16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
'How quiet it is,' said Martin. Uncommonly
quiet: a gentle heave and set, the yards and
rigging answering each with a murmur; but no
break and run of water, no singing of the
breeze, and scarcely a word from the few
hands aboard, grouped on the forecastle and
gazing steadily at the Franklin.
'So quiet,' said Stephen some minutes later,
'that I believe I shall take advantage of it to
write in peace for a while. There will soon be
a stamping as of wild beasts and cries of belay,
avast, and masthead, there.'
My dearest Soul, he wrote, continuing
an unfinished sheet, I have just ferried
Nathaniel Martin back, and I am afraid
he regrets his return. He was happier
messing along with Tom Pullings in the
prize, and on the few occasions when
he had come back to help me or to at-