Остров сокровищ

The Cruise of the Coracle

           Andifso,wherewerethemen?Eithertheyweredeaddrunkorhaddesertedher,Ithought,andperhapsifIcouldgetonboardImightreturnthevesseltohercaptain.

           Thecurrentwasbearingcoracleandschoonersouthwardatanequalrate.Asforthelatter’ssailing,itwassowildandintermittent,andshehungeachtimesolonginirons,thatshecertainlygainednothing,ifshedidnotevenlose.IfonlyIdaredtositupandpaddle,ImadesurethatIcouldoverhaulher.Theschemehadanairofadventurethatinspiredme,andthethoughtofthewaterbreakerbesidetheforecompaniondoubledmygrowingcourage.

           UpIgot,waswelcomedalmostinstantlybyanothercloudofspray,butthistimestucktomypurposeandsetmyself,withallmystrengthandcaution,topaddleaftertheunsteeredHispaniola.OnceIshippedaseasoheavythatIhadtostopandbail,withmyheartflutteringlikeabird,butgraduallyIgotintothewayofthethingandguidedmycoracleamongthewaves,withonlynowandthenablowuponherbowsandadashoffoaminmyface.

           Iwasnowgainingrapidlyontheschooner;Icouldseethebrassglistenonthetillerasitbangedabout,andstillnosoulappeareduponherdecks.Icouldnotchoosebutsupposeshewasdeserted.Ifnot,themenwerelyingdrunkbelow,whereImightbattenthemdown,perhaps,anddowhatIchosewiththeship.

           Forsometimeshehadbeendoingtheworsethingpossibleformestandingstill.Sheheadednearlyduesouth,yawing,ofcourse,allthetime.Eachtimeshefelloff,hersailspartlyfilled,andthesebroughtherinamomentrighttothewindagain.

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