16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
frigate's prizes on the way out. You may take
the whaler's mate, bosun and cook – no arms,
of course, either on themselves or in their
chests – and several of our people.'
'Very good, sir,' said Vidal, unmoved.
'As for getting the water across, you have half
an hour: there is not a minute to lose; and
since the sea is a little choppy, spend the oil
and spare not. A couple of casks are neither
here nor there.'
'Aye, aye, sir: spend and spare not it is.'
'Jack!' cried Stephen, coming in to their
strangely late and even twilit dinner, 'did you
know that those active mariners have brought
a large number of hogsheads aboard, and
they filled with fresh water?'
'Have they, indeed?' asked Jack. 'You amaze
me.'
'They have, too. May I have some to sponge