第8章 The Sharks Attack[第2页/共13页]

They sailed well and the old man soaked his hands in the salt water and tried to keep his head clear.There were high cumulus clouds and enough cirrus above them so that the old man knew the breeze would last all night.The old man looked at the fish constantly to make sure it was true.It was an hour before the first shark hit him.

It was too good to last,he thought.I wish it had been a dream now and that I had never hooked the fish and was alone in bed on the newspapers.

“Don't think,old man,”he said aloud.“Sail on this course and take it when it comes.”

The old man settled himself to steer.He did not even watch the big shark sinking slowly in the water,showing first life-size,then small,then tiny.That always fascinated the old man.But he did not even watch it now.

The shark swung over and the old man saw his eye was not alive and then he swung over once again,wrapping himself in two loops of the rope.The old man knew that he was dead but the shark would not accept it.Then,on his back,with his tail lashing and his jaws clicking,the shark plowed over the water as a speed-boat does.The water was white where his tail beat it and three-quarters of his body was clear above the water when the rope came taut ,shivered, and then snapped.The shark lay quietly for a little while on the surface and the old man watched him. Then he went down very slowly.