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A Shipwrecked Sailor
looked at my watch on the life raft, it was of the ship, or if it had happened when I
exactly noon. It had taken only ten hit the water, for I didn't notice it until I
minutes for everything to happen-for me was seated in the life raft. Though the
to reach the life raft, and try to rescue my wound burned a little, it had stopped
shipmates, and stand motionless in the bleeding and was completely dry, because
raft, searching the empty sea, listening to of the salt water, I imagine.
the sharp howl of the wind. I thought it 15 Uncertain as to what to do, I decided
would take them at least two or three to make an inventory of my belongings.
hours to rescue me. I wanted to figure out what I could count
14 Two or three hours, I calculated. It on in my solitude at sea. First of all, I
seemed an extraordinarily long time to be could rely on my watch, which kept
alone at sea. But I tried to resign myself perfect time, and which I couldn't stop
to it. I had no food or water, and by three glancing at every two or three minutes.
in the afternoon I would surely have a In addition, I had my gold ring, which I'd
bought in Cartagena the year before, and
searing thirst. The sun burned my head
a chain with a medal of the Virgin of
and my skin, which was dry and hardened
Carmen on it, also purchased in
by salt. Since I had lost my cap, I splashed
Cartagena, from another sailor for thirty-
water on my head, and I just sat on the
five pesos. In my pockets I had nothing
side of the raft, waiting to be rescued.
but the keys to my locker on the small
It was only then that I felt the pain in my
ship and three business cards I had been
right knee. The thick, blue drill fabric of
given at a store in Mobile one day in
my trouser leg was wet, so I had a hard
January when I had gone out shopping.
time rolling it up. But when I did, I was
Since I had nothing to do, I read the cards
startled: I saw a deep, half-moon-shaped
over and over to distract myself until I
wound on the lower part of my knee. I
was rescued.
didn't know if I had gashed it on the side
(Adapted )
14. '…but, I tried to resign myself to it.' What did 16. '…but when I did, I was startled.' Why was
Velasco resign himself to? Velasco startled?
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17. What were the items in the list of belongings
15. Why did Velasco splash water over his head?
________________________________________ of Velasco?
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50 English VIII
