Старик и море

           Hislinewasstrongandmadeforheavyfishandhehelditagainsthisbackuntilitwassotautthatbeadsofwaterwerejumpingfromit. Thenitbegantomakeaslowhissingsoundinthewaterandhestillheldit,bracinghimselfagainstthethwartandleaningbackagainstthepull. TheboatbegantomoveslowlyofftowardtheNorth-West. 

           Thefishmovedsteadilyandtheytravelledslowlyonthecalmwater. Theotherbaitswerestillinthewaterbuttherewasnothingtobedone. 

           "IwishIhadtheboy,"theoldmansaidaloud. "I’mbeingtowedbyafishandI’mthetowingbitt. Icouldmakethelinefast. Butthenhecouldbreakit. ImustholdhimallIcanandgivehimlinewhenhemusthaveit. ThankGodheistravellingandnotgoingdown." 

           WhatIwilldoifhedecidestogodown,Idon’tknow. WhatI’lldoifhesoundsanddiesIdon’tknow. ButI’lldosomething. ThereareplentyofthingsIcando. 

           HeheldthelineagainsthisbackandwatcheditsslantinthewaterandtheskiffmovingsteadilytotheNorth-West. 

           Thiswillkillhim,theoldmanthought.Hecan’tdothisforever. Butfourhourslaterthefishwasstillswimmingsteadilyouttosea,towingtheskiff, andtheoldmanwasstillbracedsolidlywiththelineacrosshisback. 

           "ItwasnoonwhenIhookedhim,"hesaid."AndIhaveneverseenhim." 

           Hehadpushedhisstrawhatharddownonhisheadbeforehehookedthefishanditwascuttinghisforehead.