Последний отзыв
Да, первый рассказ из сборника, что я успела прочитать, что надо! И написано хорошо, и содержание необычное, но жизненное. Очень понравилось, хотя там...
Далее
По всем вопросам обращайтесь на: info@litportal.ru
(©) 2003-2024.
✖
The Buccaneer Chief: A Romance of the Spanish Main
Настройки чтения
Размер шрифта
Высота строк
Поля
"All right."
"Is Michael aboard?"
"Yes, admiral."
"Ah, you have recognised me, my lad?"
"Of course," said the Breton.
"I suppose you are watching over my prisoner?"
"I answer for him."
"But do not annoy him unnecessarily."
"All right, admiral, we will be gentle with him."
"Is Omopoua aboard at this moment?"
"Here I am, master," a second voice immediately replied.
"Ah, ah," the filibuster said with satisfaction, "all the better. I want you – come ashore."
"Are you in a hurry, master?"
"A great hurry."
"In that case, wait a moment."
And ere the filibuster could guess the Carib's intention, the noise of a body falling in the water could be heard, and two or three minutes later the Indian rested his hands on the gunwale of the canoe.
"Here I am," he said.
Montbarts could not refrain from smiling on seeing with what promptitude the savage obeyed his orders. He held out his hand, and helped him to get into the boat.
"Why such a hurry?" he said to him in a tone of friendly reproach.
The Indian shook himself like a drowned poodle.
"Nonsense," he said, "I am all right."
"Have you got the Indian?" Bowline asked.
"Yes: now good night; you will see me tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
"Pull," the filibuster said to the engagé.
The latter dipped his paddles, and the canoe resumed its course.
Ten minutes later, it ran aground at the very spot where Montbarts had seized it for the purpose of going to Nevis. The three men landed on the beach, pulled up the canoe, and went off in the direction of the hatto.
They passed through the town and a swarm of filibusters, who were celebrating by songs, shouts, and libations their last hours of liberty.
They went on in silence. When the three men reached the hatto, Montbarts lit a candle, and searched the house with the greatest care, to make sure that no stranger was present; then he returned to his two comrades, who were waiting for him in the Esplanade.
"Come in," he merely said to them.
They followed him.
Montbarts sat down in a chair, and then turned to the Carib.
"I have to talk with you, Omopoua," he said.
"Good," the Indian remarked, joyously; "in that case you have need of me."
"If that were true you would be satisfied, then?"
"Yes, I should be."
"For what reason?"
"Because, since I have found a white man who is good and generous, I am anxious to prove to you that all the Caribs are not ferocious and untameable, but know how to be grateful."
"I promised you, I think, to take you back to your country?"
"Yes, you made me that promise."
"Unfortunately, as I am appointed chief of an important expedition, which will probably last some time, it is impossible for me at this moment to take you back to Haiti."
The Indian's face grew dark on hearing this.
"Do not grieve, but listen to me attentively," the filibuster continued, who had noticed the change that took place in the Indian's face.
"I am listening to you."
"What I cannot do you are able to effect by yourself, if I supply you with the means."
"I do not exactly understand what the white Chief means; I am only a poor Indian, with limited ideas. I require to have things explained to me very clearly before I understand them; but it is true, that when I do understand I never forget."
"You are a Carib, hence you know how to manage a canoe?"
"Yes," the Indian answered, with a proud smile.
"Suppose I gave you a canoe, do you believe that you could fetch Haiti?"
"The great land is very far away," he said, in a sorrowful voice, "the voyage very long for a single man, however brave he may be."
Другие электронные книги автора Gustave Aimard
Последний отзыв
Да, первый рассказ из сборника, что я успела прочитать, что надо! И написано хорошо, и содержание необычное, но жизненное. Очень понравилось, хотя там...
Далее