Evening star., 1942-10-17
CHAPTER XXI.

CHAPTER XXI.
On the 29th day the old gray
albatross returned and began in
Producing bad luck to US in large
doses. At first I was glad to see
him, familiar thing. I wondered
where he had been when the storm
was at its height. He circled above
the boat, darting now and then to
inspect a wave that rose to meet
him.
The sea was rough and sullen.
The wind had blown contrarily
through the night and I had left
the sea anchor out to hold us back
and steady us. Right after sunrise
thought Of the anchor first. 1t
was the only means we had of con-
trolling the boat and after every
misadventure I checked to see that
it was safe. This morning I found
that the drive Of the high wind
against the boat had pulled the
Jacket to the surface, where it lay
collapsed. I started to pull it in,
intending to shake it out and let
1t 60 again. Without its drag the
small gale was sending us away
from our direction and I felt that
every mile counted in our chance
to live a little longer.
AS I hauled in the anchor a
small fish came into view beneath
the surface at the bow. 1t was the
same kind as we had caught before.
Food!
I watched him warily. He swan
under the boat.
AS I got the anchor aboard out
he came again. He paused right
in front of me- If I had had the
knife I could have stabbed him. I
turned to look for the knife. I fun
bled in the tool pocket for several
seconds, trying to keep an eye on
the fish at the same time. He lay
on the surface, resting.
The Food Escapes.
I moved to the side of the boat,
but in my weakness I was not
quick enough, A flirt of his tail
sent him drifting out of reach. 1
waited and he held himself still,
tantalizingly lifting and falling with
the rolling waves. Finally he swung
an inch or two closer and I lunged,
but got nothing but water in the
face for my pains. I lay across
the gunwale for moment, resting.
I needed to gather myself to fix the
anchor.
AS waited, great leopard shark,
about feet long, poked his nose out
of the mater not inches from my
face. I drew back, startled. If I
had had the nerve I could have
snatched him by the gills. I hes
itated for several seconds, and tried
to make myself grab him, but I
couldn't. The truth is, I was a little
afraid Of him. I was conscious of
this, and little disgusted. as he
twisted and dived out of view be-
meath gray-green wave.
I cursed my tinidity. 1 probably
couldn't have held the monster,
but I might have hauled him into
the boat before I was exhausted,
and then he would have been
goner; we could have held him until
he suffocated That would have
been lot of meat, I reflected wear
lily. He weighed about hundred
pounds, I guessed.
The wind rose higher, and the
waves came faster. The swells un-
coiled like great green snakes and
burst into white at the top, then
fell apart with an angry roar. They
rolled beneath the light raft and
raised us up until we looked into
sickening depth. Then we would
spin downward, sometimes missing
the break, sometimes whirling in
the wild white froth. We shipped
water. gallons at time, and bailed
frantically with our hands. We
watched the waves like surf riders,
rolling our weight from side to
eide as the combers tossed the boat
like toy. We learned to shift
ourselves adriotly when the crest
hit, to keep the raft in balance.
A Huge Wave Aboard.
But the sea is cunning. 1t can
bide its time, and spring like
beast. The wind was its ally.
The raft rose slowly as the comber
uncoiled beneath us and q little
to one side. The wind seemed to
pause for breath. We eyed the
waves curling summit.
A wall of green laced with white,
translucent as we saw 1t against
the sky, collapsed all over us. It's
weight made our ears ring, and
filled our nostrils. Coghing and
blinded, we fell across the gunwale
The wind, as If it had been waiting,
blew a heavy gust that raised the
raft and tipped it over.
We were in the sea again, a more
fearsome sea than any of us had
even seen. We had all the same
thought, guess: To grab that raft.
Once more we were fortunate. We
clasped it In our arms, and held
with all our strength. With the
mad water pulling at my legs, I
looked at the boys. Tony was hold
ing on frantically. His eyes were
closed. and he was saying a prayer
in Polish. Genes lips were stretched
with his effort, and showed his teeth
clenched.
Hold on" I screamed. I don't
think I was heard in the bowling
wind and waves. 1t didn't matter.
I maneuvered around to the other
side. holding my head down asWaves
dashed against my face. The sea
was clubbing me. trying to beat
me down. I pulled my head be-
tween my shoulders and took the
stunning blows as groggy fight
ers do.
I got my hand beneath the boat