I gasped with the anguish and shock of it, filling my lungs before the life-preserver popped me to the surface.
I remembered the life-preservers stored in the cabin, but was met at the door and swept backward by a wild rush of men and women.
Nor have there been wanting learned exegetists who have opined that the whale mentioned in the book of Jonah merely meant a
life-preserver --an inflated bag of wind --which the endangered prophet swam to, and so was saved from a watery doom.
"A villain came in through the window and struck me with a
life-preserver. You can tell the police so when they come.
"Here are my keys; there's an old
life-preserver somewhere in the bureau; take that, if you like - though what you take I rather fear you are the chap to use!"
He must have known that the attic was inhabited by Daddy Jacques, and that was one of the reasons, I think, why he must have used a quiet weapon,--a
life-preserver, or a hammer."
It was a meanly furnished apartment, with nothing but the contents of the closet to induce the belief that its occupier was anything but a working man; and with no more suspicious articles displayed to view than two or three heavy bludgeons which stood in a corner, and a '
life-preserver' that hung over the chimney-piece.
A passing thought occurred to me that Miss Murdstone, like the pocket instrument called a
life-preserver, was not so much designed for purposes of protection as of assault.
His visitor, on entering his rooms, had drawn a
life-preserver from his sleeve, and had so impressed him with the fear of instant and inevitable death that he had kidnapped him for the second time.
Revolver would be out of place in the Metropole, but I shall certainly take a
life-preserver."
The oars were useless as propellers, performing now the office of
life-preservers. So, cutting the lashing of the water-proof match keg, after many failures Starbuck contrived to ignite the lamp in the lantern; then stretching it on a waif pole, handed it to Queequeg as the standard-bearer of this forlorn hope.