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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The canoe came on fast. When it was half a cable’s length distant, the blacksmith stood up and leveled his piece. “Stop where ye are!” he ordered, hoarsely.

Christian rose to his feet, waving the paddlers on. “Williams!” he ordered sternly, “lay down your musket!”

Slowly, as if in a daze, the black-bearded man in the boat obeyed, slumping down on the thwart with shoulders bowed. The canoe lost way, riding the swell lightly alongside, and Christian sprang aboard the cutter.

“Are you mad?” he asked, with the sternness gone from his voice. “Where could you hope to fetch up?”

“Aye, Jack,” put in Mills, “ye must be clean daft!”

“Leave be, Mr. Christian,” muttered Williams. “I’ll not go on as I have. Where I fetch up is my own concern.”

Christian seated himself beside him. “Think, Williams,” he said kindly. “This boat is common property. And how would we fare without a blacksmith? Tahiti lies three hundred leagues from here. You would be going to certain death.... Come, take yourself in hand!”