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28 lashed together with ropes. They came very close, but, just as if they were at one end of a see-saw with the ship at the other, the big waves lifted them up and down in turns. One after another great roaring waves rose up between them. Although so near, they made no progress. Everyone felt the tension. A rope was thrown from the deck, but it did not reach. It only fell on the water with a vain splashing. Then, twisting like a water-snake, it was hauled back. This was repeated several times. From the ship all shouted in one voice, but no answer came. Their faces were like masks. Their eyes were immobile. The whole scene, with its unbearable grimness, seared their hearts.

By dusk all the boats except two had got safely back. As soon as the fishermen came on deck they lost consciousness. One of the boats, having become full of water, had been anchored and its crew transferred into another boat. The other one together with its crew was missing.

The boss was fuming with rage. He kept on going down into the fishermen’s cabin and then up again. The men cast sullen glances at him throughout this performance.

The next day, partly to search for the missing boat, partly to follow up the crabs, it was decided that the ship should move on. The loss of the carcasses of five or six men was nothing, but it would be a pity to lose the boat.

From early morning the engineers were busy. The vibrations caused by raising the anchor sent the fishermen who were in the compartment next