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A Japanese miscellany - University of Oregon

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Drifting 271<br />

Kishu <strong>of</strong>fing, we were caught by a typhoon from<br />

the southeast. A little before midnight, the<br />

ship capsized. As I felt her going over, I caught<br />

a plank, and threw it out, and jumped. It was<br />

blowing fearfully at the time; and the night<br />

was so dark that 1 could see only a few feet<br />

away; but I was lucky enough to find that<br />

plank, and put it under me. In another moment<br />

the ship was gone. Near me in the water were<br />

Washino Otokichi and the Terao brothers and<br />

the man Matsushiro, — all swimming. There<br />

was no sign <strong>of</strong> the rest: they probably went<br />

down with the ship. We five kept calling to<br />

each other as we went up and down with the<br />

great seas; and I found that every one except<br />

sort. 1 cried to Kankichi — : ' Elder brother, you<br />

have children, and I am very young; — let me<br />

give you this plank !<br />

' He shouted back — : '<br />

Terao Kankichi had a plank or a timber <strong>of</strong> some<br />

In<br />

keep away from<br />

this sea a plank is dangerous — !<br />

timber, Jinyo ! — you may get hurt !<br />

' Before<br />

1 could answer him, a wave like a black moun-<br />

tain burst over us. I was a long time under ; and<br />

when 1 came up again, there was no sign <strong>of</strong><br />

Kankichi. The younger men were still swim-<br />

ming; but they had been swept away to the

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