16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
the breeze.
'Mr Reade,' called Jack, 'pray heave the log.'
'Aye aye, sir: heave the log it is,' replied
Reade, all duty and submission still. The usual
ceremony followed: the log-ship splashed over
the leeward quarter, went astern at a walking
pace until it was free of what mild eddies the
Surprise might make, watched with the closest
attention by all hands. The moment the bunting
that marked the end of the stray-line went
over the rail Reade cried 'Turn,' and Norton
turned the twenty-eight-second sand-glass,
holding it close to his eye. As the last grain fell
he bawled 'Stop' and Reade nipped the line a
little after the second knot had passed. The
quartermaster holding the log reel gave the
line a tweak, dislodging a pin so that the logship
floated sideways, and wound it in. Reade
measured the distance between his nip and
the second knot with a knowing eye: 'Two