16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
drum-taut on her mizen gleaming in the sun.
'Very fine, indeed,' he said.
'She reminds me of the old Victory,' observed
Reade after a moment.
'Surely to God the Victory has not been sunk,
or sold out of the service?' asked Stephen,
quite startled. 'I knew she was old, but thought
her immortal, the great ark of the world.'
'No, sir, no,' said Reade patiently. 'We saw
her in the chops of the Channel, not two days
out. What I mean is in ancient times, in the
last age, before the war even, she used to
have a mizen like that. We have a picture of
her at home: my father was her second lieutenant
at Toulon, you know. But come, sir,
you will have to shift your coat or go below.
The Captain will be aboard any minute now.'
'Perhaps I should disappear,' said Stephen,
passing a hand over his unshaven chin.