# Just a Little Damp explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by O. Henry.

## What happens

A Galveston man falls overboard from a steamer near Aransas Pass, refuses rescue attempts, insists he is walking on the bottom, and ultimately drowns, demonstrating his scorn for any port claiming deep water.

## Themes in this chapter

### Humor and Irony

The man's absurd refusal of rescue and claim of walking on the bottom creates a darkly humorous and ironic situation.

## Key lines

> Go away and leave me alone. I’m walking on the bottom. You’ll run your boat aground in a minute. I’ll wade out when I get ready and go up to a barber shop and get dusted off. The ground’s damp a little, but I ain’t afraid of catching cold.

The man dismisses the rescuers, claiming he is walking on the seabed and will wade ashore on his own, unconcerned about the dampness.

_Highlights the man's delusional pride and stubbornness._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/just-a-little-damp
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters