Острів доктора Моро
In the Dingey of the “Lady Vain.”
Wethoughtthepeopleonthelaunchwouldbebetterprovisioned(thoughitseemstheywerenot),andwetriedtohailthem.Theycouldnothaveheardus,andthenextmorningwhenthedrizzlecleared,—whichwasnotuntilpastmidday,—wecouldseenothingofthem.Wecouldnotstanduptolookaboutus,becauseofthepitchingoftheboat.ThetwoothermenwhohadescapedsofarwithmewereamannamedHelmar,apassengerlikemyself,andaseamanwhosenameIdon’tknow,—ashortsturdyman,withastammer.
Wedriftedfamishing,and,afterourwaterhadcometoanend,tormentedbyanintolerablethirst,foreightdaysaltogether.Aftertheseconddaytheseasubsidedslowlytoaglassycalm.Itisquiteimpossiblefortheordinaryreadertoimaginethoseeightdays.Hehasnot,luckilyforhimself,anythinginhismemorytoimaginewith.Afterthefirstdaywesaidlittletooneanother,andlayinourplacesintheboatandstaredatthehorizon,orwatched,witheyesthatgrewlargerandmorehaggardeveryday,themiseryandweaknessgaininguponourcompanions.Thesunbecamepitiless.Thewaterendedonthefourthday,andwewerealreadythinkingstrangethingsandsayingthemwithoureyes;butitwas,Ithink,thesixthbeforeHelmargavevoicetothethingwehadallbeenthinking.Irememberourvoicesweredryandthin,sothatwebenttowardsoneanotherandsparedourwords.
