第9章

InthelowerbunklayLouis，grosslyfatandwarmandsweaty，asleepunfeignedlyandsleepinglaboriously。WhileWolfLarsenheldhiswristhestirreduneasily，bowinghisbodysothatforamomentitrestedonshouldersandheels。Hislipsmoved，andhegavevoicetothisenigmaticutterance：

"Ashilling’sworthaquarter；butkeepyourlampsoutforthruppennybits，orthepublicans’llshove’emonyouforsixpence。"

Thenherolledoveronhissidewithaheavy，sobbingsigh，saying：

"Asixpenceisatanner，andashillingabob；butwhataponyisI

don’tknow。"

SatisfiedwiththehonestyofhisandtheKanaka’ssleep，WolfLarsenpassedontothenexttwobunksonthestarboardside，occupiedtopandbottom，aswesawinthelightofthesea—lamp，byLeachandJohnson。

AsWolfLarsenbentdowntothelowerbunktotakeJohnson’spulse，I，standingerectandholdingthelamp，sawLeach’sheadraisestealthilyashepeeredoverthesideofhisbunktoseewhatwasgoingon。HemusthavedivinedWolfLarsen’strickandthesurenessofdetection，forthelightwasatoncedashedfrommyhandandtheforecastleleftindarkness。

Hemusthaveleaped，also，atthesameinstant，straightdownonWolfLarsen。

Thefirstsoundswerethoseofaconflictbetweenabullandawolf。

IheardagreatinfuriatedbellowgoupfromWolfLarsen，andfromLeachasnarlingthatwasdesperateandblood—curdling。Johnsonmusthavejoinedhimimmediately，sothathisabjectandgrovellingconductondeckforthepastfewdayshadbeennomorethanplanneddeception。

Iwassoterror—strickenbythisfightinthedarkthatleanedagainsttheladder，tremblingandunabletoascend。Anduponmewasthatoldsicknessatthepitofthestomach，causedalwaysbythespectacleofphysicalviolence。

InthisinstanceIcouldnotsee，butcouldheartheimpactoftheblows——thesoftcrushingsoundmadebyfleshstrikingforciblyagainstflesh。

Thentherewasthecrashingaboutoftheentwinedbodies，thelaboredbreathing，theshort，quickgaspsofsuddenpain。

Theremusthavebeenmoremenintheconspiracytomurderthecaptainandmate，forbythesoundsIknewthatLeachandJohnsonhadbeenquicklyreinforcedbysomeoftheirmates。

"Getaknife，somebody！"Leachwasshouting。

"Poundhimonthehead！Mashhisbrainsout！"wasJohnson’scry。

Butafterhisfirstbellow，WolfLarsenmadenonoise。Hewasfightinggrimlyandsilentlyforlife。Hewassorebeset。Downattheveryfirst，hehadbeenunabletogainhisfeet，andforallofhistremendousstrengthIfeltthattherewasnohopeforhim。

Theforcewithwhichtheystruggledwasvividlyimpressedonme；forIwasknockeddownbytheirsurgingbodiesandbadlybruised。ButintheconfusionImanagedtocrawlintoanemptylowerbunkoutoftheway。

"Allhands！We’vegothim！We’vegothim！"IcouldhearLeachcrying。

"Who？"demandedthosewhohadbeenreallyasleep，andwhohadwakenedtotheyknewnotwhat。

"It’sthebloodymate！"wasLeach’scraftyanswer，strainedfromhiminasmotheredsortofway。

Thiswasgreetedwithwhoopsofjoy，andfromthenonWolfLarsenhadsevenstrongmenontopofhim，Louis，Ibelieve，takingnopartinit。

Theforecastlewaslikeanangryhiveofbeesarousedbysomemarauder。

"Whatho！belowthere！"IheardLatimershoutdownthescuttle，toocautioustodescendintotheinfernoofpassionhecouldhearragingbeneathhiminthedarkness。

"Won’tsomebodygetaknife？Oh，won’tsomebodygetaknife？"Leachpleadedinthefirstintervalofcomparativesilence。

Thenumberoftheassailantswasacauseofconfusion。Theyblockedtheirownefforts，whileWolfLarsen，withbutasinglepurpose，achievedhis。Thiswastofighthiswayacrossthefloortotheladder。Thoughintotaldarkness，Ifollowedhisprogressbyitssound。Nomanlessthanagiantcouldhavedonewhathedid，oncehehadgainedthefootoftheladder。Stepbystep，bythemightofhisarms，thewholepackofmenstrivingtodraghimbackanddown，hedrewhisbodyupfromthefloortillhestooderect。Andthen，stepbystep，handandfoot，heslowlystruggleduptheladder。

Theverylastofall，Isaw。ForLatimer，havingfinallygoneforalantern，helditsothatitslightshonedownthescuttle。WolfLarsenwasnearlytothetop，thoughIcouldnotseehim。Allthatwasvisiblewasthemassofmenfasteneduponhim。Itsquirmedabout，likesomehugemany—leggedspider，andswayedbackandforthtotheregularrollofthevessel。Andstill，stepbystep，withlongintervalsbetween，themassascended。Onceittottered，abouttofallback，butthebrokenholdwasregainedanditstillwentup。

"Whoisit？"Latimercried。

IntheraysofthelanternIcouldseehisperplexedfacepeeringdown。

"Larsen，"Iheardamuffledvoicefromwithinthemass。

Latimerreacheddownwithhisfreehand。Isawahandshootuptoclasphis。Latimerpulled，andthenextcoupleofstepsweremadewitharush。

ThenWolfLarsen’sotherhandreachedupandclutchedtheedgeofthescuttle。

Themassswungclearoftheladder，themenstillclingingtotheirescapingfoe。Theybegantodropoff，tobebrushedoffagainstthesharpedgeofthescuttle，tobeknockedoffbythelegswhichwerenowkickingpowerfully。

Leachwasthelasttogo，fallingsheerbackfromthetopofthescuttleandstrikingonheadandshouldersuponhissprawlingmatesbeneath。WolfLarsenandthelanterndisappeared，andwewereleftindarkness。TheSeaWolf：Chapter15CHAPTER15

Therewasadealofcursingandgroaningasthemenatthebottomoftheladdercrawledtotheirfeet。

"Somebodystrikealight，mythumb’soutofjoint，"saidoneofthemen，Parsons，aswarthy，saturnineman，boat—steererinStandish’sboat，inwhichHarrisonwaspuller。

"You’llfinditknockin’aboutbythebitts，"Leachsaid，sittingdownontheedgeofthebunkinwhichIwasconcealed。

Therewasafumblingandascratchingofmatches，andthesea—lampflaredup，dimandsmoky，andinitsweirdlightbare—leggedmenmovedabout，nursingtheirbruisesandcaringfortheirhurts。Oofty—OoftylaidholdofParsons’sthumb，pullingitoutstoutlyandsnappingitbackintoplace。InoticedatthesametimethattheKanaka’sknuckleswerelaidopenclearacrossandtothebone。Heexhibitedthem，exposingbeautifulwhiteteethinagrinashedidsoandexplainingthatthewoundshadcomefromstrikingWolfLarseninthemouth。

"Soitwasyou，wasit，youblackbeggar？"belligerentlydemandedone，Kelly，anIrish—Americanandalongshoreman，makinghisfirsttriptosea，andboat—pullerforKerfoot。

AshemadethedemandhespatoutamouthfulofbloodandteethandshovedhispugnaciousfaceclosetoOofty—Oofty。TheKanakaleapedbackwardtohisbunk，toreturnwithasecondleap，flourishingalongknife。

"Aw，golaydown，youmakemetired，"Leachinterfered。Hewasevidently，forallofhisyouthandinexperience，cockoftheforecastle。"G’wan，youKelly。YouleaveOoftyalone。Howinhelldidheknowitwasyouinthedark？"

Kellysubsidedwithsomemuttering，andtheKanakaflashedhiswhiteteethinagratefulsmile。Hewasabeautifulcreature，almostfeminineinthepleasinglinesofhisfigure，andtherewasasoftnessanddreaminessinhislargeeyeswhichseemedtocontradicthiswell—earnedreputationforstrifeandaction。

"Howdidhegetaway？"Johnsonasked。

Hewassittingonthesideofhisbunk，thewholeposeofhisfigureindicatingutterdejectionandhopelessness。Hewasstillbreathingheavilyfromtheexertionhehadmade。Hisshirthadbeenrippedentirelyfromhiminthestruggle，andbloodfromagashinthecheekwasflowingdownhisnakedchest，markingaredpathacrosshiswhitethighanddrippingtothefloor。

"Becauseheisthedevil，asItoldyoubefore，"wasLeach’sanswer；

andthereathewasonhisfeetandraginghisdisappointmentwithtearsinhiseyes。

"Andnotoneofyoutogetaknife！"washisunceasinglament。

Buttherestofthehandshadalivelyfearofconsequencestocomeandgavenoheedtohim。

"How’llheknowwhichwaswhich？"Kellyasked，andashewentonhelookedmurderouslyabouthim——"unlessoneofuspeaches。"

"He’llknowassoonaseverheclapseyesonus，"Parsonsreplied。"Onelookatyou’dbeenough。"

"Tellhimthedeckfloppedupandgougedyerteethoutivyerjaw，"

Louisgrinned。Hewastheonlymanwhowasnotoutofhisbunk，andhewasjubilantinthathepossessednobruisestoadvertisethathehadhadahandinthenight’swork。"Justwaittillhegetsaglimpseivyermugsto—morrow，thegangivye，"hechuckled。

"We’llsaywethoughtitwasthemate，"saidone。Andanother，"IknowwhatI’llsay——thatIheeredarow，jumpedoutofmybunk，gotajollygoodcrackonthejawformypainsandsailedinmyself。Couldn’ttellwhoorwhatitwasinthedarkandjusthitout。"

"An’’twasmeyouhit，ofcourse，"Kellyseconded，hisfacebrighteningforthemoment。

LeachandJohnsontooknopartinthediscussion，anditwasplaintoseethattheirmateslookeduponthemasmenforwhomtheworstwasinevitable，whowerebeyondhopeandalreadydead。Leachstoodtheirfearsandreproachesforsometime。Thenhebrokeout：

"Youmakemetired！Anicelotofgazabasyouare！Ifyoutalkedlesswithyermouthanddidsomethingwithyerhands，he’da—bendonewithbynow。Whycouldn’toneofyou，justoneofyou，getmeaknifewhenIsungout？Youmakemesick！A—beefin’andbellerin’’round，asthoughhe’dkillyouwhenhegetsyou！Youknowdamnwellhewon’t。Can’taffordto。Noshippingmastersorbeachcombersoverhere，andhewantsyerinhisbusiness，andhewantsyerbad。Who’stopullorsteerorsailshipifhelosesyer？

It’smeandJohnsonhavetofacethemusic。Getintoyerbunks，now，andshutyerfaces；Iwanttogetsomesleep。"

"That’sallrightallright，"Parsonsspokeup。"Mebbehewon’tdoforus，butmarkmywords，hell’llbeaniceboxtothisshipfromnowon。"

AllthewhileIhadbeenapprehensiveconcerningmyownpredicament。

Whatwouldhappentomewhenthesemendiscoveredmypresence？IcouldneverfightmywayoutasWolfLarsenhaddone。AndatthismomentLatimercalleddownthescuttles：

"Hump！Theoldmanwantsyou！"

"Heain’tdownhere！"Parsonscalledback。

"Yesheis，"Isaid，slidingoutofthebunkandstrivingmyhardesttokeepmyvoicesteadyandbold。

Thesailorslookedatmeinconsternation。Fearwasstrongintheirfaces，andthedevilishnesswhichcomesoffear。

"I’mcoming！"IshouteduptoLatimer。

"Noyoudon’t！"Kellycried，steppingbetweenmeandtheladder，hisrighthandshapedintoaveritablestrangler’sclutch。"Youdamnlittlesneak！I’llshutyermouth！"

"Lethimgo，"Leachcommanded。

"Notonyerlife，"wastheangryretort。

Leachneverchangedhispositionontheedgeofthebunk。"Lethimgo，Isay，"herepeated；butthistimehisvoicewasgrittyandmetallic。

TheIrishmanwavered。Imadetostepbyhim，andhestoodaside。WhenIhadgainedtheladder，Iturnedtothecircleofbrutalandmalignantfacespeeringatmethroughthesemi—darkness。Asuddenanddeepsympathywelledupinme。IrememberedtheCockney’swayofputtingit。HowGodmusthavehatedthemthattheyshouldbetorturedso！

"Ihaveseenandheardnothing，believeme，"Isaidquietly。

"Itellyer，he’sallright，"IcouldhearLeachsayingaswentuptheladder。"Hedon’tliketheoldmannomorenoryouorme。"

IfoundWolfLarseninthecabin，strippedandbloody，waitingforme。

Hegreetedmewithoneofhiswhimsicalsmiles。

"Come，gettowork，Doctor。Thesignsarefavorableforanextensivepracticethisvoyage。Idon’tknowwhattheGhostwouldhavebeenwithoutyou，andifIcouldonlycherishsuchnoblesentimentsIwouldtellyouhermasterisdeeplygrateful。"

Iknewtherunofthesimplemedicine—chesttheGhostcarried，andwhileIwasheatingwateronthecabinstoveandgettingthethingsreadyfordressinghiswounds，hemovedabout，laughingandchatting，andexamininghishurtswithacalculatingeye。Ihadneverbeforeseenhimstripped，andthesightofhisbodyquitetookmybreathaway。Ithasneverbeenmyweaknesstoexalttheflesh——farfromit；butthereisenoughoftheartistinmetoappreciateitswonder。

ImustsaythatIwasfascinatedbytheperfectlinesofWolfLarsen’sfigure，andbywhatImaytermtheterriblebeautyofit。hadnotedthemenintheforecastle。Powerfullymuscledthoughsomeofthemwere，therehadbeensomethingwrongwithallofthem，aninsufficientdevelopmenthere，anunduedevelopmentthere，atwistoracrookthatdestroyedsymmetry，legstooshortortoolong，ortoomuchsineworboneexposed，ortoolittle。

Oofty—Ooftyhadbeentheonlyonewhoselineswereatallpleasing，while，insofarastheypleased，thatfarhadtheybeenwhatIshouldcallfeminine。

ButWolfLarsenwastheman—type，themasculine，andalmostagodinhisperfectness。Ashemovedaboutorraisedhisarmsthegreatmusclesleaptandmovedunderthesatinyskin。Ihaveforgottentosaythatthebronzeendedwithhisface。Hisbody，thankstohisScandinavianstock，wasfairasthefairestwoman’s。Irememberhisputtinghishanduptofeelofthewoundonhishead，andmywatchingthebicepsmovelikealivingthingunderitswhitesheath。Itwasthebicepsthathadnearlycrushedoutmylifeonce，thatIhadseenstrikesomanykillingblows。Icouldnottakemyeyesfromhim。stoodmotionless，arollofantisepticcottoninmyhandunwindingandspillingitselfdowntothefloor。

Henoticedme，andIbecameconsciousthatIwasstaringathim。

"Godmadeyouwell，"Isaid。

"Didhe？"heanswered。"Ihaveoftenthoughtsomyself，andwonderedwhy。"

"Purpose——"Ibegan。

"Utility，"heinterrupted。"Thisbodywasmadeforuse。Thesemusclesweremadetogrip，andtear，anddestroylivingthingsthatgetbetweenmeandlife。Buthaveyouthoughtoftheotherlivingthings？They，too，havemuscles，ofonekindandanother，madetogrip，andtear，anddestroy；

andwhentheycomebetweenmeandlife，Ioutgripthem，outtearthem，outdestroythem。Purposedoesnotexplainthat。Utilitydoes。"

"Itisnotbeautiful，"Iprotested。

"Lifeisn’t，youmean，"hesmiled。"YetyousayIwasmadewell。Doyouseethis？"

Hebracedhislegsandfeet，pressingthecabinfloorwithhistoesinaclutchingsortofway。Knotsandridgesandmoundsofmuscleswrithedandbunchedundertheskin。

"Feelthem，"hecommanded。

Theywerehardasiron。AndIobserved，also，thathiswholebodyhadunconsciouslydrawnitselftogether，tenseandalert；thatmusclesweresoftlycrawlingandshapingaboutthehips，alongtheback，andacrosstheshoulders；thatthearmswereslightlylifted，theirmusclescontracting，thefingerscrookingtillthehandswereliketalons；andthateventheeyeshadchangedexpressionandintothemwerecomingwatchfulnessandmeasurementandalightnoneotherthanofbattle。

"Stability，equilibrium，"hesaid，relaxingontheinstantandsinkinghisbodybackintorepose。"Feetwithwhichtoclutchtheground，legstostandonandtohelpwithstand，whilewitharmsandhands，teethandnails，Istruggletokillandtobenotkilled。Purpose？Utilityisthebetterword。"

Ididnotargue。Ihadseenthemechanismoftheprimitivefightingbeast，andIwasasstronglyimpressedasifIhadseentheenginesofagreatbattleshiporAtlanticliner。

Iwassurprised，consideringthefiercestruggleintheforecastle，atthesuperficialityofhishurts，andIpridemyselfthatIdressedthemdexterously。Withtheexceptionofseveralbadwounds，therestweremerelyseverebruisesandlacerations。Theblowwhichhehadreceivedbeforegoingoverboardhadlaidhisscalpopenseveralinches。This，underhisdirection，Icleansedandsewedtogether，havingfirstshavedtheedgesofthewound。

Thenthecalfofhislegwasbadlylaceratedandlookedasthoughithadbeenmangledbyabulldog。Somesailor，hetoldme，hadlaidholdofitbyhisteeth，atthebeginningofthefight，andhungonandbeendraggedtothetopoftheforecastleladder，whenhewaskickedloose。

"Bytheway，Hump，asIhaveremarked，youareahandyman，"WolfLarsenbegan，whenmyworkwasdone。"Asyouknow，we’reshortamate。Hereafteryoushallstandwatches，receiveseventy—fivedollarspermonth，andbeaddressedforeandaftasMr。VanWeyden。"

"I——Idon’tunderstandnavigation，youknow，"Igasped。

"Notnecessaryatall。"

"Ireallydonotcaretositinthehighplaces，"Iobjected。"Ifindlifeprecariousenoughinmypresenthumblesituation。Ihavenoexperience。

Mediocrity，yousee，hasitscompensations。"

Hesmiledasthoughitwereallsettled。

"Iwon’tbemateonthishell—ship！"Icrieddefiantly。

Isawhisfacegrowhardandthemercilessglittercomeintohiseyes。

Hewalkedtothedoorofhisroom，saying：

"Andnow，Mr。VanWeyden，goodnight。"

"Goodnight，Mr。Larsen，"Iansweredweakly。TheSeaWolf：Chapter16CHAPTER16

Icannotsaythatthepositionofmatecarriedwithitanythingmorejoyfulthanthattherewerenomoredishestowash。Iwasignorantofthesimplestdutiesofmate，andwouldhavefaredbadlyindeedhadthesailorsnotsympathizedwithme。Iknewnothingoftheminutiaeofropesandrigging，ofthetrimmingandsettingofsails；butthesailorstookpainstoputmetorights，——Louisprovinganespeciallygoodteacher，——andIhadlittletroublewiththoseunderme。

Withthehuntersitwasotherwise。Familiarinvaryingdegreewiththesea，theytookmeasasortofjoke。Intruth，itwasajoketome，thatI，theveriestlandsman，shouldbefillingtheofficeofmate；buttobetakenasajokebyotherswasadifferentmatter。madenocomplaint，butWolfLarsendemandedthemostpunctiliousseaetiquetteinmycase，——

farmorethanpoorJohansenhadeverreceived；andattheexpenseofseveralrows，threats，andmuchgrumbling，hebroughtthehunterstotime。Iwas"Mr。VanWeyden"foreandaft，anditwasonlyunofficiallythatWolfLarsenhimselfeveraddressedmeas"Hump。"

Itwasamusing。Perhapsthewindwouldhaulafewpointswhilewewereatdinner，andasIleftthetablehewouldsay，"Mr。VanWeyden，willyoukindlyputaboutontheporttack。"AndIwouldgoondeck，beckonLouistome，andlearnfromhimwhatwastobedone。Then，afewminuteslater，havingdigestedhisinstructionsandthoroughlymasteredtheman渦vre，Iwouldproceedtoissuemyorders。Irememberanearlyinstanceofthiskind，whenWolfLarsenappearedonthescenejustasIhadbeguntogiveorders。Hesmokedhiscigarandlookedonquietlytillthethingwasaccomplished，andthenpacedaftbymysidealongtheweatherpoop。

"Hump，"hesaid，"Ibegpardon，Mr。VanWeyden，Icongratulateyou。

Ithinkyoucannowfireyourfather’slegsbackintothegravetohim。

You’vediscoveredyourownandlearnedtostandonthem。Alittlerope—work，sail—making，andexperiencewithstormsandsuchthings，andbytheendofthevoyageyoucouldshiponanycoastingschooner。"

Itwasduringthisperiod，betweenthedeathofJohansenandthearrivalonthesealinggrounds，thatIpassedmypleasantesthoursontheGhost。

WolfLarsenwasquiteconsiderate，thesailorshelpedme，andIwasnolongerinirritatingcontactwithThomasMugridge。AndImadefreetosay，asthedayswentby，thatIfoundIwastakingacertainsecretprideinmyself。Fantasticasthesituationwas，——alandlubbersecondincommand，——Iwas，nevertheless，carryingitoffwell；andduringthatbrieftimeIwasproudofmyself，andIgrewtolovetheheaveandrolloftheGhostundermyfeetasshewallowednorthandwestthroughthetropicseatotheisletwherewefilledourwater—casks。

Butmyhappinesswasnotunalloyed。Itwascomparative，aperiodoflessmiseryslippedinbetweenapastofgreatmiseriesandafutureofgreatmiseries。FortheGhost，sofarastheseamenwereconcerned，wasahell—shipoftheworsedescription。Theyneverhadamoment’srestorpeace。WolfLarsentreasuredagainstthemtheattemptonhislifeandthedrubbinghehadreceivedintheforecastle；andmorning，noon，andnight，andallnightaswell，hedevotedhimselftomakinglifeunlivableforthem。

Heknewwellthepsychologyofthelittlething，anditwasthelittlethingsbywhichhekeptthecrewworkeduptothevergeofmadness。IhaveseenHarrisoncalledfromhisbunktoputproperlyawayamisplacedpaint—brush，andthetwowatchesbelowhaledfromtheirtiredsleeptoaccompanyhimandseehimdoit。Alittlething，truly，butwhenmultipliedbythethousandingeniousdevicesofsuchamind，thementalstateofthemenintheforecastlemaybeslightlycomprehended。

Ofcoursemuchgrumblingwenton，andlittleoutburstswerecontinuallyoccurring。Blowswerestruck，andtherewerealwaystwoorthreemennursinginjuriesatthehandsofthehumanbeastwhowastheirmaster。Concertedactionwasimpossibleinfaceoftheheavyarsenalofweaponscarriedinthesteerageandcabin。LeachandJohnsonwerethetwoparticularvictimsofWolfLarsen’sdiabolictemper，andthelookofprofoundmelancholywhichhadsettledonJohnson’sfaceandinhiseyesmademyheartbleed。

WithLeachitwasdifferent。Therewastoomuchofthefightingbeastinhim。Heseemedpossessedbyaninsatiablefurywhichgavenotimeforgrief。Hislipshadbecomedistortedintoapermanentsnarl，which，atmeresightofWolfLarsen，brokeoutinsound，horribleandmenacing，and，Idobelieve，unconsciously。IhaveseenhimfollowWolfLarsenaboutwithhiseyes，likeananimalitskeeper，thewhiletheanimal—likesnarlsoundeddeepinhisthroatandvibratedforthbetweenhisteeth。

Irememberonce，ondeck，inbrightday，touchinghimontheshoulderaspreliminarytogivinganorder。Hisbackwastowardme，andatthefirstfeelofmyhandheleapeduprightintheairandawayfromme，snarlingandturninghisheadasheleaped。Hehadforthemomentmistakenmeforthemanhehated。

BothheandJohnsonwouldhavekilledWolfLarsenattheslightestopportunity，buttheopportunitynevercame。WolfLarsenwastoowiseforthat，and，besides，theyhadnoadequateweapons。Withtheirfistsalonetheyhadnochancewhatever。TimeandagainhefoughtitoutwithLeach，whofoughtback，always，likeawildcat，toothandnailandfist，untilstretched，exhaustedorunconscious，onthedeck。Andhewasneveraversetoanotherencounter。AllthedevilthatwasinhimchallengedthedevilinWolfLarsen。

Theyhadbuttoappearondeckatthesametime，whentheywouldbeatit，cursing，snarling，striking；andIhaveseenLeachflinghimselfuponWolfLarsenwithoutwarningorprovocation。Oncehethrewhisheavysheath—knife，missingWolfLarsen’sthroatbyaninch。Anothertimehedroppedasteelmarlinspikefromthemizzencrosstree。Itwasadifficultcasttomakeonarollingship，butthesharppointofthespike，whistlingseventy—fivefeetthroughtheair，barelymissedWolfLarsen’sheadasheemergedfromthecabincompanionwayanddroveitslengthtwoinchesandoverintothesoliddeck—planking。Stillanothertime，hestoleintothesteerage，possessedhimselfofaloadedshot—gun，andwasmakingarushforthedeckwithitwhencaughtbyKerfootanddisarmed。

IoftenwonderedwhyWolfLarsendidnotkillhimandmakeanendofit。Butheonlylaughedandseemedtoenjoyit。Thereseemedacertainspiceaboutit，suchasmenmustfeelwhotakedelightinmakingpetsofferociousanimals。

"Itgivesathrilltolife，"heexplainedtome，"whenlifeiscarriedinone’shand。Manisanaturalgambler，andlifeisthebiggeststakehecanlay。Thegreatertheodds，thegreaterthethrill。WhyshouldI

denymyselfthejoyofexcitingLeach’ssoultofever—pitch？Forthatmatter，Idohimakindness。Thegreatnessofsensationismutual。Heislivingmoreroyallythananymanfor’ard，thoughhedoesnotknowit。Forhehaswhattheyhavenot——purpose，somethingtodoandbedone，anall—absorbingendtostrivetoattain，thedesiretokillme，thehopethathemaykillme。Really，Hump，heislivingdeepandhigh。Idoubtthathehaseverlivedsoswiftlyandkeenlybefore，andIhonestlyenvyhim，sometimes，whenIseehimragingatthesummitofpassionandsensibility。"

"Ah，butitiscowardly，cowardly！"Icried。"Youhavealltheadvantage。"

"Ofthetwoofus，youandI，whoisthegreatercoward？"heaskedseriously。

"Ifthesituationisunpleasing，youcompromisewithyourconsciencewhenyoumakeyourselfapartytoit。Ifyouwerereallygreat，reallytruetoyourself，youwouldjoinforceswithLeachandJohnson。Butyouareafraid，youareafraid。Youwanttolive。Thelifethatisinyoucriesoutthatitmustlive，nomatterwhatthecost；soyouliveignominiously，untruetothebestyoudreamof，sinningagainstyourwholepitifullittlecode，and，iftherewereahell，headingyoursoulstraightforit。Bah！

Iplaythebraverpart。Idonosin，forIamtruetothepromptingsofthelifethatisinme。Iamsincerewithmysoulatleast，andthatiswhatyouarenot。"