Старик и море

           Noflyingfishbrokethesurfaceandtherewasnoscatteringofbaitfish. Butastheoldmanwatched,asmalltunaroseintheair,turnedanddroppedheadfirstintothewater. Thetunashonesilverinthesunandafterhehaddroppedbackintothewateranotherandanotherroseandtheywerejumpinginalldirections, churningthewaterandleapinginlongjumpsafterthebait. Theywerecirclingitanddrivingit. 

           Iftheydon’ttraveltoofastIwillgetintothem,theoldmanthought, andhewatchedtheschoolworkingthewaterwhiteandthebirdnowdroppinganddippingintothebaitfishthatwereforcedtothesurfaceintheirpanic. 

           "Thebirdisagreathelp,"theoldmansaid. Justthenthesternlinecametautunderhisfoot,wherehehadkeptaloopoftheline, andhedroppedhisoarsandfelttheweightofthesmalltuna’sshiveringpullasheheldthelinefirmandcommencedtohaulitin. Theshiveringincreasedashepulledinandhecouldseethebluebackofthefishinthewater andthegoldofhissidesbeforeheswunghimoverthesideandintotheboat. Helayinthesterninthesun,compactandbulletshaped, hisbig,unintelligenteyesstaringashethumpedhislifeoutagainsttheplankingoftheboatwiththequickshiveringstrokesofhisneat,fast-movingtail. Theoldmanhithimontheheadforkindnessandkickedhim,hisbodystillshuddering,undertheshadeofthestern. 

           "Albacore,"hesaidaloud."He’llmakeabeautifulbait. He’llweightenpounds."