16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
moderately so, but here the usual gunshot and
splinter wounds and the frightful effects of a
bursting gun were accompanied by the unfamiliar
wounds caused by volcanic eruption,
worse lacerations than they had seen in the
Surprise and, since the Franklin had been
closer to the vent, much more severe burning.
They were both dog-tired, short of supplies,
short of strength and of breath in the stifling
heat of the cabin, and it was with relief that
they saw Padeen arrive with lint, tow, bandages,
splints, all that an intelligent man could
think of, and heard Mr Bulkeley wind his call,
ordering the Franklins to the pumps. They
might not have understood the bosun's
French, but there was no mistaking his rope's
end, his pointing finger and his terrible voice.
Jack had sent Awkward Davies over with
Padeen, as well as the bosun and all the expert
hands he could spare – Davies was bid-