Старик и море

           Andatdaylightwhenthebettorswereaskingthatitbecalledadrawandtherefereewasshakinghishead, hehadunleashedhiseffortandforcedthehandofthenegrodownanddownuntilitrestedonthewood. ThematchhadstartedonaSundaymorningandendedonaMondaymorning. ManyofthebettorshadaskedforadrawbecausetheyhadtogotoworkonthedocksloadingsacksofsugarorattheHavanaCoalCompany. Otherwiseeveryonewouldhavewantedittogotoafinish. Buthehadfinisheditanywayandbeforeanyonehadtogotowork. 

           ForalongtimeafterthateveryonehadcalledhimTheChampionandtherehadbeenareturnmatchinthespring. Butnotmuchmoneywasbet andhehadwonitquiteeasilysincehehadbrokentheconfidenceofthenegrofromCienfuegosinthefirstmatch. Afterthathehadafewmatchesandthennomore. Hedecidedthathecouldbeatanyoneifhewantedtobadlyenough andhedecidedthatitwasbadforhisrighthandforfishing. Hehadtriedafewpracticematcheswithhislefthand. Buthislefthandhadalwaysbeenatraitorandwouldnotdowhathecalledonittodoandhedidnottrustit. 

           Thesunwillbakeitoutwellnow,hethought. Itshouldnotcramponmeagainunlessitgetstoocoldinthenight. Iwonderwhatthisnightwillbring. 

           AnairplanepassedoverheadonitscoursetoMiami andhewatcheditsshadowscaringuptheschoolsofflyingfish. 

           "Withsomuchflyingfishthereshouldbedolphin,"hesaid, andleanedbackonthelinetoseeifitwaspossibletogainanyonhisfish.