16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
sion...! If you had heard him you would have
been convinced directly: he has a wonderful
gift, you might say an unction, even in a foreign
language. Our people think the world of
him.'
'He certainly speaks English remarkably well.'
'And not only that, sir. He is remarkably good
to what were his own men. You know how he
sat up with them night after night in the sickberth
until they were either cured or put over
the side. And although the master of the
Franklin and his mates were right hard-horse
drivers, the men who are with us now say Mr
D was always stepping in to protect them –
would not have them flogged.'
At this point, just before eight bells, a sleepy,
yawning Grainger came on deck to relieve his
shipmate; and the starboard watch, most of
whom had been sleeping in the waist, began