第5章

Therewasanangrygleaminthehunter’seye，butheturnedonhisheelandenteredthesteeragecompanionway，whereheremained，lookingupward。

Allhandswereondecknow，andalleyeswerealoft，whereahumanlifewasatgrappleswithdeath。Thecallousnessofthesemen，towhomindustrialorganizationgavecontrolofthelivesofothermen，wasappalling。I，whohadlivedoutofthewhirloftheworld，hadneverdreamedthatitsworkwascarriedoninsuchfashion。Lifehadalwaysseemedapeculiarlysacredthing，buthereitcountedfornothing，wasacipherinthearithmeticofcommerce。Imustsay，however，thatthesailorsthemselvesweresympathetic，asinstancethecaseofJohnson；butthemasters，（thehuntersandthecaptain），wereheartlesslyindifferent。EventheprotestofStandisharoseoutofthefactthathedidnotwishtolosehisboat—puller。Haditbeensomeotherhunter’sboat—puller，he，likethem，wouldhavebeennomorethanamused。

ButtoreturntoHarrison。IttookJohansen，insultingandrevilingthepoorwretch，fullytenminutestogethimstartedagain。Alittlelaterhemadetheendofthegaff，where，astridethesparitself，hehadabetterchanceforholdingon。Heclearedthesheet，andwasfreetoreturn，slightlydown—hillnow，alongthehalyardstothemast。Buthehadlosthisnerve。

Unsafeaswashispresentposition，hewasloathtoforsakeitforthemoreunsafepositiononthehalyards。

Helookedalongtheairypathhemusttraverse，andthendowntothedeck。Hiseyeswerewideandstaring，andhewastremblingviolently。I

hadneverseenfearsostronglystampeduponahumanface。Johansencalledvainlyforhimtocomedown。Atanymomenthewasliabletobesnappedoffthegaff，buthewashelplesswithfright。WolfLarsen，walkingupanddownwithSmokeandinconversation，tooknomorenoticeofhim，thoughhecriedsharply，once，tothemanatthewheel：——

"You’reoffyourcourse，myman！Becareful，unlessyou’relookingfortrouble！"

"Ay，ay，sir，"thehelmsmanresponded，puttingacoupleofspokesdown。

HehadbeenguiltyofrunningtheGhostseveralpointsoffhercourseinorderthatwhatlittlewindtherewasshouldfilltheforesailandholditsteady。HehadstriventohelptheunfortunateHarrisonattheriskofincurringWolfLarsen’sanger。

Thetimewentby，andthesuspense，tome，wasterrible。ThomasMugridge，ontheotherhand，considereditalaughableaffair，andwascontinuallybobbinghisheadoutthegalleydoortomakejocoseremarks。HowIhatedhim！Andhowmyhatredforhimgrewandgrew，duringthatfearfultime，tocyclopeandimensions。ForthefirsttimeinmylifeIexperiencedthedesiretomurder——"sawred，"assomeofourpicturesquewritersphraseit。Lifeingeneralmightstillbesacred，butlifeintheparticularcaseofThomasMugridgehadbecomeveryprofaneindeed。IwasfrightenedwhenIbecameconsciousthatwasseeingred，andthethoughtflashedthroughmymind：wasI，too，becomingtaintedbythebrutalityofmyenvironment？

——I，whoeveninthemostflagrantcrimeshaddeniedthejusticeandrighteousnessofcapitalpunishment？

Fullyhalfanhourwentby，andthenIsawJohnsonandLouisinsomesortofaltercation。ItendedwithJohnsonflingingoffLouis’sdetainingarmandstartingforward。Hecrossedthedeck，sprangintotheforerigging，andbegantoclimb。ButthequickeyeofWolfLarsencaughthim。

"Here，you，whatareyouupto？"hecried。

Johnson’sascentwasarrested。Helookedhiscaptainintheeyesandrepliedslowly：——

"Iamgoingtogetthatboydown。"

"You’llgetdownoutofthatrigging，anddamnlivelyaboutit！D’yehear？Getdown！"

Johnsonhesitated，butthelongyearsofobediencetothemastersofshipsoverpoweredhim，andhedroppedsullenlytothedeckandwentonforward。

AthalfafterfiveIwentbelowtosetthecabintable，buthardlyknewwhatIdid，formyeyesandbrainwerefilledwiththevisionofaman，white—facedandtrembling，comicallylikeabug，clingingtothethrashinggaff。Atsixo’clock，whenIservedsupper，goingondecktogetthefoodfromthegalley，IsawHarrison，stillinthesameposition。Theconversationatthetablewasofotherthings。Nobodyseemedinterestedinthewantonlyimperilledlife。Butmakinganextratriptothegalleyalittlelater，IwasgladdenedbythesightofHarrisonstaggeringweaklyfromtheriggingtotheforecastlescuttle。Hehadfinallysummonedthecouragetodescend。

Beforeclosingthisincident，ImustgiveascrapofconversationI

hadwithWolfLarseninthecabin，whileIwaswashingthedishes。

"Youwerelookingsqueamishthisafternoon，"hebegan。"Whatwasthematter？"

IcouldseethatheknewwhathadmademepossiblyassickasHarrison，thathewastryingtodrawme，andIanswered，"Itwasbecauseofthebrutaltreatmentofthatboy。"

Hegaveashortlaugh。"Likeseasickness，Isuppose。Somemenaresubjecttoit，andothersarenot。"

"Notso，"Iobjected。

"Justso，"hewenton。"Theearthisasfullofbrutalityastheseaisfullofmotion。Andsomemenaremadesickbytheone，andsomebytheother。That’stheonlyreason。"

"Butyou，whomakeamockofhumanlife，don’tyouplaceanyvalueuponitwhatever？"Idemanded。

"Value？Whatvalue？"Helookedatme，andthoughhiseyesweresteadyandmotionless，thereseemedacynicalsmileinthem。"Whatkindofvalue？

Howdoyoumeasureit？Whovaluesit？"

"Ido，"Imadeanswer。

"Thenwhatisitworthtoyou？Anotherman’slife，Imean。Come，now，whatisitworth？"

Thevalueoflife？HowcouldIputatangiblevalueuponit？Somehow，I，whohavealwayshadexpression，lackedexpressionwhenwithWolfLarsen。

Ihavesincedeterminedthatapartofitwasduetotheman’spersonality，butthatthegreaterpartwasduetohistotallydifferentoutlook。UnlikeothermaterialistsIhadmetandwithwhomhadsomethingincommontostarton，Ihadnothingincommonwithhim。Perhaps，also，itwastheelementalsimplicityofhismindthatbaffledme。Hedrovesodirectlytothecoreofthematter，divestingaquestionalwaysofallsuperfluousdetails，andwithsuchanairoffinality，thatIseemedtofindmyselfstrugglingindeepwaterwithnofootingunderme。Valueoflife？HowcouldIanswerthequestiononthespurofthemoment？ThesacrednessoflifeIhadacceptedasaxiomatic。ThatitwasintrinsicallyvaluablewasatruismIhadneverquestioned。ButwhenhechallengedthetruismIwasspeechless。

"Weweretalkingaboutthisyesterday，"hesaid。"Iheldthatlifewasaferment，ayeastysomethingwhichdevouredlifethatitmightlive，andthatlivingwasmerelysuccessfulpiggishness。Why，ifthereisanythinginsupplyanddemand，lifeisthecheapestthingintheworld。Thereisonlysomuchwater，somuchearth，somuchair；butthelifethatisdemandingtobebornislimitless。Natureisaspendthrift。Lookatthefishandtheirmillionsofeggs。Forthatmatter，lookatyouandme。Inourloinsarethepossibilitiesofmillionsoflives。Couldwebutfindtimeandopportunityandutilizethelastbitandeverybitoftheunbornlifethatisinus，wecouldbecomethefathersofnationsandpopulatecontinents。

Life？Bah！Ithasnovalue。Ofcheapthingsitisthecheapest。Everywhereitgoesbegging。Naturespillsitoutwithalavishhand。Wherethereisroomforonelife，shesowsathousandlives，andit’slifeeatslifetillthestrongestandmostpiggishlifeisleft。"

"YouhavereadDarwin，"Isaid。"Butyoureadhimmisunderstandinglywhenyouconcludethatthestruggleforexistencesanctionsyourwantondestructionoflife。"

Heshruggedhisshoulders。"Youknowyouonlymeanthatinrelationtohumanlife，forofthefleshandthefowlandthefishyoudestroyasmuchasIoranyotherman。Andhumanlifeisinnowisedifferent，thoughyoufeelitisandthinkthatyoureasonwhyitis。WhyshouldIbeparsimoniouswiththislifewhichischeapandwithoutvalue？Therearemoresailorsthanthereareshipsontheseaforthem，moreworkersthantherearefactoriesormachinesforthem。Why，youwholiveonthelandknowthatyouhouseyourpoorpeopleintheslumsofcitiesandloosefamineandpestilenceuponthem，andthattherestillremainmorepoorpeople，dyingforwantofacrustofbreadandabitofmeat，（whichislifedestroyed），thanyouknowwhattodowith。HaveyoueverseentheLondondockersfightinglikewildbeastsforachancetowork？"

Hestartedforthecompanionstairs，butturnedhisheadforafinalword。"Doyouknowtheonlyvaluelifehasiswhatlifeputsuponitself？

Anditisofcourseoverestimated，sinceitisofnecessityprejudicedinitsownfavor。TakethatmanIhadaloft。Heheldonasifhewereapreciousthing，atreasurebeyonddiamondsorrubies。Toyou？No。Tome？

Notatall。Tohimself？Yes。ButIdonotaccepthisestimate。Hesadlyoverrateshimself。Thereisplentymorelifedemandingtobeborn。Hadhefallenanddrippedhisbrainsuponthedecklikehoneyfromthecomb，therewouldhavebeennolosstotheworld。Hewasworthnothingtotheworld。Thesupplyistoolarge。Tohimselfonlywasheofvalue，andtoshowhowfictitiouseventhisvaluewas，beingdeadheisunconsciousthathehaslosthimself。Healoneratedhimselfbeyonddiamondsandrubies。

Diamondsandrubiesaregone，spreadoutonthedecktobewashedawaybyabucketofsea—water，andhedoesnotevenknowthatthediamondsandrubiesaregone。Hedoesnotloseanything，forwiththelossofhimselfhelosestheknowledgeofloss。Don’tyousee？Andwhathaveyoutosay？"

"Thatyouareatleastconsistent，"wasallIcouldsay，andwentonwashingthedishes。TheSeaWolf：Chapter7CHAPTER7

Atlast，afterthreedaysofvariablewinds，wehavecaughtthenortheasttrades。Icameondeck，afteragoodnight’srestinspiteofmypoorknee，tofindtheGhostfoamingalong，wing—and—wing，andeverysaildrawingexceptthejibs，withafreshbreezeastern。Oh，thewonderofthegreattrade—wind！Alldaywesailed，andallnight，andthenextday，andthenext，dayafterday，thewindalwaysasternandblowingsteadilyandstrong。

Theschoonersailedherself。Therewasnopullingandhaulingonsheetsandtackles，noshiftingoftopsails，noworkatallforthesailorstodoexcepttosteer。Atnightwhenthesunwentdown，thesheetswereslackened；

inthemorning，whentheyyieldedupthedampofthedewandrelaxed，theywerepulledtightagain——andthatwasall。

Tenknots，twelveknots，elevenknots，varyingfromtimetotime，isthespeedwearemaking。Andeveroutofthenortheastthebravewindblows，drivingusonourcoursetwohundredandfiftymilesbetweenthedawns。

Itsaddensmeandgladdensme，thegaitwithwhichweareleavingSanFranciscobehindandwithwhichwearefoamingdownuponthetropics。Eachdaygrowsperceptiblywarmer。Intheseconddog—watchthesailorscomeondeck，stripped，andheavebucketsofwaterupononeanotherfromoverside。Flying—fisharebeginningtobeseen，andduringthenightthewatchabovescramblesoverthedeckinpursuitofthosethatfallaboard。Inthemorning，ThomasMugridgebeingdulybribed，thegalleyispleasantlyareekwiththeodoroftheirfrying；whiledolphinmeatisservedforeandaftonsuchoccasionsasJohnsoncatchestheblazingbeautiesfromthebowspritend。

Johnsonseemstospendallhissparetimethereoraloftatthecrosstrees，watchingtheGhostcleavingthewaterunderpressofsail。Thereispassion，adoration，inhiseyes，andhegoesaboutinasortoftrance，gazinginecstasyattheswellingsails，thefoamingwake，andtheheaveandtherunofherovertheliquidmountainsthataremovingwithusinstatelyprocession。

Thedaysandnightsare"allawonderandawilddelight，"andthoughIhavelittletimefrommydrearywork，IstealoddmomentstogazeandgazeattheunendinggloryofwhatIneverdreamedtheworldpossessed。

Above，theskyisstainlessblue——blueastheseaitself，whichundertheforefootisofthecolorandsheenofazuresatin。Allaroundthehorizonarepale，fleecyclouds，neverchanging，nevermoving，likeasilversettingfortheflawlessturquoisesky。

Idonotforgetonenight，whenIshouldhavebeenasleep，oflyingontheforecastle—headandgazingdownatthespectralrippleoffoamthrustasidebytheGhost’sforefoot。Itsoundedlikethegurglingofabrookovermossystonesinsomequietdell，andthecrooningsongofitluredmeawayandoutofmyselftillIwasnolongerHumpthecabin—boy，norVanWeyden，themanwhohaddreamedawaythirty—fiveyearsamongbooks。

Butavoicebehindme，theunmistakablevoiceofWolfLarsen，strongwiththeinvinciblecertitudeofthemanandmellowwithappreciationofthewordshewasquoting，arousedme。"`Otheblazingtropicnight，whenthewake’saweltoflightThatholdsthehotskytame，Andthesteadyforefootsnoresthroughtheplanet—powderedfloorsWherethescaredwhaleflukesinflame。Herplatesarescarredbythesun，dearlass，Andherropesaretautwiththedew，Forwe’reboomingdownontheoldtrail，ourowntrail，theouttrail，We’resaggingsouthontheLongTrail——thetrailthatisalwaysnew。’"

"Eh，Hump？How’sitstrikeyou？"heasked，aftertheduepausewhichwordsandsettingdemanded。

Ilookedintohisface。Itwasaglowwithlight，astheseaitself，andtheeyeswereflashinginthestarshine。

"Itstrikesmeasremarkable，tosaytheleast，thatyoushouldshowenthusiasm，"Iansweredcoldly。

"Why，man，it’sliving！it’slife！"hecried。

"Whichisacheapthingandwithoutvalue，"Iflunghiswordsathim。

Helaughed，anditwasthefirsttimeIhadheardhonestmirthinhisvoice。

"Ah，Icannotgetyoutounderstand，cannotdriveitintoyourhead，whatathingthislifeis。Ofcourselifeisvalueless，excepttoitself。

AndIcantellyouthatmylifeisprettyvaluablejustnow——tomyself。

Itisbeyondprice，whichyouwillacknowledgeisaterrificoverrating，butwhichIcannothelp，foritisthelifethatisinmethatmakestherating。"

Heappearedwaitingforthewordswithwhichtoexpressthethoughtthatwasinhim，andfinallywenton。

"Doyouknow，Iamfilledwithastrangeuplift；Ifeelasifalltimewereechoingthroughme，asthoughallpowersweremine。knowtruth，divinegoodfromevil，rightfromwrong。Myvisionisclearandfar。IcouldalmostbelieveinGod。But，"——andhisvoicechangedandthelightwentoutofhisface，——"whatisthisconditioninwhichIfindmyself？thisjoyofliving？thisexultationoflife？thisinspiration，Imaywellcallit？

Itiswhatcomeswhenthereisnothingwrongwithone’sdigestion，whenhisstomachisintrimandhisappetitehasanedge，andallgoeswell。

Itisthebribeforliving，thechampagneoftheblood，theeffervescenceoftheferment——thatmakessomementhinkholythoughts，andothermentoseeGodortocreatehimwhentheycannotseehim。Thatisall，thedrunkennessoflife，thestirringandcrawlingoftheyeast，thebabblingofthelifethatisinsanewithconsciousnessthatitisalive。And——

bah！To—morrowIshallpayforitasthedrunkardpays。AndIshallknowthatmustdie，atseamostlikely，ceasecrawlingofmyselftobeallacrawlwiththecorruptionofthesea；tobefedupon，tobecarrion，toyieldupallthestrengthandmovementofmymusclesthatitmaybecomestrengthandmovementinfinandscaleandthegutsoffishes。Bah！Andbah！again。

Thechampagneisalreadyflat。Thesparkleandbubblehasgoneoutanditisatastelessdrink。"

Heleftmeassuddenlyashehadcome，springingtothedeckwiththeweightandsoftnessofatiger。TheGhostploughedonherway。I

notedthegurglingforefootwasverylikeasnore，andasIlistenedtoittheeffectofWolfLarsen’sswiftrushfromsublimeexultationtodespairslowlyleftme。Thensomedeep—watersailor，fromthewaistoftheship，liftedarichtenorvoiceinthe"SongoftheTradeWind：""Oh，Iamthewindtheseamenlove——Iamsteady，andstrong，andtrue；Theyfollowmytrackbythecloudsabove，O’erthefathomlesstropicblue。******ThroughdaylightanddarkIfollowthebark，Ikeeplikeahoundonhertrail；I’mstrongestatnoon，yetunderthemoon，Istiffenthebuntofhersail。"TheSeaWolf：Chapter8CHAPTER8

SometimesIthinkWolfLarsenmad，orhalf—madatleast，whatofhisstrangemoodsandvagaries。AtothertimesItakehimforagreatman，ageniuswhohasneverarrived。And，finally，Iamconvincedthatheistheperfecttypeoftheprimitiveman，bornathousandyearsorgenerationstoolateandananachronisminthisculminatingcenturyofcivilization。

Heiscertainlyanindividualistofthemostpronouncedtype。Notonlythat，butheisverylonely。Thereisnocongenialitybetweenhimandtherestofthemenaboardship。Histremendousvirilityandmentalstrengthwallhimapart。Theyaremorelikechildrentohim，eventhehunters，andaschildrenhetreatsthem，descendingperforcetotheirlevelandplayingwiththemasamanplayswithpuppies。Orelseheprobesthemwiththecruelhandofavivisectionist，gropingaboutintheirmentalprocessesandexaminingtheirsoulsasthoughtoseeofwhatsoul—stuffismade。

Ihaveseenhimascoreoftimes，attable，insultingthishunterorthat，withcoolandleveleyesand，withal，acertainairofinterest，ponderingtheiractionsorrepliesorpettyrageswithacuriosityalmostlaughabletomewhostoodonlookerandwhounderstood。Concerninghisownrages，Iamconvincedthattheyarenotreal，thattheyaresometimesexperiments，butthatinthemaintheyarethehabitsofaposeorattitudehehasseenfittotaketowardhisfellowmen。know，withthepossibleexceptionoftheincidentofthedeadmate，thatIhavenotseenhimreallyangry；nordoIwishevertoseehiminagenuinerage，whenalltheforceofhimiscalledintoplay。

Whileonthequestionofvagaries，IshalltellwhatbefellThomasMugridgeinthecabin，andatthesametimecompleteanincidentuponwhichIhavealreadytouchedonceortwice。Thetwelveo’clockdinnerwasover，oneday，andIhadjustfinishedputtingthecabininorder，whenWolfLarsenandThomasMugridgedescendedthecompanionstairs。Thoughthecookhadacubby—holeofastateroomopeningofffromthecabin，inthecabinitselfhehadneverdaredtolingerortobeseen，andheflittedtoandfro，onceortwiceaday，likeatimidspectre。

"Soyouknowhowtoplay`Nap，’"WolfLarsenwassayinginapleasedsortofvoice。"ImighthaveguessedanEnglishmanwouldknow。IlearneditmyselfinEnglishships。"

ThomasMugridgewasbesidehimself，ablitheringimbecile，sopleasedwasheatchummingthuswiththecaptain。Thelittleairsheputonandthepainfulstrivingtoassumetheeasycarriageofamanborntoadignifiedplaceinlifewouldhavebeensickeninghadtheynotbeenludicrous。Hequiteignoredmypresence，thoughIcreditedhimwithbeingsimplyunabletoseeme。Hispale，wishy—washyeyeswereswimminglikelazysummerseas，thoughwhatblissfulvisionstheybeheldwerebeyondmyimagination。

"Getthecards，Hump，"WolfLarsenordered，astheytookseatsatthetable。"Andbringoutthecigarsandthewhiskeyyou’llfindinmyberth。"

IreturnedwiththearticlesintimetoheartheCockneyhintingbroadlythattherewasamysteryabouthim，thathemightbeagentleman’ssongonewrongorsomethingorother；also，thathewasaremittancemanandwaspaidtokeepawayfromEngland——"p’yed’ansomely，sir，"wasthewayheputit；"p’yed’ansomelytoslingmy’ookan’keepslingin’it。"

Ihadbroughtthecustomaryliquorglasses，butWolfLarsenfrowned，shookhishead，andsignalledwithhishandsformetobringthetumblers。

Thesehefilledtwo—thirdsfullwithundilutedwhiskey——"agentleman’sdrink，"quothThomasMugridge，——andtheyclinkedtheirglassestothegloriousgameof"Nap，"lightedcigars，andfelltoshufflinganddealingthecards。

Theyplayedformoney。Theyincreasedtheamountsofthebets。Theydrankwhiskey，theydrankitneat，andIfetchedmore。IdonotknowwhetherWolfLarsencheatedornot，——athinghewasthoroughlycapableofdoing，——buthewonsteadily。Thecookmaderepeatedjourneystohisbunkformoney。Eachtimeheperformedthejourneywithgreaterswagger，butheneverbroughtmorethanafewdollarsatatime。Hegrewmaudlin，familiar，couldhardlyseethecardsorsitupright。Asapreliminarytoanotherjourneytohisbunk，hehookedWolfLarsen’sbuttonholewithagreasyforefingerandvacuouslyproclaimedandreiterated，"Igotmoney。Igotmoney，Itellyer，an’I’magentleman’sson。"

WolfLarsenwasunaffectedbythedrink，yethedrankglassforglass，andifanythinghisglasseswerefuller。Therewasnochangeinhim。Hedidnotappearevenamusedattheother’santics。

Intheend，withloudprotestationsthathecouldloselikeagentleman，thecook’slastmoneywasstakedonthegameandlost。Whereuponheleanedhisheadonhishandsandwept。WolfLarsenlookedcuriouslyathim，asthoughabouttoprobeandvivisecthim，thenchangedhismind，asfromtheforegoneconclusionthattherewasnothingtheretoprobe。

"Hump，"hesaidtome，elaboratelypolite，"kindlytakeMr。Mugridge’sarmandhelphimupondeck。Heisnotfeelingverywell。"

"AndtellJohnsontodousehimwithafewbucketsofsaltwater，"headded，inalowertoneformyearalone。

IleftMr。Mugridgeondeck，inthehandsofacoupleofgrinningsailorswhohadbeentoldoffforthepurpose。Mr。Mugridgewassleepilysplutteringthathewasagentleman’sson。ButasdescendedthecompanionstairstoclearthetableIheardhimshriekasthefirstbucketofwaterstruckhim。

WolfLarsenwascountinghiswinnings。

"Onehundredandeighty—fivedollarseven，"hesaidaloud。"JustasIthought。Thebeggarcameaboardwithoutacent。"

"Andwhatyouhavewonismine，sir，"Isaidboldly。

Hefavoredmewithaquizzicalsmile。"Hump，Ihavestudiedsomegrammarinmytime，andIthinkyourtensesaretangled。`Wasmine，’youshouldhavesaid，not`ismine。’"

"Itisaquestion，notofgrammar，butofethics，"Ianswered。

Itwaspossiblyaminutebeforehespoke。

"D’yeknow，Hump，"hesaid，withaslowseriousnesswhichhadinitanindefinablestrainofsadness，"thatthisisthefirsttimehaveheardtheword`ethics’inthemouthofaman。YouandIaretheonlymenonthisshipwhoknowitsmeaning。"

"Atonetimeinmylife，"hecontinued，afteranotherpause，"dreamedthatImightsomedaytalkwithmenwhousedsuchlanguage，thatImightliftmyselfoutoftheplaceinlifeinwhichIhadbeenborn，andholdconversationandminglewithmenwhotalkedaboutjustsuchthingsasethics。

AndthisisthefirsttimeIhaveeverheardthewordpronounced。Whichisallbytheway，foryouarewrong。Itisaquestion，neitherofgrammarnorethics，butoffact。"

"Iunderstand，"Isaid。"Thefactisthatyouhavethemoney。"

Hisfacebrightened。Heseemedpleasedatmyperspicacity。

"Butitisavoidingtherealquestion，"Icontinued，"whichisoneofright。"

"Ah，"heremarked，withawrypuckerofhismouth，"Iseeyoustillbelieveinsuchthingsasrightandwrong。"

"Butdon’tyou？——atall？"Idemanded。

"Nottheleastbit。Mightisright，andthatisallthereistoit。

Weaknessiswrong。Whichisaverypoorwayofsayingthatitisgoodforoneselftobestrong，andevilforoneselftobeweak——orbetteryet，itispleasurabletobestrong，becauseoftheprofits；painfultobeweak，becauseofthepenalties。Justnowthepossessionofthismoneyisapleasurablething。Itisgoodforonetopossessit。Beingabletopossessit，Iwrongmyselfandthelifethatisinmeifgiveittoyouandforegothepleasureofpossessingit。"

"Butyouwrongmebywithholdingit，"Iobjected。

"Notatall。Onemancannotwronganotherman。Hecanonlywronghimself。

AsIseeit，IdowrongalwayswhenIconsidertheinterestsofothers。

Don’tyousee？Howcantwoparticlesoftheyeastwrongeachotherbystrivingtodevoureachother？Itistheirinbornheritagetostrivetodevour，andtostrivenottobedevoured。Whentheydepartfromthistheysin。"

"Thenyoudon’tbelieveinaltruism？"Iasked。

Hereceivedthewordasifithadafamiliarring，thoughhepondereditthoughtfully。"Letmesee，itmeanssomethingaboutco[[Yacute]]peration，doesn’tit？"

"Well，inawaytherehascometobeasortofconnection，"answered，unsurprisedbythistimeatsuchgapsinhisvocabulary，which，likehisknowledge，wastheacquirementofaself—read，self—educatedman，whomnoonehaddirectedinhisstudies，andwhohadthoughtmuchandtalkedlittleornotatall。"Analtruisticactisanactperformedforthewelfareofothers。Itisunselfish，asopposedtoanactperformedforself，whichisselfish。"

Henoddedhishead。"Oh，yes，Irememberitnow。IranacrossitinSpencer。"

"Spencer！"Icried。"Haveyoureadhim？"

"Notverymuch，"washisconfession。"Iunderstoodquiteagooddealof`FirstPrinciples，’buthis`Biology’tookthewindoutofmysails，andhis`Psychology’leftmebuttingaroundinthedoldrumsformanyaday。Ihonestlycouldnotunderstandwhathewasdrivingat。Iputitdowntomentaldeficiencyonmypart，butsincethenIhavedecidedthatitwasforwantofpreparation。Ihadnoproperbasis。OnlySpencerandmyselfknowhowhardIhammered。ButIdidgetsomethingoutofhis`DataofEthics。’

There’swhereIranacross`altruism，’andIremembernowhowitwasused。"

Iwonderedwhatthismancouldhavegotfromsuchawork。SpencerI

rememberedenoughtoknowthataltruismwasimperativetohisidealofhighestconduct。WolfLarsen，evidently，hadsiftedthegreatphilosopher’steachings，rejectingandselectingaccordingtohisneedsanddesires。

"Whatelsedidyourunacross？"Iasked。

Hisbrowsdrewinslightlywiththementaleffortofsuitablyphrasingthoughtswhichhehadneverbeforeputintospeech。Ifeltanelationofspirit。Iwasgropingintohissoul—stuffashemadeapracticeofgropinginthesoul—stuffofothers。Iwasexploringvirginterritory。Astrange，aterriblystrange，regionwasunrollingitselfbeforemyeyes。

"Inasfewwordsaspossible，"hebegan，"Spencerputsitsomethinglikethis：First，amanmustactforhisownbenefit——todothisistobemoralandgood。Next，hemustactforthebenefitofhischildren。Andthird，hemustactforthebenefitofhisrace。"

"Andthehighest，finest，rightconduct，"Iinterjected，"isthatactwhichbenefitsatthesametimetheman，hischildren，andhisrace。"

"Iwouldn’tstandforthat，"hereplied。"Couldn’tseethenecessityforit，northecommonsense。Icutouttheraceandthechildren。Iwouldsacrificenothingforthem。It’sjustsomuchslushandsentiment，andyoumustseeityourself，atleastforonewhodoesnotbelieveineternallife。Withimmortalitybeforeme，altruismwouldbeapayingbusinessproposition。

Imightelevatemysoultoallkindsofaltitudes。Butwithnothingeternalbeforemebutdeath，givenforabriefspellthisyeastycrawlingandsquirmingwhichiscalledlife，why，itwouldbeimmoralformetoperformanyactthatwasasacrifice。Anysacrificethatmakesmeloseonecrawlorsquirmisfoolish，——andnotonlyfoolish，foritisawrongagainstmyselfandawickedthing。ImustnotloseonecrawlorsquirmifIamtogetthemostoutoftheferment。NorwilltheeternalmovelessnessthatiscomingtomebemadeeasierorharderbythesacrificesorselfishnessesofthetimewhenIwasyeastyandacrawl。"

"Thenyouareanindividualist，amaterialist，and，logically，ahedonist。"

"Bigwords，"hesmiled。"Butwhatisahedonist？"

HenoddedagreementwhenIhadgiventhedefinition。

"Andyouarealso，"Icontinued，"amanonecouldnottrustintheleastthingwhereitwaspossibleforaselfishinteresttointervene？"

"Nowyou’rebeginningtounderstand，"hesaid，brightening。

"Youareamanutterlywithoutwhattheworldcallsmorals？"

"That’sit。"

"Amanofwhomtobealwaysafraid——"

"That’sthewaytoputit。"

"Asoneisafraidofasnake，oratiger，orashark？"

"Nowyouknowme，"hesaid。"AndyouknowmeasIamgenerallyknown。

Othermencallme`Wolf。’"

"Youareasortofmonster，"Iaddedaudaciously，"aCalibanwhohasponderedSetebos，andwhoactsasyouact，inidlemoments，bywhimandfancy。"

Hisbrowcloudedattheallusion。Hedidnotunderstand，andquicklylearnedthathedidnotknowthepoem。