16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
when he came to the gunners and the forecastlemen,
the oldest hands aboard, ludicrously
under Reade, whose voice had not yet finished
breaking; but Jack was still worried when he
went below with his escort to inspect the galley,
the berthdeck and all the rest. He had always
felt that it was an officer's absolute duty
to know all his men, their watch, rating, abilities,
and of course their name and division:
he, Vidal and Bonden at length returned to the
daylight, filed past the remaining seamen
prisoners and so to the leeward side of the
quarterdeck where the captured officers stood.
'It is a pleasure to see you walking about and
looking so well, sir,' said one of them.
'You are very good, sir,' replied Jack. Then,
conscious of an absence, he ran his eye
sharply over the little band and cried, 'Where
is Mr Dutourd? Bonden, jump down to his
cabin and rouse him out. Find his servant.'