`Heprotestedhedidnotthinkofsavinghimself。Theonlydistinctthoughtformed，vanishing，andre-forminginhisbrain，was：eighthundredpeopleandsevenboats；eighthundredpeopleandsevenboats。
“`Somebodywasspeakingaloudinsidemyhead，“hesaidalittlewildly。
“Eighthundredpeopleandsevenboats——andnotime!Justthinkofit。“
Heleanedtowardsmeacrossthelittletable，andItriedtoavoidhisstare。“DoyouthinkIwasafraidofdeath？“heaskedinavoiceveryfierceandlow。Hebroughtdownhisopenhandwithabangthatmadethecoffee-cupsdance。“IamreadytoswearIwasnot——Iwasnot……ByGod——no!“Hehitchedhimselfuprightandcrossedhisarms；hischinfellonhisbreast。
`Thesoftclashesofcrockeryreachedusfaintlythroughthehighwindows。