Then he heads back home happy with the thought that nothing had defeated him. When he reaches the harbour everything is dark and everyone is asleep. He begins to carry the mast of his ship up to his shack. He is so tired that he has to rest five times before he can reach his shack. Then he falls soundly asleep.
Some fisherman sees the carcass and when it is measured it is found to be eighteen feet long.
When Manolin goes to see the old man he sees that he is fast asleep. When he sees his ravaged hands he almost weeps. He fetches him coffee and they talk. The boy decides that he will work with the old man again no matter what his parents say. They discuss further plans and then the old man goes to sleep again.