear Martin as much as I hate him, but I shall find courage to deceive him. To make a fool of him will comfort me.”

“This matter can be kept among ourselves,” said Moetua. “The white men need never know of it.”

“Christian would be angry, if he knew,” remarked Balhadi gravely. “It is as Prudence says: the white men regard their women as theirs alone. Trouble may easily come of this.”