16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
you see?'
'Precious little, sir,' the voice came floating
down. 'It is cruel hazy – orange sorts of haze –
in the south-east; but sometimes I catch what
might be a twinkle of topgallants.'
West shook his head, but went on, 'No, no,
Doctor; never you fret about our dinner. Cook
and steward laid it on handsome, and though
we may be a little late I am sure we shall eat it
– there, do you see, the crosstrees go aloft.
They will be swaying up the mast directly.'
'Will they indeed? Order out of chaos so
soon?'
'Certainly they will. Never you fret about your
dinner.'
'I will not,' said Stephen, who accepted what
seamen told him about ships with the same
simplicity as that with which they accepted
what he told them about their bodies. 'Take