16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
out of it most uncommon well. I for one never
supposed that tonight we could turn in and
sleep in peace.'
In peace they slept, profound peace, the
peace of physically exhausted but easyminded
and very well fed men, at least until
the graveyard watch. On the moonlit deck
Wilkins, on being relieved by Grainger at
eight bells, said, 'Here you have her: reefed
courses, foretopsail atrip; course north-east by
north; Captain's orders in the binnacle
drawer.' Then, in a conversational tone, 'You
may have something of a ducking in an hour
or so.'
'Yes,' said Grainger, also looking into the
north-east, where low dark clouds quite hid
the sky, 'I dare say we shall. A drop of rain
and this precious cold will wake me up. Dear
Lord, how fast asleep I was, and warm!'