16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
the rise, sir; clap on,' and the keg came
aboard. Martin started the bung with a serving-mallet:
he had only a filthy can to serve it
out, but in this unnatural parching heat neither
filth nor can was of the least account, only the
infinitely precious water.
'Now, sir,' said Stephen to Dutourd, 'a pint is
all, or you will bloat. Sit here and show me
your head.' Beneath the handkerchief, dried
blood and matted hair, there was a razor-like
cut along the side of his scalp, certainly a
piece of flying metal: Stephen clipped,
sponged and sewed – no reaction as the needle
went in – clapped a bandage over all and
said, 'That should answer for the moment.
Pray go on deck and set your men to pumping
more briskly. They may have the other
breaker.'
Stephen was thoroughly accustomed to the
consequences of a battle at sea and Martin