16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
ing Moahu yams, and as a particular indulgence
a large quantity of plum duff; they had
also drunk a quarter of a pint of Sydney rum,
publicly diluted with three quarters of a pint of
water and lemon-juice, and now with full bellies
and benevolent minds they felt that the
natural order of things was returning: the
barky, though cruelly mauled, was in a fair
way to being shipshape; and they were bearing
down upon their prey.
Closer and closer, until the capricious breeze
headed them and Jack steered south and west
to run alongside the Franklin on the following
tack. But as the Surprise was seen to change
course a confused bawling arose from the
Franklin and a kind of raft was launched over
her side, paddled by a single man with a
bloody bandage round his head. Jack let fly
the sheets, checking the frigate's way, and the
man, heaved closer by the swell, called, 'Pray