The hideous suddenness and inhuman frightfulness of the old man’s shriek almost made me faint. His eyes, looking past me toward the malodorous sea, were positively starting from his head ; while his face was a mask of fear worthy of Greek tragedy. His bony claw dug monstrously into my shoulder, and he made no motion as I turned my head to look at whatever he had glimpsed.

Au hurlement inhumain, effrayé, hideux que poussa soudainement le vieil homme je faillis m’évanouir. Ses yeux, regardant loin derrière moi la mer malodorante, lui sortaient positivement de la tête ; tandis qu’on eût dit son visage un masque de l’effroi pour la tragédie grecque. Ses griffes osseuses me labourèrent monstrueusement les épaules, et il ne desserra pas son étreinte quand je me retournai pour voir ce qu’il avait vu.