16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
lap; while day after day men are brought below
with cruel bruises, even broken bones,
and are falling from the frozen ropes above or
slipping on the icy deck below. Do you not
think it would be better to go home?'
'Yes. It often occurs to me, but then my innate
nobility of character cries out, 'Hey, Jack Aubrey:
you mind your duty, d'ye hear me there?'
Do you know about duty, Stephen?'
'I believe I have heard it well spoken of.'
'Well, it exists. And apart from the obvious
duty of distressing the King's enemies – not
that I have anything against Americans: they
are capital seamen and they treated us most
handsomely in Boston. But it is my duty. Apart
from that, I say, we also have a duty to the officers
and the foremast jacks. They have
brought the barky here in the hope of three
China ships, and if I call out, 'Oh be damned