Межзвёздный скиталец

           AndwithbrainreelingfromweaknessIwasabletocrawlandscramblefartherupbeyondtheclutchingbackwashofthesea.

           Istoodupright,knowingmyselfsaved,andthankingGod,andstaggeringasIstood.Alreadytheboatwaspoundedtoathousandfragments.AndthoughIsawthemnot,IcouldguesshowgrievouslyhadbeenpoundedthebodiesofCaptainNichollandArnoldBentham.Isawanoarontheedgeofthefoam,andatcertainriskIdrewitclear.ThenIfelltomyknees,knowingmyselffainting.Andyet,ereIfainted,withasailor’sinstinctIdraggedmybodyonandupamongthecruelhurtingrockstofaintfinallybeyondthereachofthesea.

           Iwasnearadeadmanmyself,thatnight,mostlyinstupor,onlydimlyawareattimesoftheextremityofcoldandwetthatIendured.Morningbroughtmeastonishmentandterror.Noplant,notabladeofgrass,grewonthatwretchedprojectionofrockfromtheocean’sbottom.Aquarterofamileinwidthandahalfmileinlength,itwasnomorethanaheapofrocks.NaughtcouldIdiscovertogratifythecravingsofexhaustednature.Iwasconsumedwiththirst,yetwastherenofreshwater.InvainItastedtomymouth’sundoingeverycavityanddepressionintherocks.Thesprayofthegalesocompletelyhadenvelopedeveryportionoftheislandthateverydepressionwasfilledwithwatersaltasthesea.

           Oftheboatremainednothing—notevenasplintertoshowthataboathadbeen.