Ностромо
Chapter 8
He,too,hadbeenflungawayfromthelongtiller,whichtookchargeinthelurch.Nextmomentthesteamerwouldhavepassedon,leavingthelightertosinkorswimafterhavingshoulderedherthusoutofherway,andwithoutevengettingaglimpseofherform,haditnotbeenthat,beingdeeplyladenwithstoresandthegreatnumberofpeopleonboard,heranchorwaslowenoughtohookitselfintooneofthewireshroudsofthelighter’smast.Forthespaceoftwoorthreegaspingbreathsthatnewropeheldagainstthesuddenstrain.ItwasthisthatgaveDecoudthesensationofthesnatchingpull,draggingthelighterawaytodestruction.Thecauseofit,ofcourse,wasinexplicabletohim.Thewholethingwassosuddenthathehadnotimetothink.Butallhissensationswereperfectlyclear;hehadkeptcompletepossessionofhimself;infact,hewasevenpleasantlyawareofthatcalmnessattheverymomentofbeingpitchedheadfirstoverthetransom,tostruggleonhisbackinalotofwater.SenorHirsch’sshriekhehadheardandrecognizedwhilehewasregaininghisfeet,alwayswiththatmysterioussensationofbeingdraggedheadlongthroughthedarkness.Notaword,notacryescapedhim;hehadnotimetoseeanything;andfollowinguponthedespairingscreamsforhelp,thedraggingmotionceasedsosuddenlythathestaggeredforwardwithopenarmsandfellagainstthepileofthetreasureboxes.
