16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
hind her; Jack rounded to and ranged up on
the whaler's starboard side.
'I have left her for you, sir,' called Pullings
across the prize's deck.
'Quite right, Tom,' replied Jack, and wiping
the spray from his face – for even here, in the
lee of two ships, the waves were chopping
high – he gave the order 'Blue cutter away. Mr
Grainger, go across, if you please: take possession
and send the master back with his papers.
The whaler, ahoy!'
'Sir?'
'Start a couple of casks fore and aft, d'ye
hear me, there?'
'Aye aye, sir,' said the master, a sparse, hardfeatured
man, now awkwardly willing to
please; and a moment later whale-oil poured
from the scuppers, spreading with extreme rapidity.
The sea did not cease heaving, but the