Морской волк

Chapter 1

           Thepang,asIplungedintoit,wasasquickandsharpasthatoffire.Itbittothemarrow.Itwaslikethegripofdeath.Igaspedwiththeanguishandshockofit,fillingmylungsbeforethelife-preserverpoppedmetothesurface.Thetasteofthesaltwasstronginmymouth,andIwasstranglingwiththeacridstuffinmythroatandlungs.

           Butitwasthecoldthatwasmostdistressing.IfeltthatIcouldsurvivebutafewminutes.Peoplewerestrugglingandflounderinginthewateraboutme.Icouldhearthemcryingouttooneanother.AndIheard,also,thesoundofoars.Evidentlythestrangesteamboathadlowereditsboats.AsthetimewentbyImarvelledthatIwasstillalive.Ihadnosensationwhateverinmylowerlimbs,whileachillingnumbnesswaswrappingaboutmyheartandcreepingintoit.Smallwaves,withspitefulfoamingcrests,continuallybrokeovermeandintomymouth,sendingmeoffintomorestranglingparoxysms.

           Thenoisesgrewindistinct,thoughIheardafinalanddespairingchorusofscreamsinthedistance,andknewthattheMartinezhadgonedown.LaterhowmuchlaterIhavenoknowledgeIcametomyselfwithastartoffear.Iwasalone.Icouldhearnocallsorcriesonlythesoundofthewaves,madeweirdlyhollowandreverberantbythefog.Apanicinacrowd,whichpartakesofasortofcommunityofinterest,isnotsoterribleasapanicwhenoneisbyoneself;andsuchapanicInowsuffered.WhitherwasIdrifting?Thered-facedmanhadsaidthatthetidewasebbingthroughtheGoldenGate.WasI,then,beingcarriedouttosea?Andthelife-preserverinwhichIfloated?Wasitnotliabletogotopiecesatanymoment?Ihadheardofsuchthingsbeingmadeofpaperandhollowrusheswhichquicklybecamesaturatedandlostallbuoyancy.AndIcouldnotswimastroke.AndIwasalone,floating,apparently,inthemidstofagreyprimordialvastness.Iconfessthatamadnessseizedme,thatIshriekedaloudasthewomenhadshrieked,andbeatthewaterwithmynumbhands.

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