Ностромо
Chapter 8
Withthatoutshewouldfillveryquickly,andeverylightercarriedalittleironballast—enoughtomakehergodownwhenfullofwater.WhenhestoodupagainthenoisywashabouttheHermosasoundedfaraway,almostinaudible;andalreadyhecouldmakeouttheshapeoflandabouttheharbourentrance.Thiswasadesperateaffair,andhewasagoodswimmer.Amilewasnothingtohim,andheknewofaneasyplaceforlandingjustbelowtheearthworksoftheoldabandonedfort.Itoccurredtohimwithapeculiarfascinationthatthisfortwasagoodplaceinwhichtosleepthedaythroughaftersomanysleeplessnights.
Withoneblowofthetillerheunshippedforthepurpose,heknockedtheplugout,butdidnottakethetroubletolowerthesail.Hefeltthewaterwellingupheavilyabouthislegsbeforeheleapedontothetaffrail.There,uprightandmotionless,inhisshirtandtrousersonly,hestoodwaiting.Whenhehadfelthersettlehesprangfarawaywithamightysplash.
Atonceheturnedhishead.Thegloomy,cloudeddawnfrombehindthemountainsshowedhimonthesmoothwaterstheuppercornerofthesail,adarkwettriangleofcanvaswavingslightlytoandfro.Hesawitvanish,asifjerkedunder,andthenstruckoutfortheshore.
