16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
Jack, suddenly so angry with extreme weariness
that it cowed even Killick. 'You and Grimshaw
jump forward to the cabin next the bosun's:
get a bed from Mr Adams, sling a
hammock, and lay him in it. And have his seachest
lighted along, d'ye hear me, there?'
Extreme weariness: it pervaded both ships,
evening out the gloom of the defeated and the
elation of the conquerors. Both sets of men
would have resigned prize-money or freedom
to be allowed to go below and take their
ease. But it was not to be: the few able-bodied
prisoners had to pump steadily to keep their
ship clear, or haul on a rope at the word of
command; and in both ships it was all hands
on deck until enough canvas could be spread
to allow them at least to lie to in something
like safety if it came on to blow; for the glass
was far from steady, and neither the midday
nor the present evening sky was at all certain.