Морской волк

Chapter 39

           Ateighto’clockIhadsucceededonlyinputtingthesecondreefintotheforesail.Ateleveno’clockIwasnofartheralong.Blooddrippedfromeveryfinger-end,whilethenailswerebrokentothequick.FrompainandsheerexhaustionIweptinthedarkness,secretly,sothatMaudshouldnotknow.

           Then,indesperation,Iabandonedtheattempttoreefthemainsailandresolvedtotrytheexperimentofheavingtoundertheclose-reefedforesail.Threehoursmorewererequiredtogasketthemainsailandjib,andattwointhemorning,nearlydead,thelifealmostbuffetedandworkedoutofme,Ihadbarelysufficientconsciousnesstoknowtheexperimentwasasuccess.Theclose-reefedforesailworked.TheGhostclungonclosetothewindandbetrayednoinclinationtofalloffbroadsidetothetrough.

           Iwasfamished,butMaudtriedvainlytogetmetoeat.Idozedwithmymouthfulloffood.Iwouldfallasleepintheactofcarryingfoodtomymouthandwakenintormenttofindtheactyetuncompleted.SosleepilyhelplesswasIthatshewascompelledtoholdmeinmychairtopreventmybeingflungtothefloorbytheviolentpitchingoftheschooner.

           OfthepassagefromthegalleytothecabinIknewnothing.Itwasasleep-walkerMaudguidedandsupported.Infact,IwasawareofnothingtillIawoke,howlongafterIcouldnotimagine,inmybunkwithmybootsoff.Itwasdark.Iwasstiffandlame,andcriedoutwithpainwhenthebed-clothestouchedmypoorfinger-ends.

           Morninghadevidentlynotcome,soIclosedmyeyesandwenttosleepagain.

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