16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
lines, 'and tell Captain Dundas with Captain
Aubrey's compliments that he will wait upon
him. D'ye hear me, there?'
'Yes, sir,' replied the midshipman, and on either
side of him the simpering stopped dead.
'Aye aye, sir: Captain Aubrey's compliments...
Sir,' he called across the widening lane, 'may I
say Philip Aubrey is aboard?'
Oh the mirth aboard the Surprise. Several of
the younger men leapt into the rigging, ostentatiously
slapping their buttocks at the schooner
as she fled away, sailing unbelievably
close to the wind. But more, many more of the
hands gathered in the waist or on the forecastle,
oblivious of the cold, revelling in their
prize-money preserved, even as it were restored,
laughing, clapping one another on the
back.
The ships drew near; nearer. 'I know perfectly