16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
while their mouths were still rounded, young
Wedell came in with Mr Grainger's compliments
and duty to the Captain and might he
set the weather studdingsails? The breeze had
veered half a point and he reckoned they
would stand.
'Oh, by all means, Mr Wedell,' cried Jack.
'Let him crack on till all sneers again.'
Just how it became known throughout the
ship that the Captain's chase had a beast in
view, and that it was not only the joy of being
homeward-bound that caused him to spread
so much canvas, to spend so much time on
deck, taking every possible advantage of the
wind and whipping jibs and staysails in and
out, could not be clearly stated; yet known it
was, and no officer or master's mate ever had
to emphasize, still less repeat, any order that