Похищенный

           IttookthecolouroutofAlan’sface,eventotellwhatfollowed.Fortherewerestilltwomenlyingimpotentintheirbunks;andthese,seeingthewaterpourinandthinkingtheshiphadfoundered,begantocryoutaloud,andthatwithsuchharrowingcriesthatallwhowereondecktumbledoneafteranotherintotheskiffandfelltotheiroars.Theywerenottwohundredyardsaway,whentherecameathirdgreatsea;andatthatthebrigliftedcleanoverthereef;hercanvasfilledforamoment,andsheseemedtosailinchaseofthem,butsettlingallthewhile;andpresentlyshedrewdownanddown,asifahandwasdrawingher;andtheseaclosedovertheCovenantofDysart.

           Neverawordtheyspokeastheypulledashore,beingstunnedwiththehorrorofthatscreaming;buttheyhadscarcesetfootuponthebeachwhenHoseasonwokeup,asifoutofamuse,andbadethemlayhandsuponAlan.Theyhungbackindeed,havinglittletastefortheemployment;butHoseasonwaslikeafiend,cryingthatAlanwasalone,thathehadagreatsumabouthim,thathehadbeenthemeansoflosingthebriganddrowningalltheircomrades,andthatherewasbothrevengeandwealthuponasinglecast.Itwassevenagainstone;inthatpartoftheshoretherewasnorockthatAlancouldsethisbackto;andthesailorsbegantospreadoutandcomebehindhim.

           “Andthen,”saidAlan,“thelittlemanwiththeredhead—Ihavenaemindofthenamethatheiscalled.”

           “Riach,”saidI.