[7.3] bonito, bonito, striped tunny. This fish, which plays a considerable rôle in the novel, may be so called from its handsome coloring, steel-blue with oblique stripes of black. It belongs to the mackerel family (Scombridae), its scientific name being Sarda Sarda. It reaches a length of 2-2½ ft. and a weight of 8-10 lbs. Its flesh is rather coarse and oily, red in color, resembling beef in appearance.
[7.4] Allá veremos, We shall see when the time comes, lit. "yonder." There is an additional shade of meaning in the phrase which might be expressed by "but I won't guarantee it."
[7.5] tornó a ser. Tornar, like volver, with a + following infinitive means "to be (or do) a thing again."
[7.6] mira qué cara tan fea pone el Corsario para dormir, see what a very ugly face the Corsair (nickname) makes when he sleeps. Qué tan = cuán. Cara... para dormir might be rendered "sleeping-face" if this phrase were allowable. Cf. un estante para libros, "a book-case."
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[8.1] ¡Ay María! My goodness! It is almost superfluous to note that this and similar expressions have, like "Heavens!" in English, mon Dieu! etc., in French, a much weaker force than literal translation would convey.
[8.2] dar un testerazo, strike his head, lit. "give a blow with (-azo) the head."
[8.3] tirar ufano. This use of an adjective relating to the subject is somewhat common in Spanish in cases where in English we prefer an adverb modifying the verb.
[8.4] Se necesita que... no lo aferre, There can't be a fish in the sea without this wretch catching it, lit. "it is necessary that there be not... in order that he may not catch it." The prefix re-, attached to adjectives, adverbs and, less frequently, to nouns, is characteristic of familiar style. It adds an intensive or superlative force, which undoubtedly derives from its original force of repetition. Sometimes doubled, or takes the form rete-, e.g. ¡Qué reteinfamia! "What terrible infamy!"
[8.5] se pusieron al tanto de, became aware of.