16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
ing watch with frequent trimming of sail, taking
reefs in and shaking them out, with much
toil and anxiety over the rain-water, separating
the foul from the clean, and with very frequent
soakings, hurried below through the downpour
to drip more or less dry in their hammocks.
Jack remained on deck. The wind had slackened
a little and it was now coming in over
the frigate's quarter; the sea was less lumpy: if
this continued, and it was likely to do so, he
could soon set topgallants. But neither the set
of the sea nor the wind was his first concern at
present. During the night they had lost the
Franklin, and unless they could find her again
their sweep would be nothing like so efficient;
besides, with even the remote prospect of an
action his aim was always to bring a wholly
decisive force into play. He was scarcely what
would be called a timid man, but he far pre-