Chapter 64

My clothes disintegrated¹, victims of the sun and the salt.
First they became gauze-thin. Then they tore until only theseams were left. Lastly, the seams broke. For months I livedstark naked except for the whistle that dangled² from my neckby a string.
Salt-water boils – red, angry, disfiguring – were a leprosyof the high seas, transmitted by the water that soaked me.
Where they burst, my skin was exceptionally sensitive;accidentally rubbing an open sore was so painful I would gaspand cry out. Naturally,these boils developed on the parts of my body that got themost wet and the most wear on the raft; that is, my backside.
There were days when I could hardly find a position in whichI could rest. Time and sunshine healed a sore, but the processwas slow, and new boils appeared if I didn't stay dry.

1 disintegrated   

v.（使）破裂[分裂，粉碎]，（使）崩溃( disintegrate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The plane disintegrated as it fell into the sea. 飞机坠入大海时解体了。
• The box was so old;it just disintegrated when I picked it up. 那箱子太破旧了，我刚一提就散了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 dangled   

悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口

参考例句：

• Gold charms dangled from her bracelet. 她的手镯上挂着许多金饰物。
• It's the biggest financial incentive ever dangled before British footballers. 这是历来对英国足球运动员的最大经济诱惑。