#hmss6

[aubreyad-indexed]

The whole quarterdeck and the greater part of the ship’s company were gazing at the resuscitated Doctor, his older shipmates with plain delight, the others with heavy wonder: Pullings went so far as to push between the captain and the surgeon and to seize him by the arm.

–H.M.S. Surprise, Patrick O'Brian

[aubreyad-indexed]

In the dead hour of the middle watch he appeared on deck in his night-shirt, looked attentively at the log-board by the binnacle- light, and desired Pullings to shorten sail at eight bells. He appeared again, like a restless ghost, at five bells, and backed his topsails for a while. His calculations were remarkably exact, and he brought the frigate into Rio just as the sun rose behind her and bathed the whole fantastic spectacle in golden light. Yet even this did not answer: even this did not close the breach.

Stephen, on being routed out of bed to behold it, observed ‘that it was curious how vulgar Nature could be at times – meretricious, ad captandum vulgus effects – very much the kind of thing attempted to be accomplished at Astley’s or Ranelagh, and fortunately missed of.’ 

-H.M.S. Surprise, Patrick O'Brian

(The context of this, of course, is that Stephen is angry because Jack got his sloth drunk)

[aubreyad-indexed]

In the morning he appeared, eager and sharp-set at the breakfast-table, on the first stroke of the bell. ‘Are you sure you should not stay abed?’ cried Jack.

‘Never in life, soul,’ said Stephen, reaching for the coffee-pot, ‘am I not telling you for ever that I am well?’

– HMS Surprise, Patrick O’Brian

[aubreyad-indexed]

‘But Stephen, I have been thinking about you. I must heave the ship down, re-stow her — Mr. Stanhope’s dunnage and presents are all ahoo in the after-hold — get her more by the head, shift all manner of things; and it occurred to me, now you are so amazing agile, should not you like to take a week’s leave and ride into the interior? Jaguars, ostriches, unicorns -,’

‘Oh Jack, how truly good of you! I had to put violence upon myself to come away from Cape St Roque, to abandon that vegetable magnificence. The Brazilian forest is the haunt of the tapir, the boa, the peccary! You may find it hard to credit, Jack, but never yet have I beheld a boa.’

– HMS Surprise, Patrick O’Brian

[aubreyad-indexed]

‘Come, you must go below and to bed. M’Alister shall physic you. Mr M’Alister, pray take Dr Maturin below -,’

‘Let me carry you, sir,’ said Pullings.

‘I will give you a hand,’ said Hervey.

The whole quarterdeck and the greater part of the ship’s company were gazing at the resuscitated Doctor, his older shipmates with plain delight, the others with heavy wonder: Pullings went so far as to push between the captain and the surgeon and to seize him by the arm.

— Patrick O’Brian, HMS Surprise