[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
No, nothing, the lad replied, I was just watching the waves. I
hoped there would be some bit of the Dove floating about, but I sup-
pose we are too far from it now. Odd that there is nothing. Surely gear
washed free, but we ve not seen a scrap.
It was the wind that shifted after we got ashore. We will see noth-
ing of it less it blows fresh again from the north ard.
The two officers had drawn ahead and were now hunkered behind
a low bush. The captain and mate peeked from their hiding place to
the beach ahead of them.
They have found something! Harrison blurted out and trotted
forward.
At that moment, Mr. Morgen turned about and motioned to the
crewmen to keep close to the rocks and stay low. Both men bent low
and rushed ahead. At the bush they dropped to their knees.
What is it? Thomas whispered.
The mate beckoned for him to come up and see for himself. Thomas
crawled forward and peeked through the leaves. To their right the angle
of the bluff became less steep and farther ahead it curved away to the
south. On the flat ground between the beach and the receding slope
was a stand of flax plants. They were taller than any he had seen in
Dusky. Some smaller, scattered plants grew nearer the shore, but
behind them the vertical, sword-like leaves formed a wall eight to ten
MOTOO EETEE 85
feet in height. They were so thick it would be slow labor to force a way
through, and at every step they might risk ambush in the dense growth.
Thomas s eye followed the beach line. It kept its curve around the bay,
but beyond the field of flax a quarter mile on, he saw the edge of a
lagoon or slough. The beach at that point became a barren bar that
separated the bay water from the slough. It was bare for its entire length
until it rejoined the high ground a mile and a half away.
The carpenter moved up beside Thomas and pointed to the gray-
green flax and said, Ah, lad, there is our rope and marline. Good as
Russian hemp. With work and patience we may have all we want.
Thomas sat back on his haunches. He looked at the captain and
Mr. Morgen, then asked, What are we waiting for? There are no sav-
ages?
No, no signs as yet, the mate explained, but you see we cannot
go farther unless we show ourselves out there. There is no way to get
through those plants on the land side. They are thick and there could
be much danger in them.
The captain agreed with a nod and declared, We ll not go out
there. We could be seen from half the island.
Then what are we to do now? Thomas demanded.
For several seconds, Captain Tobit gave him a scornful look and
spoke his answer with slow words like the beat of a drum. Do not
forget who I am. We must wait here until dark. We have no other
choice.
And leave our mates out there? Thomas cried. No, I ll not do
that! We ve seen no cannibals . . . not the least sign of them! He
leaped to his feet.
The mate grabbed at his arm to pull him down to the cover of the
bush, but Thomas wrenched free and dashed out into the open.
Damn you! the captain shouted. Where are you going?
To find my mates! Thomas yelled, turning half around as he
marched off. I ll not cower here whilst our men and boys are lost!
Damn and blast you! You betray us bolting out there! the cap-
tain screamed and rose to his feet.
86 MOTOO EETEE
The lad halted and looked defiantly back at the two officers stand-
ing behind the bush.
You have made our deaths near certain! the mate cried. These
savages feast on strangers!
With a contemptuous swipe of his arm, Thomas shouted back at
them, Go hide in the trees. I will search for our crew alone.
Captain Tobit stepped from behind the bush and walked up to the
young sailor. He stared into his eyes. I will settle with you, he hissed
in a low voice and brought his stick up and gripped it with both hands
before him like a quarterstaff.
Thomas gazed back unblinking. His mouth had a slight upturn, as
if he welcomed any move of the captain to strike him.
Not now, but later, Tobit promised. Don t think I shall forget
how you defy me. I ll not rest till I have you spread-eagled. You are
still under my command. You have no discharge from me. I will teach
you who is officer and who is man. I will cut that out on your back!
Thomas looked down on the captain s face, blotchy and red with
rage. His hair was a welter of white tufts peppered with black grit. He
was about to answer when the officer pushed past him and headed
for the bar. Immediately, the mate hurried out to join the captain.
Once more the four men moved along the beach with the officers
leading and the crewmen following. The pace was faster now that they
were visible from a greater part of the island and not delayed by their
efforts to hide. Harrison and Thomas slowed until they were out of
earshot of the mate and captain.
He has no ship, Thomas growled, therefore he is captain of noth-
ing. He can no longer order what I do.
The carpenter remained silent as he strode along and searched the
shore ahead and the island to the right.
Thomas waited a half-minute for a response and then argued, We
signed for a voyage aboard the Dove. Now it lies at the bottom of this
bay. How do we continue the voyage? How do we take seals and boil
sea elephants?
MOTOO EETEE 87
Harrison answered deliberately, As you say, our ship is gone and
now he commands nothing. But we are not in Boston or Stonington
or even near our continent. I am not sure, but as he says, he has not
given us a discharge. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl szkicerysunki.xlx.pl
No, nothing, the lad replied, I was just watching the waves. I
hoped there would be some bit of the Dove floating about, but I sup-
pose we are too far from it now. Odd that there is nothing. Surely gear
washed free, but we ve not seen a scrap.
It was the wind that shifted after we got ashore. We will see noth-
ing of it less it blows fresh again from the north ard.
The two officers had drawn ahead and were now hunkered behind
a low bush. The captain and mate peeked from their hiding place to
the beach ahead of them.
They have found something! Harrison blurted out and trotted
forward.
At that moment, Mr. Morgen turned about and motioned to the
crewmen to keep close to the rocks and stay low. Both men bent low
and rushed ahead. At the bush they dropped to their knees.
What is it? Thomas whispered.
The mate beckoned for him to come up and see for himself. Thomas
crawled forward and peeked through the leaves. To their right the angle
of the bluff became less steep and farther ahead it curved away to the
south. On the flat ground between the beach and the receding slope
was a stand of flax plants. They were taller than any he had seen in
Dusky. Some smaller, scattered plants grew nearer the shore, but
behind them the vertical, sword-like leaves formed a wall eight to ten
MOTOO EETEE 85
feet in height. They were so thick it would be slow labor to force a way
through, and at every step they might risk ambush in the dense growth.
Thomas s eye followed the beach line. It kept its curve around the bay,
but beyond the field of flax a quarter mile on, he saw the edge of a
lagoon or slough. The beach at that point became a barren bar that
separated the bay water from the slough. It was bare for its entire length
until it rejoined the high ground a mile and a half away.
The carpenter moved up beside Thomas and pointed to the gray-
green flax and said, Ah, lad, there is our rope and marline. Good as
Russian hemp. With work and patience we may have all we want.
Thomas sat back on his haunches. He looked at the captain and
Mr. Morgen, then asked, What are we waiting for? There are no sav-
ages?
No, no signs as yet, the mate explained, but you see we cannot
go farther unless we show ourselves out there. There is no way to get
through those plants on the land side. They are thick and there could
be much danger in them.
The captain agreed with a nod and declared, We ll not go out
there. We could be seen from half the island.
Then what are we to do now? Thomas demanded.
For several seconds, Captain Tobit gave him a scornful look and
spoke his answer with slow words like the beat of a drum. Do not
forget who I am. We must wait here until dark. We have no other
choice.
And leave our mates out there? Thomas cried. No, I ll not do
that! We ve seen no cannibals . . . not the least sign of them! He
leaped to his feet.
The mate grabbed at his arm to pull him down to the cover of the
bush, but Thomas wrenched free and dashed out into the open.
Damn you! the captain shouted. Where are you going?
To find my mates! Thomas yelled, turning half around as he
marched off. I ll not cower here whilst our men and boys are lost!
Damn and blast you! You betray us bolting out there! the cap-
tain screamed and rose to his feet.
86 MOTOO EETEE
The lad halted and looked defiantly back at the two officers stand-
ing behind the bush.
You have made our deaths near certain! the mate cried. These
savages feast on strangers!
With a contemptuous swipe of his arm, Thomas shouted back at
them, Go hide in the trees. I will search for our crew alone.
Captain Tobit stepped from behind the bush and walked up to the
young sailor. He stared into his eyes. I will settle with you, he hissed
in a low voice and brought his stick up and gripped it with both hands
before him like a quarterstaff.
Thomas gazed back unblinking. His mouth had a slight upturn, as
if he welcomed any move of the captain to strike him.
Not now, but later, Tobit promised. Don t think I shall forget
how you defy me. I ll not rest till I have you spread-eagled. You are
still under my command. You have no discharge from me. I will teach
you who is officer and who is man. I will cut that out on your back!
Thomas looked down on the captain s face, blotchy and red with
rage. His hair was a welter of white tufts peppered with black grit. He
was about to answer when the officer pushed past him and headed
for the bar. Immediately, the mate hurried out to join the captain.
Once more the four men moved along the beach with the officers
leading and the crewmen following. The pace was faster now that they
were visible from a greater part of the island and not delayed by their
efforts to hide. Harrison and Thomas slowed until they were out of
earshot of the mate and captain.
He has no ship, Thomas growled, therefore he is captain of noth-
ing. He can no longer order what I do.
The carpenter remained silent as he strode along and searched the
shore ahead and the island to the right.
Thomas waited a half-minute for a response and then argued, We
signed for a voyage aboard the Dove. Now it lies at the bottom of this
bay. How do we continue the voyage? How do we take seals and boil
sea elephants?
MOTOO EETEE 87
Harrison answered deliberately, As you say, our ship is gone and
now he commands nothing. But we are not in Boston or Stonington
or even near our continent. I am not sure, but as he says, he has not
given us a discharge. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]