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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One evening in early March, Hutia was making her way to the bathing pool. She had had words with Tararu, who had knocked her down while two of the native men stood by, and, wishing to nurse her anger alone, she had delayed her bath until an hour when the other women should have returned to the settlement.

She had no eyes for the beauty of the glade. Hedged in by thick bush, which made a green twilight at this hour, the place was deserted save for Prudence at her bath. The girl stood knee-deep in the water, her back to Hutia and enveloped to the waist in her unbounded hair. She had a small calabash in her hand and was bending to take up water when Hutia spoke.

“Make haste!” she said harshly. “I wish to bathe by myself.”

Prudence glanced coolly at the other girl. “Who are you? Queen of this island? Am I your servant, me, with a white man for husband?”

“Husband!” exclaimed Hutia angrily. “Aye, and you’d like to have mine as well. Take care! I have seen you looking at him with soft eyes!”

“Keep him!” Prudence said jeeringly, turning to face the other. “Keep him if you can!”