16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
ordinary force as they sailed large under mere
topsails and they close-reefed, sweeping as
wide an expanse of the somewhat hazy sea as
ever they could, perpetually looking for their
quarry or to their consort for a signal. Theoretically
each could see at least fifteen miles in
all directions; and even with the necessity for
keeping within clear signalling distance they
covered a vast area, but the veering wind
brought low scud and it was not until early in
the forenoon watch, with the misty sun two
spans above the horizon, that the exultant hail
'Sail ho!' came down from the masthead,
echoing below, even into the sick-berth itself.
'We've found them!' cried Martin with a triumph
that contrasted strangely with his now
habitually anxious, withdrawn, cheerless expression.
'Go along, my dears,' said Stephen to the little
girls, whose duties were already over, and