Старик и море

           Hecheweditandnoteditsqualityanditsgoodtaste. Itwasfirmandjuicy,likemeat,butitwasnotred. Therewasnostringinessinitandheknewthatitwouldbringthehighestpriceinthemarket. Buttherewasnowaytokeepitsscentoutofthewater andtheoldmanknewthataverybadtimewascoming. 

           Thebreezewassteady. Ithadbackedalittlefurtherintothenorth-eastandheknewthatmeantthatitwouldnotfalloff. Theoldmanlookedaheadofhimbuthecouldseenosailsnorcouldheseethehullnorthesmokeofanyship. Therewereonlytheflyingfishthatwentupfromhisbowsailingawaytoeithersideandtheyellowpatchesofgulf-weed. Hecouldnotevenseeabird. 

           Hehadsailedfortwohours,restinginthesternandsometimeschewingabitofthemeatfromthemarlin,tryingtorest andtobestrong,whenhesawthefirstofthetwosharks. 

           "Ay,"hesaidaloud.Thereisnotranslationforthiswordandperhapsitisjustanoisesuchasamanmightmake, involuntarily,feelingthenailgothroughhishandsandintothewood. 

           "Galanos,"hesaidaloud. Hehadseenthesecondfinnowcomingupbehindthefirst andhadidentifiedthemasshovel-nosedsharksbythebrown,triangularfinandthesweepingmovementsofthetail. Theyhadthescentandwereexcitedandinthestupidityoftheirgreathungertheywerelosingandfindingthescentintheirexcitement. Buttheywereclosingallthetime. 

           Theoldmanmadethesheetfastandjammedthetiller. Thenhetookuptheoarwiththeknifelashedtoit.