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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As they entered the cottage, Smith observed, on the floor close to the bed, a round comb of bamboo, such as the women used. Next moment, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Williams kick it hastily under the bed. He glanced about the neat little dwelling appreciatively.

“Ye’ve the best-built house of the lot,” he said, “and the prettiest to look at. Aye, it’s small, but all the better for that.”

“What d’ye think of the weather, Alex?” Williams asked.

“It’ll be blowing a gale by night. I’d best be getting back. Mr. Christian wants all hands at Bounty Bay. He’s afeared for the boats.”

The blacksmith nodded. “I’ll come along with ye,” he said.

The wind was making up from the northwest, with heavy squalls of rain, and before the two men reached the cove it hauled to the north, blowing with ever-increasing force.

It was late afternoon when the people began to straggle back, up the steep path to the settlement. The boats and the two canoes had been conveyed to the very foot of the bluff, far above where they were usually kept, and it seemed that no wave, no matter how great, could reach them there.