16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
The Surprise, having checked her way, received
her Captain with all the ceremony she
could manage in her present state. The bosun's
mates piped the side; Tom Pullings, acting
as first lieutenant, Mr Grainger, the second,
Mr Adams, the clerk and de facto purser,
and both midshipmen, all in formal clothes,
took off their hats; and the Captain touched
his own to the quarterdeck. Then with a nod to
Pullings he went below, where Killick, who had
been watching his progress from the moment
he left the Franklin, had a pot of coffee ready.
Attracted by the smell, Stephen walked in,
holding a sharpened razor in his hand; but
perceiving that Jack and Pullings meant to talk
about matters to do with the ship he drank
only two cups and withdrew to the fore-cabin
in which he usually had his being. Jack called
after him 'As soon as Martin has changed his
clothes, he will be on deck, you know,' and at