第6章 Tired of the Old Man[第4页/共14页]

Once in the afternoon the line started to rise again.But the fish only continued to swim at a slightly higher level.The sun was on the old man's left arm and shoulder and on his back.So he knew the fish had turned east of north.

“If you're not tired,fish,”he said aloud,“you must be very strange.”

If I had brains I would have splashed water on the bow all day and drying,it would have made salt,he thought.But then I did not hook the dolphin until almost sunset.Still it was a lack of preparation.But I have chewed it all well and I am not nauseated.

“I'll lash the two oars together across the stern and that will slow him in the night,”he said.“ He's good for the night and so am I.”

“Unless sharks come,”he said aloud.“If sharks come, God pity him and me.”

But I do not want him to rest.He must pull until he dies.

Do you believe the great DiMaggio would stay with a fish as long as I will stay with this one?He thought.I am sure he would and more since he is young and strong.Also his father was a fisherman.But would the bone spur hurt him too much?