16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
distinct entity, sombre purple, sky-tall, curving
over at the top and with white water all along
its foot, now covering half the horizon and
sweeping along at an inconceivable speed for
such a bulk.
Then it was upon them. Blinding rain, shattered
water driving so thick among the great
heavy drops that one could hardly breathe;
and the ship, as though given some frightful
spur, leapt forward in the dark confused turmoil
of water.
While the forefront of the squall enveloped
them and for quite long after its extreme violence
had passed on ahead, time had little
meaning; but as the enormous rain dwindled
to little more than a shower and the wind returned
to its strong steady southeast course,
the men at the wheel eased their powerful
grip, breathing freely and nodding to one another
and the sodden quartermaster, the