Open Boat

Not far from the coast of Florida, four men are found in a little boat. The ship on which they were during the night has sunk. They are the only survivors: the narrator, the cook, the oiler and the ship’s captain. The captain is injured during the sinking and he lies immobilized, the cook is boiling water which is found on the bottom on the boat, the oiler is powerful man named Billy and he is rowing with one oar while the narrator is rowing with the other. The bath sized boat doesn’t give peace to none of them. Even the slightest move can capsize it and they could all drown. No one of them has slept two days and they all work tirelessly to keep the boat afloat. The captain gives the orders, but he cannot forget the accident, the terrible shipwreck and the faces of his dead crewmembers. As the day breaks, while they are rowing silently, gulls begin to appear over their heads. One of them even lands on the captains head. Every sudden move can overturn the boat and they cannot swat the bird away. The captain eventually shoos the bird away. The captain notices a lighthouse in the distance. He gives the orders to row in that direction, however the cook expresses doubt that they will find anything or anyone there. He says that the lifesaving station is abandoned more than the year ago. Their hopes are high and they all are taking pleasure in the newly formed brotherhood between them. The narrator even finds four cigars in his pocket, which he gladly shares with the rest. As they approach to the lighthouse they realize that help isn’t coming. Exhausted and bitter they make way to the open sea. Yet another sign of hope appears when the captain sees a manly figure on the shore. All of them four, are assured that the man can see them. Afterwards they think that they see two man, a crowd and maybe even a boat. As night comes, they get even more exhausted. The narrator and the oiler agrees alternate during the night, however in the early morning they are too exhausted and... [continues]

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