16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
pepper, just half a stone or so, in the Captain's
storeroom itself?'
'Sir, I have searched it through and through,
in spite of that wicked Killick, and – see, she is
rounding to.'
The schooner checked her way and a tall
young midshipman, standing on her low rail
and holding a shroud, hailed, 'The ship ahoy
– if ship you can be called, poor hulk [this in
an undertone] – what ship is that?'
'His Majesty's hired vessel Surprise,' replied
Tom. 'Captain Pullings.'
All along her side the schooner's hands stood
grinning, staring, making offensive gestures:
the Surprises looked back with stony hatred.
'Come aboard with your papers,' said the
midshipman.
'Take that American contraption back to the
Berenice,' roared Jack, half-way down the rat-