16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
THREE
They buried West in 12° 35' N, 152° 17' W;
and some days later his clothes, according to
the custom of the sea, were sold at the mainmast.
Henry Vidal, a master-mariner shipping as a
forecastle-hand for this voyage, bought West's
formal coat and breeches. He and his Knipperdolling
friends removed all the lace and
any ornament that could be taken for a mark
of rank, and it was in these severe garments
that he presented himself, on his promotion to
acting second lieutenant, for his first dinner in
the gunroom.
For this occasion too Stephen dined below;