16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
gon of nautical virtue and of many others, is
answerable to his owners, insatiable men who
know nothing of charity or good-will. Yet since
there is no question of either, why does not
your patient sail in The Three Graces'? We
have two empty state-rooms amidships; and
she is a remarkably steady ship.'
'This is very precipitate, Francis Geary,' said
Stephen.
'So it is,' replied Geary, 'but the voyage itself
will be tranquil and deliberate: Captain Hill
very rarely spreads royals; we are to touch at
Iquique and Valparaiso and perhaps at another
port in Chile – so many pauses for refreshment
on shore – and we are to prepare
ourselves at the entrance to the Magellan
Straits at the very best time of the year for the
eastward passage. Captain Hill does not
choose to risk his owners' spars off the Horn:
furthermore, he is an acknowledged expert on