16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
staff and handed them up. The train moved
on; Stephen gathered his reins. 'No,' said
Eduardo. 'Pray watch. You will see me read
them as quick as a clearly-written letter.'
This he did, but as he read his expression
changed. His pleasant ingenuous young face
closed and at the end he said, 'I beg your
pardon, don Esteban: I had thought it was just
my agent in Cuzco asking whether he might
send a draft of llamas to Potosi, this being the
runner who usually brings his messages'. But
now it is quite another matter. We must go no
farther south. Gayongos has a ship for Valparaiso
that will touch at Arica. We must cut
across by the Huechopillan... it is a high pass,
don Esteban, but you will not mind a high
pass. I am very sorry I must forego the pleasure
of showing you the rheas of the altiplano
this time and the great wastes of salt; but not
far from the Huechopillan there is a lake on