Похищенный
Chapter 11
“Ye’vemadeasorehashofmybrig;Ihaven’thandsenoughlefttoworkher;andmyfirstofficer(whomIcouldillspare)hasgotyourswordthroughouthisvitals,andpassedwithoutspeech.Thereisnothingleftme,sir,buttoputbackintotheportofGlasgowafterhands;andthere(byyourleave)yewillfindthemthatarebetterabletotalktoyou.”
“Ay?”saidAlan;“andfaith,I’llhaveatalkwiththemmysel’!Unlessthere’snaebodyspeaksEnglishinthattown,Ihaveabonnytaleforthem.Fifteentarrysailorsupontheoneside,andamanandahalflingboyupontheother!O,man,it’speetiful!”
Hoseasonflushedred.
“No,”continuedAlan,“that’llnodo.Ye’lljusthavetosetmeashoreasweagreed.”
“Ay,”saidHoseason,“butmyfirstofficerisdead—yekenbesthow.There’snoneoftherestofusacquaintwiththiscoast,sir;andit’soneverydangeroustoships.”
“Igiveyeyourchoice,”saysAlan.“SetmeondrygroundinAppin,orArdgour,orinMorven,orArisaig,orMorar;or,inbrief,whereyeplease,withinthirtymilesofmyowncountry;exceptinacountryoftheCampbells.That’sabroadtarget.Ifyemissthat,yemustbeasfecklessatthesailoringasIhavefoundyeatthefighting.Why,mypoorcountrypeopleintheirbitcoblespassfromislandtoislandinallweathers,ay,andbynighttoo,forthematterofthat.”
“Acoble’snotaship,sir,”saidthecaptain.“Ithasnaedraughtofwater.”
“Well,then,toGlasgowifyelist!”saysAlan.