Page 92 - HEART OF DARKNESS

Heart of Darkness

‘I was looking down at the sounding-pole, and feeling
much annoyed to see at each try a little more of it stick
out of that river, when I saw my poleman give up on the
business suddenly, and stretch himself flat on the deck,

without even taking the trouble to haul his pole in. He
kept hold on it though, and it trailed in the water. At the
same time the fireman, whom I could also see below me,
sat down abruptly before his furnace and ducked his head.
I was amazed. Then I had to look at the river mighty
quick, because there was a snag in the fairway. Sticks, little
sticks, were flying about—thick: they were whizzing
before my nose, dropping below me, striking behind me
against my pilot-house. All this time the river, the shore,
the woods, were very quiet— perfectly quiet. I could only
hear the heavy splashing thump of the stern-wheel and the
patter of these things. We cleared the snag clumsily.
Arrows, by Jove! We were being shot at! I stepped in
quickly to close the shutter on the landside. That fool-
helmsman, his hands on the spokes, was lifting his knees
high, stamping his feet, champing his mouth, like a
reined-in horse. Confound him! And we were staggering
within ten feet of the bank. I had to lean right out to
swing the heavy shutter, and I saw a face amongst the
leaves on the level with my own, looking at me very

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