This upsets the old man who now begins to look upon the whole experience as an ordeal. He kills another shark that comes along but looses his knife in the process. They retreat but not before they have mauled the body of the Marlin. He is very tired and weary. He hopes he does not have to fight off any more sharks but his wish is not fulfilled.
More sharks arrive at midnight.
He cannot see well but does his best to fight them off. In the process he also looses his club, the last weapon he has with him. He breaks off the tiller of his boat and continues fighting till there is no meat left on the Marlin. Then the last shark tries to tear at the head of the fish. This infuriates him so much that he clubs it with the tiller till it splinters and then plunges the sharp edge into its flesh until it lets go.