Старик и море

           Therewasnopartofthehookthatagreatfishcouldfeelwhichwasnotsweetsmellingandgoodtasting. 

           Theboyhadgivenhimtwofreshsmalltunas, oralbacores,whichhungonthetwodeepestlineslikeplummetsand,ontheothers,hehadabigbluerunnerandayellowjackthathadbeenusedbefore; buttheywereingoodconditionstillandhadtheexcellentsardinestogivethemscentandattractiveness. Eachline,asthickaroundasabigpencil,wasloopedontoagreen-sappedsticksothatanypullortouchonthebaitwouldmakethestickdip andeachlinehadtwoforty-fathomcoilswhichcouldbemadefasttotheothersparecoilssothat, ifitwerenecessary,afishcouldtakeoutoverthreehundredfathomsofline. 

           Nowthemanwatchedthedipofthethreesticksoverthesideoftheskiffandrowedgentlytokeepthelinesstraightupanddownandattheirproperdepths. Itwasquitelightandanymomentnowthesunwouldrise. 

           Thesunrosethinlyfromtheseaandtheoldmancouldseetheotherboats, lowonthewaterandwellintowardtheshore,spreadoutacrossthecurrent. Thenthesunwasbrighterandtheglarecameonthewaterandthen,asitroseclear,theflatseasentitbackathiseyessothatithurtsharplyandherowedwithoutlookingintoit. Helookeddownintothewaterandwatchedthelinesthatwentstraightdownintothedarkofthewater. Hekeptthemstraighterthananyonedid,sothatateachlevelinthedarknessofthestreamtherewouldbeabaitwaitingexactlywherehewishedittobeforanyfishthatswamthere.