Enemy in Sight!
“Then, as January drew to a close, they picked up the north- east trade winds and headed out on the longest and final leg of their voyage. Three thousand miles of ocean, with nothing but their own meagre resources to sustain them.
But as far as Bolitho was concerned the weather for the first part of the voyage had been a welcome ally. Barely an hour passed without the hands being called to reef or trim the sails, and the ship’s company had found little time to brood over their unex- pected i...solation and the great breadth of ocean which greeted their tired eyes at every dawn.
And in spite of the hardships and privations, if not because of them, he was pleased with the way his men were shaping up. As he stood by the quarterdeck rail and watched the hands toil- ing with holystones and swabs he saw the obvious changes which had come about. Gone were the pallid skins and haggard faces. The bodies were still lean, but it was a tough leanness born of hard work and sea air, and they performed their daily tasks with- out the need of constant guidance or harrying.MoreLess
But as far as Bolitho was concerned the weather for the first part of the voyage had been a welcome ally. Barely an hour passed without the hands being called to reef or trim the sails, and the ship’s company had found little time to brood over their unex- pected i...solation and the great breadth of ocean which greeted their tired eyes at every dawn.
And in spite of the hardships and privations, if not because of them, he was pleased with the way his men were shaping up. As he stood by the quarterdeck rail and watched the hands toil- ing with holystones and swabs he saw the obvious changes which had come about. Gone were the pallid skins and haggard faces. The bodies were still lean, but it was a tough leanness born of hard work and sea air, and they performed their daily tasks with- out the need of constant guidance or harrying.MoreLess
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