16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
than his official cabin aft. He was on his way
there, accompanied by Sarah carrying basin,
lint, bandages, when as they passed through
the checkered shafts of daylight coming down
from the deck they heard the call, 'Signal for
parting company, sir,' and Pullings' reply, 'Acknowledge
and salute.'
'Oh sir,' cried Sarah, 'may we run up and
look?'
'Very well,' said Stephen, 'But put down your
basin and the lint, and walk soberly.'
The ships separated with the smooth inevitability
of a sea-parting, slow at first, still within
calling-distance, and then, if one's attention
were distracted for a few moments by a bird, a
floating patch of seaweed, the gap had grown
to a mile and one's friends' faces were no
longer to be made out, for with the warm
steady southerly breeze ships sailing in oppo-