Коралловый остров

Chapter 16

           Butthatwhichformedourbestandmostserviceablehookwasthebrassfinger-ringbelongingtoJack.Itgavehimnotalittletroubletomanufactureit.Firsthecutitwiththeaxe,thentwisteditintotheformofahook.Thebarbtookhimseveralhourstocut.Hediditbymeansofconstantsawingwiththebrokenpenknife.Asforthepoint,anhour’srubbingonapieceofsandstonemadeanexcellentone.

           Itwouldbeamatterofmuchtimeandlabourtodescribetheappearanceofthemultitudesoffishthatweredayafterdaydrawnintoourboatbymeansofthebrasshook.Peterkinalwayscaughtthem—forweobservedthathederivedmuchpleasurefromfishing—whileJackandIfoundampleamusementinlookingon,alsoingazingdownatthecoralgroves,andinbaitingthehook.Amongthefishthatwesaw,butdidnotcatch,wereporpoisesandswordfish,whalesandsharks.Theporpoisescamefrequentlyintoourlagooninshoals,andamusedusnotalittlebytheirboldleapsintotheairandtheirplayfulgambolsinthesea.Theswordfishwerewonderfulcreatures—someofthemapparentlytenfeetinlength,withanivoryspearsixoreightfeetlongprojectingfromtheirnoses.Weoftensawthemdartingafterotherfish,andnodoubttheysometimeskilledthemwiththeirivoryswords.Jackrememberedhavingheardonceofaswordfishattackingaship,whichseemedstrangeindeed;butastheyareofteninthehabitofattackingwhales,perhapsitmistooktheshipforone.

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