Старик и море

           AtleastthekindofstrengththatIneed. NowIhavedonewhatIcan,hethought. Lethimbegintocircleandletthefightcome. 

           Thesunwasrisingforthethirdtimesincehehadputtoseawhenthefishstartedtocircle. 

           Hecouldnotseebytheslantofthelinethatthefishwascircling. Itwastooearlyforthat. Hejustfeltafaintslackeningofthepressureofthelineandhecommencedtopullonitgentlywithhisrighthand. Ittightened,asalways,butjustwhenhereachedthepointwhereitwouldbreak,linebegantocomein. Heslippedhisshouldersandheadfromunderthelineandbegantopullinlinesteadilyandgently. Heusedbothofhishandsinaswingingmotionandtriedtodothepullingasmuchashecouldwithhisbodyandhislegs. Hisoldlegsandshoulderspivotedwiththeswingingofthepulling. 

           "Itisaverybigcircle,"hesaid."Butheiscircling." 

           Thenthelinewouldnotcomeinanymoreandheheldituntilhesawthedropsjumpingfromitinthesun. Thenitstartedoutandtheoldmankneltdownandletitgogrudginglybackintothedarkwater. 

           "Heismakingthefarpartofhiscirclenow,"hesaid. ImustholdallIcan,hethought. Thestrainwillshortenhiscircleeachtime. PerhapsinanhourIwillseehim. NowImustconvincehimandthenImustkillhim. 

           Butthefishkeptoncirclingslowlyandtheoldmanwaswetwithsweatandtireddeepintohisbonestwohourslater. Butthecirclesweremuchshorternow andfromthewaythelineslantedhecouldtellthefishhadrisensteadilywhileheswam.