Вітер у вербах
Wayfarers All
"Thecaptain’scabin’sgoodenoughforme."
"It’sahardlife,byallaccounts,"murmuredtheRat,sunkindeepthought.
"Forthecrewitis,"repliedtheseafarergravely,againwiththeghostofawink.
"FromCorsica,"hewenton,"Imadeuseofashipthatwastakingwinetothemainland.WemadeAlassiointheevening,layto,hauledupourwine-casks,andhovethemoverboard,tiedonetotheotherbyalongline.Thenthecrewtooktotheboatsandrowedshorewards,singingastheywent,anddrawingafterthemthelongbobbingprocessionofcasks,likeamileofporpoises.Onthesandstheyhadhorseswaiting,whichdraggedthecasksupthesteepstreetofthelittletownwithafinerushandclatterandscramble.Whenthelastcaskwasin,wewentandrefreshedandrested,andsatlateintothenight,drinkingwithourfriends,andnextmorningItooktothegreatolive-woodsforaspellandarest.FornowIhaddonewithislandsforthetime,andportsandshippingwereplentiful;soIledalazylifeamongthepeasants,lyingandwatchingthemwork,orstretchedhighonthehillsidewiththeblueMediterraneanfarbelowme.Andsoatlength,byeasystages,andpartlyonfoot,partlybysea,toMarseilles,andthemeetingofoldshipmates,andthevisitingofgreatocean-boundvessels,andfeastingoncemore.
