Now five dhows were burning, and drifted out of control into thecrowded anchorage. She wheeled the horse and urgedhim, rearing and prancing, to where Hal stood at the water's edge. Steer topass her close to starboard. By the end of themeal he was spoiling for trouble, and prospecting for some way in whichto ease the terrible sense of rejection and hopelessness thatoverpowered him.
Hal reached hisfull growth and strength in those terrible months, until he could matchDaniel at belaying a rope or hefting the heavy hods. It was a matter of pride to himthat the last spark of life must not be snuffed out of that broken huskuntil after the drawing out of the viscera. I'll cleave your skull to the teeth! Schreuder roared,and raised the blade high. He fancied that over the normal sound of the ship'stimbers working in the seaway he could hear soft breathing, light asthe whisper of a tropic zephyr.
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