Читать книгу The Dark River онлайн

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"We'll soon know," McLeod replied. "I don't see anyone, but they must be here somewhere."

"What a glorious spot! I don't wonder your parents loved it."

They paddled across the smooth waters of the lagoon and entered the river which wound before them in a still deep channel shaded by great trees along its banks. Making the canoe fast to the pier, they took the path to the house.

"Let me speak first," McLeod said, in a low voice. He knocked lightly on one of the verandah posts. There was no response. He knocked again.

"Where are they all?" he whispered.

"All? How many are there to be? I don't remember Tyson speaking of any great family."

"There's Mauri's old father, at least, beside herself. And didn't Tyson say something about a daughter?"

"I've forgotten."

"Let's go around to the back. They can't be far off."

A walk strewn with coral sand and shaded by tall hibiscus bushes led around one side of the house. Before them stretched a wide area of land bordered by the river on one side and the lagoon on the other. It was carpeted with a lawn that had the appearance of being grazed by cattle. Coconut palms, lime, orange, breadfruit, and mango trees laden with fruit cast their shadows on the grass, and clumps of banana plants partly concealed various outbuildings with bamboo walls and thatched roofs that descended in long sweeping lines to the low eaves. As they stood there, entranced by the sunny silence of the place, a bird with snow-white plumage appeared from behind a corner of the house. Immediately it saw them, it walked away with an air of dignified anxiety, turning its head as though to make certain it was not being followed. Then, flapping its wings, it took the air and disappeared to seaward.