16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
'Pretty well, I thank you,' said Jack. 'But tell
me, have you had any word of Dutourd?'
'Dutourd? No, sir,' said Tom, amazed.
'He has contrived to run, stowing away either
in the launch or possibly the Alastor herself.
The Doctor told me to keep him aboard, and
we must get him back.'
'How shall we set about it, sir?' asked Pullings.
'That indeed is a question. Perhaps the Doctor
will come back tonight. Perhaps I shall be
cleverer in the morning. But meanwhile, how
does the barky come to look so trim and spry?
How does she come to be out of the yard so
soon?'
'Why, sir,' said Pullings, laughing. 'We were
all very much at sea, our notions all ahoo.
When the shipwrights had her clear, all we
found was a stretch of copper clean gone, not