Ностромо
Chapter 8
Thoughhewasstiflingunderthelighter’ssailwhichNostromohadunwittinglyloweredontopofhim,hedidnotevendaretoputouthisheadtilltheverymomentofthesteamerstriking.Then,indeed,heleapedrightout,spurredontonewmiraclesofbodilyvigourbythisnewshapeofdanger.Theinrushofwaterwhenthelighterheeledoverunsealedhislips.Hisshriek,“Saveme!”wasthefirstdistinctwarningofthecollisionforthepeopleonboardthesteamer.Nextmomentthewireshroudparted,andthereleasedanchorsweptoverthelighter’sforecastle.ItcameagainstthebreastofSenorHirsch,whosimplyseizedholdofit,withoutintheleastknowingwhatitwas,butcurlinghisarmsandlegsuponthepartabovetheflukewithaninvincible,unreasonabletenacity.Thelighteryawedoffwide,andthesteamer,movingon,carriedhimaway,clinginghard,andshoutingforhelp.Itwassometime,however,afterthesteamerhadstoppedthathispositionwasdiscovered.Hissustainedyelpingforhelpseemedtocomefromsomebodyswimminginthewater.Atlastacoupleofmenwentoverthebowsandhauledhimonboard.HewascarriedstraightofftoSotilloonthebridge.Hisexaminationconfirmedtheimpressionthatsomecrafthadbeenrunoverandsunk,butitwasimpracticableonsuchadarknighttolookforthepositiveproofoffloatingwreckage.Sotillowasmoreanxiousthanevernowtoentertheharbourwithoutlossoftime;theideathathehaddestroyedtheprincipalobjectofhisexpeditionwastoointolerabletobeaccepted.
