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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“Aye, child, what is it?” said Fasto.

This simple and industrious woman had a soft heart, and the girl’s youth appealed to the mother in her. She took her hand and stroked it. “What is it, child?” she repeated.

Prudence hesitated before she spoke. “It is hard to tell, but will come best from one who loves you. Open your eyes! Williams is a good man and loves you, but all men are weak before women’s eyes. Hutia has desired him long. Now they meet each day in the bush, while you and Tararu are blind.... You do not believe me? Then go and see for yourself. Hide yourself near the great pandanus tree at the hour when Williams goes inland to bathe. Your man will come, and Hutia will steal through the bush to meet him.”

Fasto sat in silence, with bowed head and eyes filling with tears as she continued to stroke the girl’s hand.

“I cannot believe it, child, but I will do as you say. Should I find my husband with that woman ... There will be no sleep for me this night.”

When the moon rose on the following evening, Williams was striding along the path that led to McCoy’s house. Most of the inmates were already in bed, but Mary sat cross-legged on the floor, plaiting a mat of pandanus by the light of a taper of candlenuts. She was a woman of twenty-five, desperately homesick for Tahiti. Williams called to her softly.