I thought I recognized the man's back.

I fancied it was the mate who had taken charge of the long-boat.

Was I then the single survivor of those thirty souls?
I was still watching my poor lost comrade, when that happened to him against which even I was not proof.
Through the deep translucent blue beneath me a slim shape glided; three smaller fish led the way; they dallied an instant a fathom under my feet, which were snatched up, with what haste you may imagine; then on they went to surer prey.
He turned over; his dreadful face stared upwards; it was the chief officer, sure enough.

Then he clove the water with a rush, his dead hand waved, the last of him to disappear; and I had a new horror to think over for my sins.

His poor fingers were all broken and beaten to a pulp.
The voices of the night came back to me--the curses and the cries.