9
" Yet a most discreditable scene it was when he opened the larboard door of the bright-lit gunroom. Here were men, accustomed to bloodshed from their childhood, now running about like a parcel of hens, mopping Jacob's arm with their napkins, giving advice, proffering glasses of water, wine, brandy, loosening his neckcloth, undoing his breeches at the waist and the knee. The purser was literally wringing his hands.
'Pass the word for Poll Skeeping,' cried Stephen in a harsh peremptory tone. He thrust them aside irrespective of rank, whipped out a lancet (always in a side-pocket), slit Jacob's sleeve up to the shoulder, cut the shirt away, uncovered the spurting brachial artery and two other ample sources of blood on the same limb. "
― Patrick O'Brian , Blue at the Mizzen (Aubrey & Maturin #20)
14
" Jack,’ said Stephen, ‘a signal has just come in. It has not all been decoded, but the opening is addressed to you by name and ship and if you choose I will read you what has been made out and try to decode the rest as I go – it has been crumpled in the journey and I may miss some words. But here is the essence:
‘Immediately upon receipt of the present order you will proceed to the River Plate, there joining the South African squadron: you will go aboard HMS Implacable, hoisting your flag, blue at the mizzen and take command of the blue squadron.’
Jack sat down, bowing his face in his hands: he was almost unmanned, but after a moment he did say,
‘Read that again, will you, Stephen? "
― Patrick O'Brian , Blue at the Mizzen (Aubrey & Maturin #20)
