Старик и море

           Ithadawireleaderandamedium-sizedhookandhebaiteditwithoneofthesardines. Heletitgooverthesideandthenmadeitfasttoaringboltinthestern. Thenhebaitedanotherlineandleftitcoiledintheshadeofthebow. Hewentbacktorowingandtowatchingthelong-wingedblackbirdwhowasworking,now,lowoverthewater. 

           Ashewatchedthebirddippedagainslantinghiswingsforthediveandthenswingingthemwildlyandineffectuallyashefollowedtheflyingfish. Theoldmancouldseetheslightbulgeinthewaterthatthebigdolphinraisedastheyfollowedtheescapingfish. Thedolphinwerecuttingthroughthewaterbelowtheflightofthefishandwouldbeinthewater,drivingatspeed,whenthefishdropped. Itisabigschoolofdolphin,hethought. Theyarewidespreadandtheflyingfishhavelittlechance. Thebirdhasnochance. Theflyingfisharetoobigforhimandtheygotoofast. 

           Hewatchedtheflyingfishburstoutagainandagainandtheineffectualmovementsofthebird. Thatschoolhasgottenawayfromme,hethought. Theyaremovingouttoofastandtoofar. ButperhapsIwillpickupastrayandperhapsmybigfishisaroundthem. Mybigfishmustbesomewhere. 

           Thecloudsoverthelandnowroselikemountainsandthecoastwasonlyalonggreenlinewiththegraybluehillsbehindit. Thewaterwasadarkbluenow,sodarkthatitwasalmostpurple. Ashelookeddownintoithesawtheredsiftingoftheplanktoninthedarkwaterandthestrangelightthesunmadenow.