16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
'I honour him for his care of them. Properly
vouched for, they may certainly live here in
freedom. Have they a trade, at all?'
'They were being carried from one French
sugar-plantation to another when their vessel
was taken: as far as I can make out – their
French amounts to a few words, no more –
that is all the work they understand.'
'We can find them places here easily
enough,' said Sam, waving towards a sea of
green cane. 'But it is hard work and ill-paid.
Would the Captain not consider keeping them
aboard?'
'He would not. We have only able seamen or
highly-skilled tradesmen – the sailmakers,
coopers, armourers – and landsmen could
never be countenanced in such a vessel as
ours. Yet surely even a low wage with freedom
is better than no wage and lifelong slavery?'