16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
dog.'
'...craft,' said Vidal, finishing his words.
'Do not let them forget fishing-tackle and a
casting net: it may need two or three days to
beat in if this wind don't change. I shall take
Bonden, Killick, Plaice, William Johnson: and
your Ben.' The last he named after an infinitesimal
pause, for while they were speaking he
had come to an intimate conviction that Dutourd
had gone ashore in the schooner and
that taking Ben would if nothing else prevent
any foolish action on Vidal's part: it might
have been wiser to take Vidal himself, but with
so many of the most responsible and experienced
men away or wounded Vidal was by far
the best to leave in charge: he might have
chapelish, democratic, even republican views,
but he had been the master of a ship larger
than the Franklin, he was a prime seaman,
thoroughly respected, and he had a large fol-