16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
ancestor of the llama, as you will recall, but
this one was caught young, and now he is
quite tame.'
'A fine animal,' said Stephen, looking at the
slim elegant fawn-coloured white-bellied creature,
which held its long neck high and returned
his gaze quite fearlessly. 'About twelve
hands, I believe.'
'Twelve hands exactly, sir. And here, coming
up the path, is our best llama: his name in
Quichua means spotless snow.'
'An even finer animal,' said Stephen, turning
to watch the llama walk delicately up the path
with an Indian boy, balancing its head delicately
from side to side. He had barely fixed
his attention upon the llama, estimating its
height and weight, before the guanaco, gathering
itself, bounded forward with both front
knees bent and struck him a little below the