16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
he brought the launch round in a true smooth
curve, filling with barely a check on the starboard
tack.
The moon was lowering now, and dimmed
by a high veil she gave so little light that he
scarcely saw Johnson come aft. 'Shall I spell
you now, sir?' he asked, and his teeth showed
in the darkness.
'Why, no thank you, Johnson,' said Jack. 'I
shall sit here for a while.'
The launch sailed on and on, almost steering
herself as the breeze grew lighter: and as the
seas declined – no breaking crests at all – so
the water became alive with phosphorescence,
a pale fire streaming away and away in her
wake but also gleaming in vast amorphous
bodies at depths of perhaps ten or even twenty
fathoms, and at various levels the movement
of fishes could be seen, interweaving lanes or