Морський вовк

Chapter 1

           ThevesselscametogetherbeforeIcouldfollowhisadvice.Wemusthavebeenstrucksquarelyamidships,forIsawnothing,thestrangesteamboathavingpassedbeyondmylineofvision.TheMartinezheeledover,sharply,andtherewasacrashingandrendingoftimber.Iwasthrownflatonthewetdeck,andbeforeIcouldscrambletomyfeetIheardthescreamofthewomen.Thisitwas,Iamcertainthemostindescribableofblood-curdlingsoundsthatthrewmeintoapanic.Irememberedthelife-preserversstoredinthecabin,butwasmetatthedoorandsweptbackwardbyawildrushofmenandwomen.WhathappenedinthenextfewminutesIdonotrecollect,thoughIhaveaclearremembranceofpullingdownlife-preserversfromtheoverheadracks,whilethered-facedmanfastenedthemaboutthebodiesofanhystericalgroupofwomen.ThismemoryisasdistinctandsharpasthatofanypictureIhaveseen.Itisapicture,andIcanseeitnowthejaggededgesoftheholeinthesideofthecabin,throughwhichthegreyfogswirledandeddied;theemptyupholsteredseats,litteredwithalltheevidencesofsuddenflight,suchaspackages,handsatchels,umbrellas,andwraps;thestoutgentlemanwhohadbeenreadingmyessay,encasedincorkandcanvas,themagazinestillinhishand,andaskingmewithmonotonousinsistenceifIthoughttherewasanydanger;thered-facedman,stumpinggallantlyaroundonhisartificiallegsandbucklinglife-preserversonallcomers;andfinally,thescreamingbedlamofwomen.

           Thisitwas,thescreamingofthewomen,thatmosttriedmynerves.Itmusthavetried,too,thenervesofthered-facedman,forIhaveanotherpicturewhichwillneverfadefrommymind.Thestoutgentlemanisstuffingthemagazineintohisovercoatpocketandlookingoncuriously.Atangledmassofwomen,withdrawn,whitefacesandopenmouths,isshriekinglikeachorusoflostsouls;andthered-facedman,hisfacenowpurplishwithwrath,andwitharmsextendedoverheadasintheactofhurlingthunderbolts,isshouting,"Shutup!Oh,shutup!"

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