16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
their drivers drank and rested, he felt his smile
return of its own accord: there on the road
ahead was a tall black horse carrying a taller,
blacker rider at a fine easy trot towards Callao.
At the same moment the trot changed to
a brisk canter, and a yard from Stephen Sam
leapt from the saddle, his own smile still
broader.
They embraced and walked slowly along,
each asking the other how he did, the horse
gazing into their faces with some curiosity.
'But tell me, sir, how is the Captain?'
'His main being is well, thanks be to God–'
'Thanks be to God.'
' – but he had the wad of a pistol in his eye.
The bullet itself rebounded from his skull – a
certain concussion – a certain passing forgetfulness
– no more. But the wad set up an inflammation
that had not yet quite yielded to