16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
mind as was compatible with the loss of a
mast, the presence of an active and enterprising
enemy, and of an unconscionable amount
of ice ahead in the form of floating islands or
massive floes.
He had already been down to the sick-berth
to see the very moderate casualties – two
splinter wounds, one of them the invariably
unfortunate Joe Plaice; one man struck into a
coma by a falling block but not despaired of;
one man with toes and metatarsals crushed by
a recoiling gun – and he had told Stephen
that dinner would be ready by eight bells,
adding, 'Four o'clock, you know,' in case he
did not.
He did, however, and at the first stroke he
walked eagerly in, wiping his hands. 'I am so
sorry if I have kept you, but I had to take that
foot off after all: such a mass of comminuted
bone. Pray tell me how we do.'