Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 15
Washedandrolledoffthehighpoopbyaburstofsea,wewereleftstrandedinthewaistoftheship,whencewefoughtourwayfor’ardtothesteep-pitchedforecastle-head.Othersjoinedus.Welashedourselvesfastandcountednoses.Wewereeighteen.Theresthadperished.
JohannesMaartenstouchedmeandpointedupwardthroughcascadingsalt-waterfromtheback-flingofthecliff.Isawwhathedesired.Twentyfeetbelowthetrucktheforemastgroundandcrunchedagainstabossofthecliff.Abovethebosswasacleft.HewantedtoknowifIwoulddaretheleapfromthemast-headintothecleft.Sometimesthedistancewasascantsixfeet.Atothertimesitwasascore,forthemastreeleddrunkenlytotherollingandpoundingofthehullonwhichresteditssplinteredbutt.
Ibegantheclimb.Buttheydidnotwait.Onebyonetheyunlashedthemselvesandfollowedmeuptheperilousmast.Therewasreasonforhaste,foratanymomenttheSparwehrmightslipoffintodeepwater.Itimedmyleap,andmadeit,landinginthecleftinascrambleandreadytolendahandtothosewholeapedafter.Itwasslowwork.Wewerewetandhalffreezinginthewind-drive.Besides,theleapshadtobetimedtotherollofthehullandtheswayofthemast.
Thecookwasthefirsttogo.Hewassnappedoffthemast-end,andhisbodyperformedcart-wheelsinitsfall.Aflingofseacaughthimandcrushedhimtoapulpagainstthecliff.
