Викрадений
Chapter 13
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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.
