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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“Let us try at one hundred fathoms,” said Tetahiti.

Smith lowered his sinker over the side and allowed the line to run out for a long time, until a knot appeared. He pulled sharply and felt the hitch unroll and the release of the sinker’s weight. Then, moving his line up and down gently, to attract the attention of the fish six hundred feet below, he settled himself to wait.

The sun was well up by now, but the horizon to the north was ominous. There was not the faintest breath of wind; even at this early hour the heat was oppressive.

“We shall have a storm,” remarked the native. “The moon will be full to-night.”

Smith nodded. “Christian thinks so, too.”

“Your ears are opened,” said Tetahiti. “You are beginning to speak our tongue like one of us!”

“I have learned much from you. What day is this—what night, I mean?”

“Maitu. To-night will be hotu, when the moon rises as the sun sets.”

Smith shook his head, admiringly. “I can never remember. We whites have only the names of the seven days of our week to learn. Your people must learn the twenty-eight nights of the moon!”