16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
deck, and though sodden and bruised he was
perfectly in possession of his wits. 'Oh sir,' he
cried from twenty yards, 'Oh sir, I am so sorry
– oh how I hope we han't missed the chase.'
'Are you hurt?' asked Jack.
'Not at all, sir: but I am so sorry you should
have...'
'Then clap on to my hair' – the Captain wore
it long and clubbed, 'and so get set on my
shoulders. D'ye hear me there?'
From time to time on the way back to the
ship Reade apologized into Jack's ear, or
hoped they had not lost the chase; but he was
often choked with salt water, for Jack was now
swimming against the wind and the set of the
sea, and he plunged deep at every stroke.
Reade was less coldly received aboard than
might have been expected: in the first place he
was much esteemed by all hands, and in the