Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 19
BycarefuleconomyIknewIhaddrinksufficientuntilthenextrain,nomatterhowdelayed,shouldfall.Myhutwasquitewashedoutbytheseas,andofmygreatstoreofsealmeatonlyawretched,pulpymodicumremained.NeverthelessIwasagreeablysurprisedtofindtherocksplentifullydistributedwithasortoffishmorenearlylikethemulletthananyIhadeverobserved.OftheseIpickedupnolessthantwelvehundredandnineteen,whichIsplitandcuredinthesunafterthemannerofcod.Thiswelcomechangeofdietwasnotwithoutitsconsequence.Iwasguiltyofgluttony,andforallofthesucceedingnightIwasneartodeath’sdoor.
Intheseventhyearofmystayontheisland,intheverysamemonthofMarch,occurredasimilarstormofgreatviolence.Followinguponit,tomyastonishment,Ifoundanenormousdeadwhale,quitefresh,whichhadbeencastuphighanddrybythewaves.ConceivemygratificationwheninthebowelsofthegreatfishIfounddeeplyimbeddedaharpoonofthecommonsortwithafewfathomsofnewlineattachedthereto.
ThusweremyhopesagainrevivedthatIshouldfinallymeetwithanopportunitytoquitthedesolateisland.Beyonddoubttheseseaswerefrequentedbywhalemen,and,solongasIkeptupastoutheart,soonerorlaterIshouldbesaved.ForsevenyearsIhadlivedonsealmeat,sothatatsightoftheenormousplentitudeofdifferentandsucculentfoodIfellavictimtomyweaknessandateofsuchquantitiesthatonceagainIwaswellnightodying.
