FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159  
160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   >>   >|  
tigued, and worn out: the more so when, like Costal, he carries a knife between his teeth-- thus impeding his free respiration. But the ex-pearl-diver did not think of parting with the weapon--his only resource, in case of being attacked by the sharks--and still keeping his lips closed upon it, he swam on. After a time, he felt his heart beating violently against his ribs. He attributed this circumstance less to fear than to the efforts he was making; and, taking the knife from his mouth, he carried it in one of his hands. The pulsations of his heart were not the less rapid: for it may be acknowledged, without much shame to him, that Costal now really felt fear. Moreover, swimming with one hand closed, it was necessary for him to strike more rapidly with the other. The precaution of holding his knife ready in hand, was not likely to prove an idle one. The two sharks appeared gradually converging upon the line which the swimmer must take, if he continued to swim directly onward. On observing this convergence of his silent and persevering pursuers, Costal suddenly obliqued to the right. The sharks imitated his movement on the instant, and swam on each side of him as before! For a few minutes--long and fearful minutes--he was forced to keep on in this new direction. He began to fancy he was swimming out of the way he should have taken; and was about to turn once more to the left, when an object came before his eyes that prompted him to utter an ejaculation of joy. In spite of himself, he had been guided into the right direction, by the very enemies from whom he was endeavouring to escape; and it was the sight of the barges that had drawn from him the joyful exclamation. The moment after, he uttered a louder cry, hailing the boats. He had the satisfaction of hearing a response; but as no one saw him through the darkness, it was necessary for him to continue swimming onwards. By this time the two sharks had closed on each side, and were gliding along so near, that only a narrow way was open between them. Costal felt that he had not sufficient strength to make a detour; and the only course left him, was to swim straight for the nearest boat. He kept on therefore, his heart beating against his ribs, and with his knife firmly held in his grasp--ready to bury the weapon in the throat of the first that should assail him. With the last efforts of his strength he lunged out right and left, by voice and
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159  
160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
sharks
 

Costal

 

closed

 

swimming

 

minutes

 
efforts
 
direction
 

beating

 
strength
 

weapon


endeavouring

 

enemies

 
joyful
 

barges

 
escape
 

object

 
prompted
 
exclamation
 

ejaculation

 

guided


continue

 

nearest

 

straight

 

sufficient

 

detour

 

firmly

 

lunged

 

assail

 

throat

 

narrow


satisfaction

 
hearing
 

response

 

hailing

 

uttered

 
louder
 

gliding

 
onwards
 

darkness

 
moment

swimmer
 

attributed

 
circumstance
 
making
 

violently

 

keeping

 
taking
 

acknowledged

 
carried
 

pulsations