16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
the bosun attaches it to the broken mast by a
certain knot – he bids them heave, or haul –
he encourages them with cries – with blows.
Those must be the idle prisoners. The stump
rises – it is detached, cast off – they bring the
new spar – I believe it is one of our spare topmasts
– they make it fast – up it rises, up and
up and up until it dangles over the very hole,
the partners as the mariner calls it – and yet
with the motion of the ship how it wanders! –
Mr Bulkeley seizes it – he cries out – they
lower away and the mast descends – it is firm,
pinned no doubt and wedged. Someone – it is
surely Barret Bonden – is hoisted to the trestletrees
to place the rigging over the upper end
in due order.'
'If you please, sir,' said Emily, 'Padeen says
may Willis have his slime-draught now?'
'He may have it at the third stroke of the bell,'
said Stephen. She ran off, her slim black form