16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
George, tell our William to bring my other
spyglass, and bear a hand, bear a hand.
Now, do you see,' he went on, when it came,
'there is the headsman standing in the bows
with his lance, to kill the whale when he rises.
It was the boat-steerer sent the harpoon
home, of course; and now he is in the stern
again.'
'A very broad-shouldered man.'
'They generally are. The other boats are
standing by, right close, ready to pass their
lines in case he sounds again and deeper still.
Now if you look back to the ship, sir, you will
see they have had a fine morning: two whales
killed and fast to a third. They are emptying
the first one's head alongside now, or were
until they saw us and started their capering;
and an awkward time they were having of it,
with the short seas breaking over all. And the
two boats close to are towing in the second