The Shipwrecked Boat

The man swims to a stranded sailboat and salvages vital supplies, including a flaregun.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Seeing the Boat

The Wreck The Distant Hull From a headland, they see a sailboat lying half over in the water, masts broken. The man decides to swim out to it. He strips naked and wades into the freezing sea. The Swim He swims to the boat, finds the name Pájaro de Esperanza, Tenerife. He climbs aboard, shivering. The cabin is ransacked by the sea. He finds a sweater and foul-weather gear. The Search He searches the boat, finding a first-aid kit, a flaregun with flares, ropes, and some canned goods. He also discovers a sextant, which he leaves behind.

Transporting the Goods

The Salvage The Towing The man makes multiple trips to the boat, towing a seabag through the surf. The boy helps drag the bag ashore. They build a fire and dry the clothes. The Flaregun The man finds the flaregun hidden in a compartment. He shows it to the boy, who wants to shoot it. That night, they fire a flare into the dark sky. The boy asks if anyone would see it, and the man says no. The Theft While they are swimming, a thief steals their camp. The man chases him down and recovers their goods, but the incident darkens the mood. The boat is a mixed blessing.

after reaching the coast

the following days