16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
way altogether, with no masts at all. How she
rolls! Do you suppose we shall be able to
catch her? Our sails seem somewhat out of
order.'
'Perhaps we shall,' said Jack. 'We should
have steerage-way in about five minutes. But
there is no hurry. She has few hands on deck,
and those few cannot be called very brisk. I
had much rather bear down fully prepared, so
that there can be no argument, no foolish
waste of life, let alone spars and cordage.'
Six bells, and Stephen said, 'I must go below.'
Jack gave him a hand as far as the ladder,
and having urged him 'to clap on for dear life'
asked whether they should meet for breakfast,
adding that 'this unnatural hell-fire sea would
go down as suddenly as it had got up.'
'A late breakfast? I hope so indeed,' said
Stephen, making his way down by single steps