old man and the sea
... boat along. Land grew smaller and smaller on the horizon and finally he dropped his lines into the deep currents, hoping to land a large “bonita” or albacore. He spotted a circling bird and knowing that beneath the glassy surface, it must see something that he could not, he rowed towards it. Suddenly he felt a tightness on the line and he pulled up an albacore over the side of the small boat. It was small, he decided, but it would make a nice bait. The sun beat down on his back and then it happened, the line dipped into the dark water. Something strong was pulling on his line, he preyed that whatever it was would swallow it; take it deep. It must have gone deep because the fish pulled the boat steadily for the next four hours. The man settled into the bow of the boat knowing that he was in for a long and tiresome battle. He knew he was fighting something with amazing strength and endurance, but boldly he resolved to be the victor and decided, “fish, I will stay with you until I am dead”. He fought with the fish all day, his old muscles straining to conquer the powerful fish. Finally it began to relent, he could feel it rising to the surface and slowing his once steady pull. Then in one flying leap, the fish flew upward out of the water. The old man caught his first glimpse of the magnificent fish as it slid from the water. It returned to the water and soon ...