Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 19
Idividedandissuedthemeatunderthecaptain’seyes,andmanageditfairlyenough,Godknows,althoughsomeofthemengrumbledfromthefirst.Also,fromtimetotimeImadefairdivisionamongthemenoftheplugtobaccoIhadstowedinmymanypockets—athingwhichIcouldnotbutregret,especiallywhenIknewitwasbeingwastedonthismanandthatwhoIwascertaincouldnotliveadaymore,or,atbest,twodaysorthree.
Forwebegantodiesoonintheopenboat.Nottostarvationbuttothekillingcoldandexposurewerethoseearlierdeathsdue.Itwasamatterofthesurvivalofthetoughestandtheluckiest.Iwastoughbyconstitution,andluckyinasmuchasIwaswarmlycladandhadnotbrokenmyleglikeAaronNorthrup.Evenso,sostrongwashethat,despitebeingthefirsttobeseverelyfrozen,hewasdaysinpassing.VanceHathawaywasthefirst.Wefoundhiminthegrayofdawncroucheddoubledinthebowandfrozenstiff.Theboy,LishDickery,wasthesecondtogo.Theotherboy,BennyHardwater,lastedtenoradozendays.
Sobitterwasitintheboatthatourwaterandbeerfrozesolid,anditwasadifficulttaskjustlytoapportionthepiecesIbrokeoffwithNorthrup’sclaspknife.Thesepiecesweputinourmouthsandsuckedtilltheymelted.Also,onoccasionofsnow-squalls,wehadallthesnowwedesired.Allofwhichwasnotgoodforus,causingafeverofinflammationtoattackourmouthssothatthemembraneswerecontinuallydryandburning.
