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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“Balhadi is with her,” Christian said, drawing the newcomer aside and raising his voice to make it heard. “The pains have begun. What of the boats?”

“Gone, sir, all but the large cutter,” replied Smith regretfully. “The sea’s higher’n ye’d believe! All was snug an hour back. Then a roarin’ great sea came in and carried away both canoes and the small cutter. And when the wind had cleared the air of spray, we looked out, sir, and the old Bounty was gone!”

Christian paced the floor nervously for a minute or two, stopping once to listen at the door of the other room. Then, halting suddenly, he addressed Taurua: “Go in to her, you and Jenny; say that I am going down to the landing place and shall not be long.” He turned to Smith. “Come, there is nothing I can do here at such a time.”

They found Young and a group of men and women at the verge of the bluffs, crouching to escape the full force of the wind while they watched with fascinated eyes the towering seas that ran into Bounty Bay. Speech was impossible, but Young took Christian’s arm and pointed out to where the blackened hulk of the ship had lain wedged among the rocks. No trace of her remained.