Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 19
Itwasnothalfamileoff.Icriedout,sothattheothertwo,kneelingandreelingandclutchingforsupport,werepeeringandstaringatwhatIsaw.
“Straightforit,Daniel,”CaptainNichollmumbledcommand.“Theremaybeacove.Theremaybeacove.Itisouronlychance.”
Onceagainhespoke,whenwewereatopthatdreadfulleeshorewithnocoveexistent.
“Straightforit,Daniel.Ifwegoclearwearetooweakevertowinbackagainstseaandwind.”
Hewasright.Iobeyed.Hedrewhiswatchandlooked,andIaskedthetime.Itwasfiveo’clock.HestretchedouthishandtoArnoldBentham,whometandshookitweakly;andbothgazedatme,intheireyesextendingthatsamehand-clasp.Itwasfarewell,Iknew;forwhatchancehadcreaturessofeebleaswetowinaliveoverthosesurf-batteredrockstothehigherrocksbeyond?
Twentyfeetfromshoretheboatwassnatchedoutofmycontrol.InatriceitwasoverturnedandIwasstranglinginthesalt.Ineversawmycompanionsagain.BygoodfortuneIwasbuoyedbythesteering-oarIstillgrasped,andbygreatgoodfortuneaflingofsea,attherightinstant,attherightspot,threwmefarupthegentleslopeoftheoneshelvingrockonallthatterribleshore.Iwasnothurt.Iwasnotbruised.
