16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
frozen hand slipped on the coat of ice: he
would have fallen but that his legs, so long at
sea, instantly whipped round the shroud below
and held him for the vital moment.
On deck he said, 'Tom, when the hands have
had their breakfast let us shake out our reefs
and set the foretopgallant. Look at that fellow'
– nodding southwards – 'he has studdingsails
both sides, aloft and alow.'
'I dare say he has a clear stretch of water, for
the moment; but I must say the ice-field looks
right solid down there,' said Pullings hopefully,
and they both staggered as the Surprise struck
yet another heavy floe.
There was a hanging stove lit in the cabin,
still more coffee, endless eggs and bacon,
toast, a creditable Peruvian orange marmalade.
Jack, stripped to his waistcoat, absorbed
these things and the warmth; but he had little