16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
third ship must be allowed to sail right through
the tangled islands and join her companions,
for once she was in the open sea there was no
return with this breeze. Very soon the wind
would back into the west, and with the Surprise's
remarkable powers of sailing closehauled
the merchantmen could not hope to
escape.
He leaned over the edge of the crow's nest
and in a quiet voice he called, 'Captain Pullings.'
'Sir?'
'Pray let all hands go to quarters, but without
any noise at all: no drum. And as soon as the
fog closes in on us, make sail, all plain sail:
course north-north-east. For the moment let
Mr Norton go into the mizen-top with a glass
and Bonden to the fore.'