16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
On the starboard side of the cabin a dozen
men lay side by side and another was
stretched out motionless on the stern-window
locker; in this heat they were suffering terribly
from thirst. But the ship had such a heel to
larboard that on the other side there was a
wretched tangle of living and dead washing
about with every roll: screams, groaning, a
shocking stench and cries for help, cries for
rescue.
'Come, sir, take off your coat,' said Stephen.
Dutourd obeyed and the three of them pulled
and lifted with what care they could. The dead
they dragged to the half-deck; the living they
laid in something like an order of urgency.
'Can you command your men?' asked
Stephen.
'Some few, I think,' said Dutourd. 'But most of
them are drunk.'