16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
head. Oh masthead. What do you see?'
'Nothing, sir,' called the lookout. 'Black as
Hell down there.'
Away to the larboard the sun had risen twenty
minutes ago. The scud overhead was grey,
and through gaps in it lighter clouds and even
whitish sky could be seen. Ahead and on the
starboard bow all was black indeed: astern,
quite far astern, all was blacker still. The wind
had hauled forward half a point, blowing with
almost the same force; the sea was more
regular by far – heavy still, but no crosscurrent.
All those on deck were motionless: some with
swabs poised, some with buckets and holystones,
unconscious of their immediate surroundings,
every man's face turned earnestly,
with the utmost concentration, to the blueblack
east-south-east.