英语翻译(Note:The skill of the introduction of the old man shoul

He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish.In the first forty days a boy had been with him.But after forty days without a fish the boy's parents had told him that the old man was now definitely and finally salao,which is the worst form of unlucky,and the boy had gone at their orders in another boat which caught three good fish the first week.It made the boy sad to see the old man come in each day with his skiff empty and he always went down to help him carry either the coiled lines or the gaff and harpoon and the sail that was furled around the mast.The sail was patched with flour sacks and,furled,it looked like the flag of permanent defeat.
(Note:The skill of the introduction of the old man should be noted.He is both in time and timeless.The numbers mentioned are significant.)
我不懂专业的文学翻译.不过上下文来看,这一句应该是注解.大概意思是：对于作者在描述这个老人出场时的写作技巧应该注意.这个老人生活的具体年代没有提到,但是文章里却又提到了很多时间段.这一段中的数字表述是很有意义的.