Похищенный

           ”

           Bythistime,nowandthensheeringtoonesideortheothertoavoidareef,butstillhuggingthewindandtheland,wehadgotroundIonaandbeguntocomealongsideMull.Thetideatthetailofthelandranverystrong,andthrewthebrigabout.Twohandswereputtothehelm,andHoseasonhimselfwouldsometimeslendahelp;anditwasstrangetoseethreestrongmenthrowtheirweightuponthetiller,andit(likealivingthing)struggleagainstanddrivethemback.Thiswouldhavebeenthegreaterdangerhadnottheseabeenforsomewhilefreeofobstacles.Mr.Riach,besides,announcedfromthetopthathesawclearwaterahead.

           “Yewereright,”saidHoseasontoAlan.“Yehavesavedthebrig,sir.I’llmindthatwhenwecometoclearaccounts.”AndIbelievehenotonlymeantwhathesaid,butwouldhavedoneit;sohighaplacedidtheCovenantholdinhisaffections.

           Butthisismatteronlyforconjecture,thingshavinggoneotherwisethanheforecast.

           “Keepherawayapoint,”singsoutMr.Riach.“Reeftowindward!”

           Andjustatthesametimethetidecaughtthebrig,andthrewthewindoutofhersails.Shecameroundintothewindlikeatop,andthenextmomentstruckthereefwithsuchadunchasthrewusallflatuponthedeck,andcameneartoshakeMr.Riachfromhisplaceuponthemast.

           Iwasonmyfeetinaminute.ThereefonwhichwehadstruckwascloseinunderthesouthwestendofMull,offalittleisletheycallEarraid,whichlaylowandblackuponthelarboard.