Русалочка

           Atlengththeshipgroanedandcreaked;thethickplanksgavewayunderthelashingoftheseaasitbrokeoverthedeck;themainmastsnappedasunderlikeareed;theshiplayoveronherside;andthewaterrushedin. Thelittlemermaidnowperceivedthatthecrewwereindanger;evensheherselfwasobligedtobecarefultoavoidthebeamsandplanksofthewreckwhichlayscatteredonthewater. Atonemomentitwassopitchdarkthatshecouldnotseeasingleobject,butaflashoflightningrevealedthewholescene;shecouldseeeveryonewhohadbeenonboardexceptingtheprince; whentheshipparted,shehadseenhimsinkintothedeepwaves, andshewasglad,forshethoughthewouldnowbewithher;andthensherememberedthathumanbeingscouldnotliveinthewater,sothatwhenhegotdowntoherfather’spalacehewouldbequitedead. Buthemustnotdie. Sosheswamaboutamongthebeamsandplankswhichstrewedthesurfaceofthesea,forgettingthattheycouldcrushhertopieces. Thenshediveddeeplyunderthedarkwaters,risingandfallingwiththewaves,tillatlengthshemanagedtoreachtheyoungprince,whowasfastlosingthepowerofswimminginthatstormysea. Hislimbswerefailinghim,hisbeautifuleyeswereclosed,andhewouldhavediedhadnotthelittlemermaidcometohisassistance. Sheheldhisheadabovethewater,andletthewavesdriftthemwheretheywould. 

           Inthemorningthestormhadceased;butoftheshipnotasinglefragmentcouldbeseen.