Похищенный
Chapter 13
WhileIwashailingthebrig,Ispiedatractofwaterlyingbetweenuswherenogreatwavescame,butwhichyetboiledwhitealloverandbristledinthemoonwithringsandbubbles.Sometimesthewholetractswungtooneside,likethetailofaliveserpent;sometimes,foraglimpse,itwouldalldisappearandthenboilupagain.WhatitwasIhadnoguess,whichforthetimeincreasedmyfearofit;butInowknowitmusthavebeentheroostortiderace,whichhadcarriedmeawaysofastandtumbledmeaboutsocruelly,andatlast,asiftiredofthatplay,hadflungoutmeandthespareyarduponitslandwardmargin.
Inowlayquitebecalmed,andbegantofeelthatamancandieofcoldaswellasofdrowning.TheshoresofEarraidwereclosein;Icouldseeinthemoonlightthedotsofheatherandthesparklingofthemicaintherocks.
“Well,”thoughtItomyself,“ifIcannotgetasfarasthat,it’sstrange!”
Ihadnoskillofswimming,EssenWaterbeingsmallinourneighbourhood;butwhenIlaidholdupontheyardwithbotharms,andkickedoutwithbothfeet,IsoonbeguntofindthatIwasmoving.Hardworkitwas,andmortallyslow;butinaboutanhourofkickingandsplashing,Ihadgotwellinbetweenthepointsofasandybaysurroundedbylowhills.
Theseawasherequitequiet;therewasnosoundofanysurf;themoonshoneclear;andIthoughtinmyheartIhadneverseenaplacesodesertanddesolate
