16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
box which, bursting, revealed a sum so vast
that it could only have been intended for the
subversion of a government; and he strongly
suspected him of having dished two English
traitors, Ledward and Wray, attached to a
French mission to the Sultan of Prabang.
In a parenthesis he heard Stephen's voice:
'Tell me, Jack, my dear, is dish a nautical
term?'
'We often use it in the Navy,' Jack replied. 'It
means to ruin or frustrate or even destroy.
Sometimes we say scupper; and there are
coarser words, but I shall not embarrass you
by repeating them.'
On the windward bow Canopus was just
clearing the horizon. 'Stand by to go about,'
he called, and his companions ran to their
stations. He eased off half a point, cried,
'Helm's a-lee,' and ducking under the boom