16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
the time taken by even a slight turn, by the
discharge and the falling off again to her true
course would almost certainly make the Surprise
lose her race against the iceberg's
movement.
'My compliments to Captain Pullings,' he
said, having looked fore and aft, 'and beg he
will direct all his attention to the brig's foremast
and yard.'
The stern-chase guns in the cabin below increased
their rate of fire. Eight shots in rapid
succession, and there was a triumphant roar.
Jack turned, saw the brig shoot up into the
wind, her square foresail down on deck, her
fore-and-aft mainsail swinging her helplessly
out of control. He nodded, but the real essence
of the matter lay ahead: not half a mile
ahead. With his good eye he could now
gauge his leeway exactly against a long fissure
in the ice. It would be a near-run thing, a