16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
the wind: her starboard guns bore in succession
and fired, each with accurate deliberation.
She had a surprising amount of way on her
and in a quick aside Jack said, 'Tom, I am going
to put her about if ever she will stay: do
what you can.' Then aloud, 'Larboard guns:
one round as they bear. Sail-trimmers away.'
He put the helm over; the good ship responded,
turning, turning, turning, dead into
the wind. If she missed stays, if she fell off, all
was lost. She turned yet, turning just beyond
the crucial point, with hands madly flatting-in
forward to help her, filled her jib and head
staysails on the other tack and she was round:
and the larboard guns were bearing, at pointblank
range. The moment the last was fired
and made fast the gun-crews all leapt to
brace round and to haul aft the sheets that
had been let go and to clear the horrible ap-