16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
sea, the weather, the possibilities of a capture,
and Stephen heard Martin say, 'Homo hominis
lupus.'
Jack called the Franklin up by signal and
when she was within half a cable's length he
stepped right aft and called out, 'Tom, we
have picked up a barrel, seemingly fresh, perhaps
from a Yankee whaler. Bear away to
leeward and let us sweep on our former
course.'
Not a great deal was left of the tropical day,
but until the very dipping of the sun every
masthead was manned and relieved each
bell; and some lingered on throughout the
brief twilight. Even the most sanguine had
known that the chance of finding a ship in this
immensity of ocean with no more than a barrel
and the known habits of South Sea whalers
for guidance was very remote, although hope
was sustained by the presence of sea-birds