16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
The muffled sound of many feet below: guns
run out with infinite precaution – no more than
the faint squeak of a truck, the inevitable but
stifled clash of round-shot. Then the fog
closed in and without a single order the sails
dropped from their yards or rose silently along
their stays.
The frigate gathered way. Pullings could be
heard saying, 'Thus, thus, very well thus,' to the
helmsman as she settled on her course. Three
bells. 'Dowse that God-damn bell,' said Jack,
rather loud.
Fifteen minutes more, and as he had expected
the breeze freshened, backing westward.
He felt a sudden chill waft about him;
and he was not alone, for the whalers looked
at one another with a meaning nod.
'Sir,' called Bonden. 'Two sail of ships on the
larboard beam. No. A brig and a ship.'