第10章

Therewasastinginwhathesaid。Perhaps，afterall，Iwasplayingacowardlypart。AndthemoreIthoughtaboutitthemoreitappearedthatmydutytomyselflayindoingwhathehadadvised，layinjoiningforceswithJohnsonandLeachandworkingforhisdeath。Righthere，Ithink，enteredtheaustereconscienceofmyPuritanancestry，impellingmetowardluriddeedsandsanctioningevenmurderasrightconduct。Idweltupontheidea。Itwouldbeamostmoralacttoridtheworldofsuchamonster。

Humanitywouldbebetterandhappierforit，lifefairerandsweeter。

Ipondereditlong，lyingsleeplessinmybunkandreviewinginendlessprocessionthefactsofthesituation。ItalkedwithJohnsonandLeach，duringthenightwatcheswhenWolfLarsenwasbelow。Bothmenhadlosthope，——Johnson，becauseoftemperamentaldespondency；Leach，becausehehadbeatenhimselfoutinthevainstruggleandwasexhausted。Buthecaughtmyhandinapassionategriponenight，saying：

"Ithinkyersquare，Mr。VanWeyden。Butstaywhereyouareandkeepyermouthshut。Saynothin’butsawwood。We’redeadmen，knowit；butallthesameyoumightbeabletodousafavorsometimewhenweneeditdamnbad。"

Itwasonlynextday，whenWainwrightIslandloomedtowindward，closeabeam，thatWolfLarsenopenedhismouthinprophecy。HehadattackedJohnson，beenattackedbyLeach，andhadjustfinishedwhippingthepairofthem。

"Leach，"hesaid，"youknowI’mgoingtokillyousometimeorother，don’tyou？"

Asnarlwastheanswer。

"Andasforyou，Johnson，you’llgetsotiredoflifebeforeI’mthroughwithyouthatyou’llflingyourselfovertheside。Seeifyoudon’t。"

"That’sasuggestion，"headded，inanasidetome。"I’llbetyouamonth’spayheactsuponit。"

Ihadcherishedahopethathisvictimswouldfindanopportunitytoescapewhilefillingourwater—barrels，butWolfLarsenhadselectedhisspotwell。TheGhostlayhalfamilebeyondthesurf—lineofalonelybeach。Heredebouchedadeepgorge，withprecipitous，volcanicwallswhichnomancouldscale。Andhere，underhisdirectsupervision，——forhewentashorehimself，——LeachandJohnsonfilledthesmallcasksandrolledthemdowntothebeach。Theyhadnochancetomakeabreakforlibertyinoneoftheboats。

HarrisonandKelly，however，madesuchanattempt。Theycomposedoneoftheboat’screws，andtheirtaskwastoplybetweentheschoonerandtheshore，carryingasinglecaskeachtrip。Justbeforedinner，startingforthebeachwithanemptybarrel，theyalteredtheircourseandboreawaytothelefttoroundthepromontorywhichjuttedintotheseabetweenthemandliberty。BeyonditsfoamingbaselaytheprettyvillagesoftheJapanesecolonists，andsmilingvalleyswhichpenetrateddeepintotheinterior。Onceinthefastnessestheypromised，andthetwomencoulddefyWolfLarsen。

IhadobservedHendersonandSmokeloiteringaboutthedeckallmorning，andInowlearnedwhytheywerethere。Procuringtheirrifles，theyopenedfireinaleisurelymanneruponthedeserters。Itwasacold—bloodedexhibitionofmarksmanship。Atfirsttheirbulletszippedharmlesslyalongthesurfaceofthewateroneithersidetheboat；but，asthemencontinuedtopulllustily，theystruckcloserandcloser。

"NowwatchmetakeKelly’srightoar，"Smokesaid，drawingamorecarefulaim。

Iwaslookingthroughtheglasses，andIsawtheoar—bladeshatterasheshot。Hendersonduplicatedit，selectingHarrison’srightoar。Theboatslewedaround。Thetworemainingoarswerequicklybroken。Thementriedtorowwiththesplinters，andhadthemshotoutoftheirhands。Kellyrippedupabottomboardandbeganpaddling，butdroppeditwithacryofpainasitssplintersdroveintohishands。Thentheygaveup，lettingtheboatdrifttillasecondboat，sentfromtheshorebyWolfLarsen，tookthemintowandbroughtthemaboard。

Latethatafternoonwehoveupanchorandgotaway。Nothingwasbeforeusbutthethreeorfourmonths’huntingonthesealinggrounds。Theoutlookwasblackindeed，andIwentaboutmyworkwithaheavyheart。AnalmostfunerealgloomseemedtohavedescendedupontheGhost。WolfLarsenhadtakentohisbunkwithoneofhisstrange，splittingheadaches。Harrisonstoodlistlesslyatthewheel，half—supportinghimselfbyit，asthoughweariedbytheweightofhisflesh。Therestofthemenweremoroseandsilent。IcameuponKellycrouchingtotheleeoftheforecastlescuttle，hisheadonhisknees，hisarmsabouthishead，inanattitudeofunutterabledespondency。

JohnsonIfoundlyingfulllengthontheforecastlehead，staringatthetroubledchurnoftheforefoot，andIrememberedwithhorrorthesuggestionWolfLarsenhadmade。Itseemedlikelytobearfruit。Itriedtobreakinontheman’smorbidthoughtsbycallinghimaway，buthesmiledsadlyatmeandrefusedtoobey。

LeachapproachedmeasIreturnedaft。

"Iwanttoaskafavor，Mr。VanWeyden，"hesaid。"Ifit’syerlucktoevermake’Friscooncemore，willyouhuntupMattMcCarthy？He’smyoldman。HelivesontheHill，backoftheMayfairbakery，runnin’acobbler’sshopthateverybodyknows，andyou’llhavenotrouble。TellhimIlivedtobesorryforthetroubleIbroughthimandthethingsIdone，and——

andjusttellhim`Godblesshim，’forme。"

Inoddedmyhead，butsaid，"We’llallwinbacktoSanFrancisco，Leach，andyou’llbewithmewhenIgotoseeMattMcCarthy。"

"I’dliketobelieveyou，"heanswered，shakingmyhand，"butcan’t。

WolfLarsen’lldoforme，Iknowit；andallIcanhopeishe’lldoitquick。"

AndasheleftmeIwasawareofthesamedesireatmyheart。Sinceitwastobedone，letitbedonewithdespatch。Thegeneralgloomhadgatheredmeintoitsfolds。Theworstappearedinevitable；andasIpacedthedeck，hourafterhour，IfoundmyselfafflictedwithWolfLarsen’srepulsiveideas。Whatwasitallabout？Wherewasthegrandeuroflifethatitshouldpermitsuchwantondestructionofhumansouls？Itwasacheapandsordidthingafterall，thislife，andthesooneroverthebetter。

Overanddonewith！I，too，leanedupontherailandgazedlonginglyintothesea，withthecertaintythatsoonerorlaterIshouldbesinkingdown，down，throughthecoolgreendepthsofitsoblivion。TheSeaWolf：Chapter17CHAPTER17

Strangetosay，inspiteofthegeneralforeboding，nothingofespecialmomenthappenedontheGhost。WeranontothenorthandwesttillweraisedthecoastofJapanandpickedupwiththegreatsealherd。ComingfromnomanknewwhereintheillimitablePacific，itwastravellingnorthonitsannualmigrationtotherookeriesofBeringSea。Andnorthwetravelledwithit，ravaginganddestroying，flingingthenakedcarcassestothesharkandsaltingdowntheskinssothattheymightlateradornthefairshouldersofthewomenofthecities。

Itwaswantonslaughter，andallforwoman’ssake。Nomanateofthesealmeatortheoil。Afteragoodday’skillingIhaveseenourdeckscoveredwithhidesandbodies，slipperywithfatandblood，thescuppersrunningred；masts，ropes，andrailsspatteredwiththesanguinarycolor；

andthemen，likebutchersplyingtheirtrade，nakedandredofarmandhand，hardatworkwithrippingandflensing—knives，removingtheskinsfromtheprettysea—creaturestheyhadkilled。

Itwasmytasktotallythepeltsastheycameaboardfromtheboats，tooverseetheskinningandafterwardthecleansingofthedecksandbringingthingsshipshapeagain。Itwasnotpleasantwork。Mysoulandmystomachrevoltedatit；andyet，inaway，thishandlinganddirectingofmanymenwasgoodforme。ItdevelopedwhatlittleexecutiveabilityIpossessed，andIwasawareofatougheningorhardeningwhichIwasundergoingandwhichcouldnotbeanythingbutwholesomefor"Sissy"VanWeyden。

OnethingIwasbeginningtofeel，andthatwasthatIcouldneveragainbequitethesamemanIhadbeen。WhilemyhopeandfaithinhumanlifestillsurvivedWolfLarsen’sdestructivecriticism，hehadneverthelessbeenacauseofchangeinminormatters。Hehadopenedupformetheworldofthereal，ofwhichIhadknownpracticallynothingandfromwhichI

hadalwaysshrunk。Ihadlearnedtolookmorecloselyatlifeasitwaslived，torecognizethatthereweresuchthingsasfactsintheworld，toemergefromtherealmofmindandideaandtoplacecertainvaluesontheconcreteandobjectivephasesofexistence。

IsawmoreofWolfLarsenthaneverwhenwehadgainedthegrounds。

Forwhentheweatherwasfairandwewereinthemidstoftheherd，allhandswereawayintheboats，andleftonboardwereonlyheandI，andThomasMugridge，whodidnotcount。Buttherewasnoplayaboutit。Thesixboats，spreadingoutfan—wisefromtheschooneruntilthefirstweatherboatandthelastleeboatwereanywherefromtentotwentymilesapart，cruisedalongastraightcourseovertheseatillnightfallorbadweatherdrovethemin。ItwasourdutytosailtheGhostwelltoleewardofthelastleeboat，sothatalltheboatsshouldhavefairwindtorunforusincaseofsquallsorthreateningweather。

Itisnoslightmatterfortwomen，particularlywhenastiffwindhassprungup，tohandleavesselliketheGhost，steering，keepinglookoutfortheboats，andsettingortakinginsail；soitdevolveduponmetolearnandlearnquickly。SteeringIpickedupeasily，butrunningalofttothecrosstreesandswingingmywholeweightbymyarmswhenI

lefttheratlinesandclimbedstillhigher，wasmoredifficult。This，too，Ilearned，andquickly，forIfeltsomehowawilddesiretovindicatemyselfinWolfLarsen’seyes，toprovemyrighttoliveinwaysotherthanofthemind。Nay，thetimecamewhenItookjoyintherunofthemastheadandintheclingingonbymylegsatthatprecariousheightwhileIswepttheseawithglassesinsearchoftheboats。

Irememberonebeautifulday，whentheboatsleftearlyandthereportsofthehunters’gunsgrewdimanddistantanddiedawayastheyscatteredfarandwideoverthesea。Therewasjustthefaintestwindfromthewestward；

butitbreatheditslastbythetimewemanagedtogettoleewardofthelastleeboat。Onebyone，——Iwasatthemastheadandsaw，——thesixboatsdisappearedoverthebulgeoftheearthastheyfollowedthesealintothewest。Welay，scarcelyrollingontheplacidsea，unabletofollow。

WolfLarsenwasapprehensive。Thebarometerwasdown，andtheskytotheeastdidnotpleasehim。Hestudieditwithunceasingvigilance。

"Ifshecomesoutofthere，"hesaid，"hardandsnappy，puttingustowindwardoftheboats，it’slikelythere’llbeemptybunksinsteerageandfo’c’sle。"

Byeleveno’clocktheseahadbecomeglass。Bymid—day，thoughwewerewellupinthenortherlylatitudes，theheatwassickening。Therewasnofreshnessintheair。Itwassultryandoppressive，remindingmeofwhattheoldCaliforniansterm"earthquakeweather。"Therewassomethingominousaboutit，andinintangiblewaysonewasmadetofeelthattheworstwasabouttocome。Slowlythewholeeasternskyfilledwithcloudsthatovertowereduslikesomeblacksierraoftheinfernalregions。Soclearlycouldoneseeca$on，gorge，andprecipice，andtheshadowsthatlietherein，thatonelookedunconsciouslyforthewhitesurf—lineandbellowingcavernswheretheseachargesontheland。Andstillwerockedgently，andtherewasnowind。

"It’snosquall，"WolfLarsensaid。"OldMotherNature’sgoingtogetuponherhindlegsandhowlforallthat’sinher，andit’llkeepusjumping，Hump，topullthroughwithhalfourboats。You’dbetterrunupandloosenthetopsails。"

"Butifitisgoingtohowl，andthereareonlytwoofus？"asked，anoteofprotestinmyvoice。

"Why，we’vegottomakethebestofthefirstofitandrundowntoourboatsbeforeourcanvasisrippedoutofus。Afterthatdon’tgivearapwhathappens。Thesticks’llstandit，andyouandwillhaveto，thoughwe’veplentycutoutforus。"

Stillthecalmcontinued。Weatedinner，ahurriedandanxiousmealformewitheighteenmenabroadontheseaandbeyondthebulgeoftheearthandwiththatheaven—rollingmountainrangeofcloudsmovingslowlydownuponus。WolfLarsendidnotseemaffected，however；thoughInoticed，whenwereturnedtothedeck，aslighttwitchingofthenostrils，aperceptiblequicknessofmovement。Hisfacewasstern，thelinesofithadgrownhard，andyetinhiseyes，——blue，clearbluethisday，——therewasastrangebrilliancy，abrightscintillatinglight。Itstruckmethathewasjoyous，inaferocioussortofway；thathewasgladtherewasanimpendingstruggle；

thathewasthrilledandupbornewithknowledgethatoneofthegreatmomentsofliving，whenthetideoflifesurgesupinflood，wasuponhim。

Once，andunwittingthathedidsoorthatIsaw，helaughedaloud，mockinglyanddefiantly，attheadvancingstorm。Iseehimyet，standingtherelikeapygmyoutofthe"ArabianNights"beforethehugefrontofsomemalignantgenie。Hewasdaringdestiny，andhewasunafraid。

Hewalkedtothegalley。"Cooky，bythetimeyou’vefinishedpotsandpansyou’llbewantedondeck。Standreadyforacall。"

"Hump，"hesaid，becomingcognizantofthefascinatedgazebentuponhim，"thisbeatswhiskey，andiswhereyourOmarmisses。thinkheonlyhalflivedafterall。"

Thewesternhalfoftheskyhadbynowgrownmurky。Thesunhaddimmedandfadedoutofsight。Itwastwointheafternoon，andaghostlytwilight，shotthroughbywanderingpurplishlights，haddescendeduponus。InthispurplishlightWolfLarsen’sfaceglowedandglowed，andtomyexcitedfancyheappearedencircledbyahalo。Welayinthemidstofanunearthlyquiet，whileallaboutusweresignsandomensofoncomingsoundandmovement。

Thesultryheathadbecomeunendurable。Thesweatwasstandingonmyforehead，andIcouldfeelittricklingdownmynose。IfeltasthoughIshouldfaint，andreachedouttotherailforsupport。

Andthen，justthen，thefaintestpossiblewhisperofairpassedby。

Itwasfromtheeast，andlikeawhisperitcameandwent。Thedroopingcanvaswasnotstirred，andyetmyfacehadfelttheairandbeencooled。

"Cooky，"WolfLarsencalledinalowvoice。ThomasMugridgeturnedapitiable，scaredface。"Letgothatfore—boomtackleandpassitacross，andwhenshe’swillingletgothesheetandcomeinsnugwiththetackle。

Andifyoumakeamessofit，itwillbethelastyouevermake。Understand？

"Mr。VanWeyden，standbytopassthehead—sailsover。ThenjumpforthetopsailsandspreadthemquickasGod’llletyou——thequickeryoudoittheeasieryou’llfindit。AsforCooky，ifheisn’tlivelybathimbetweentheeyes。"

Iwasawareofthecomplimentandpleased，inthatnothreathadaccompaniedmyinstructions。Wewerelyingheadtonorthwest，anditwashisintentiontojibeoverallwiththefirstpuff。

"We’llhavethebreezeonourquarter，"heexplainedtome。"Bythelastgunstheboatswerebearingawayslightlytothesouth’ard。"

Heturnedandwalkedafttothewheel。Iwentforwardandtookmystationatthejibs。Anotherwhisperofwind，andanother，passedby。Thecanvasflappedlazily。

"ThankGawdshe’snotcomin’allofabunch，Mr。VanWeyden，"wastheCockney’sferventejaculation。

AndIwasindeedthankful，forIhadbythistimelearnedenoughtoknow，withallourcanvasspread，whatdisasterinsucheventawaitedus。

Thewhispersofwindbecamepuffs，thesailsfilled，theGhostmoved。

WolfLarsenputthewheelhardup，toport，andwebegantopayoff。Thewindwasnowdeadastern，mutteringandpuffingstrongerandstronger，andmyhead—sailswerepoundinglustily。Ididnotseewhatwentonelsewhere，thoughIfeltthesuddensurgeandheeloftheschoonerasthewind—pressureschangedtothejibingofthefore—andmain—sails。Myhandswerefullwiththeflying—jib，jib，andstaysail；andbythetimethispartofmytaskwasaccomplishedtheGhostwasleapingintothesouthwest，thewindonherquarterandallhersheetstostarboard。Withoutpausingforbreath，thoughmyheartwasbeatinglikeatrip—hammerfrommyexertions，Isprangtothetopsails，andbeforethewindhadbecometoostrongwehadthemfairlysetandwerecoilingdown。ThenIwentaftfororders。

WolfLarsennoddedapprovalandrelinquishedthewheeltome。Thewindwasstrengtheningsteadilyandthesearising。Foranhoursteered，eachmomentbecomingmoredifficult。Ihadnottheexperiencetosteeratthegaitweweregoingonaquarteringcourse。

"Nowtakearunupwiththeglassesandraisesomeoftheboats。We’vemadeatleasttenknots，andwe’regoingtwelveorthirteennow。Theoldgirlknowshowtowalk。"

Icontentedmyselfwiththeforecrosstrees，someseventyfeetabovethedeck。AsIsearchedthevacantstretchofwaterbeforeme，comprehendedthoroughlytheneedforhasteifweweretorecoveranyofourmen。Indeed，asIgazedattheheavyseathroughwhichwewererunning，Idoubtedthattherewasaboatafloat。Itdidnotseempossiblethatsuchfrailcraftcouldsurvivesuchstressofwindandwater。

Icouldnotfeelthefullforceofthewind，forwewererunningwithit；butfrommyloftyperchIlookeddownasthoughoutsidetheGhostandapartfromher，andsawtheshapeofheroutlinedsharplyagainstthefoamingseaasshetorealonginstinctwithlife。Sometimesshewouldliftandsendacrosssomegreatwave，buryingherstarboardrailfromview，andcoveringherdecktothehatcheswiththeboilingocean。Atsuchmoments，startingfromawindwardroll，Iwouldgoflyingthroughtheairwithdizzyingswiftness，asthoughIclungtotheendofahuge，invertedpendulum，thearcofwhich，betweenthegreaterrolls，musthavebeenseventyfeetormore。Once，theterrorofthisgiddysweepoverpoweredme，andforawhileIclungon，handandfoot，weakandtrembling，unabletosearchtheseaforthemissingboatsortobeholdaughtoftheseabutthatwhichroaredbeneathandstrovetooverwhelmtheGhost。

Butthethoughtofthemeninthemidstofitsteadiedme，andinmyquestforthemIforgotmyself。ForanhourIsawnothingbutthenaked，desolatesea。Andthen，whereavagrantshaftofsunlightstrucktheoceanandturneditssurfacetowrathfulsilver，Icaughtasmallblackspeckthrustskywardforaninstantandswallowedup。Iwaitedpatiently。Againthetinypointofblackprojecteditselfthroughthewrathfulblazeacoupleofpointsoffourport—bow。Ididnotattempttoshout，butcommunicatedthenewstoWolfLarsenbywavingmyarm。Hechangedthecourse，andI

signalledaffirmationwhenthespeckshoweddeadahead。

Itgrewlarger，andsoswiftlythatforthefirsttimeIfullyappreciatedthespeedofourflight。WolfLarsenmotionedformetocomedown，andwhenIstoodbesidehimatthewheelgavemeinstructionsforheavingto。

"Expectallhelltobreakloose，"hecautionedme，"butdon’tmindit。

YoursistodoyourownworkandtohaveCookystandbythefore—sheet。"

Imanagedtomakemywayforward，buttherewaslittlechoiceofsides，fortheweather—railseemedburiedasoftenasthelee。HavinginstructedThomasMugridgeastowhathewastodo，Iclamberedintotheforeriggingafewfeet。Theboatwasnowveryclose，andcouldmakeoutplainlythatitwaslyingheadtowindandseaanddraggingonitsmastandsail，whichhadbeenthrownoverboardandmadetoserveasasea—anchor。Thethreemenwerebailing。Eachrollingmountainwhelmedthemfromview，andIwouldwaitwithsickeninganxiety，fearingthattheywouldneverappearagain。

Then，andwithblacksuddenness，theboatwouldshootclearthroughthefoamingcrest，bowpointedtothesky，andthewholelengthofherbottomshowing，wetanddark，tillsheseemedonend。Therewouldbeafleetingglimpseofthethreemenflingingwaterinfrantichaste，whenshewouldtoppleoverandfallintotheyawningvalley，bowdownandshowingherfullinsidelengthtothesternup—rearedalmostdirectlyabovethebow。

Eachtimethatshereappearedwasamiracle。

TheGhostsuddenlychangedhercourse，keepingaway，anditcametomewithashockthatWolfLarsenwasgivinguptherescueasimpossible。

ThenIrealizedthathewaspreparingtoheaveto，anddroppedtothedecktobeinreadiness。Wewerenowdeadbeforethewind，theboatfarawayandabreastofus。Ifeltanabrupteasingoftheschooner，alossforthemomentofallstrainandpressure，coupledwithaswiftaccelerationofspeed。Shewasrushingaroundonherheelintothewind。

Asshearrivedatrightanglestothesea，thefullforceofthewind，（fromwhichwehadhithertorunaway），caughtus。Iwasunfortunatelyandignorantlyfacingit。Itstoodupagainstmelikeawall，fillingmylungswithairwhichIcouldnotexpel。Andaschokedandstrangled，andastheGhostwallowedforaninstant，broadsideonandrollingstraightoverandfarintothewind，Ibeheldahugesearisefarabovemyhead。

Iturnedaside，caughtmybreath，andlookedagain。ThewaveovertoppedtheGhost，andIgazedsheerupandintoit。Ashaftofsunlightsmotetheover—curl，andIcaughtaglimpseoftranslucent，rushinggreen，backedbyamilkysmotheroffoam。

Thenitdescended，pandemoniumbrokeloose，everythinghappenedatonce。

Iwasstruckacrushing，stunningblow，nowhereinparticularandyeteverywhere。

Myholdhadbeenbrokenloose，Iwasunderwater，andthethoughtpassedthroughmymindthatthiswastheterriblethingofwhichIhadheard，thebeingsweptinthetroughofthesea。Mybodystruckandpoundedasitwasdashedhelplesslyalongandturnedoverandover，andwhenIcouldholdmybreathnolonger，Ibreathedthestingingsaltwaterintomylungs。

ButthroughitallIclungtotheoneidea——Imustgetthejibbackedovertowindward。Ihadnofearofdeath。IhadnodoubtbutthatIshouldcomethroughsomehow。AndasthisideaoffulfillingWolfLarsen’sorderpersistedinmydazedconsciousness，Iseemedtoseehimstandingatthewheelinthemidstofthewildwelter，pittinghiswillagainstthewillofthestormanddefyingit。

IbroughtupviolentlyagainstwhatItooktobetherail，breathed，andbreathedthesweetairagain。Itriedtorise，butstruckmyheadandwasknockedbackonhandsandknees。BysomefreakofthewatersIhadbeensweptclearundertheforecastle—headandintotheeyes。AsIscrambledoutonallfours，IpassedoverthebodyofThomasMugridge，wholayinagroaningheap。Therewasnotimetoinvestigate。Imustgetthejibbackedover。

WhenIemergedondeckitseemedthattheendofeverythinghadcome。

Onallsidestherewasarendingandcrashingofwoodandsteelandcanvas。

TheGhostwasbeingwrenchedandtorntofragments。Theforesailandforetopsail，emptiedofthewindbytheman渦vre，andwithnoonetobringinthesheetintime，werethunderingintoribbons，theheavyboomthreshingandsplinteringfromrailtorail。Theairwasthickwithflyingwreckage，detachedropesandstayswerehissingandcoilinglikesnakes，anddownthroughitallcrashedthegaffoftheforesail。

Thesparcouldnothavemissedmebymanyinches，whileitspurredmetoaction。Perhapsthesituationwasnothopeless。rememberedWolfLarsen’scaution。Hehadexpectedallhelltobreakloose，andhereitwas。Andwherewashe？Icaughtsightofhimtoilingatthemainsheet，heavingitinandflatwithhistremendousmuscles，thesternoftheschoonerliftedhighintheairandhisbodyoutlinedagainstawhitesurgeofseasweepingpast。Allthis，andmore，——awholeworldofchaosandwreck，——inpossiblyfifteensecondsIhadseenandheardandgrasped。

Ididnotstoptoseewhathadbecomeofthesmallboat，butsprangtothejib—sheet。Thejibitselfwasbeginningtoslap，partiallyfillingandemptyingwithsharpreports；butwithaturnofthesheetandtheapplicationofmywholestrengtheachtimeitslapped，Islowlybackedit。ThisIknow：

Ididmybest。IpulledtillIburstopentheendsofallmyfingers；andwhileIpulled，theflying—jibandstaysailsplittheirclothsapartandthunderedintonothingness。

StillIpulled，holdingwhatIgainedeachtimewithadoubleturnuntilthenextslapgavememore。Thenthesheetgavewithgreaterease，andWolfLarsenwasbesideme，heavinginalonewhileIwasbusiedtakinguptheslack。

"Makefast！"heshouted。"Andcomeon！"

AsIfollowedhim，Inotedthatinspiteofrackandruinaroughorderobtained。TheGhostwashoveto。Shewasstillinworkingorder，andshewasstillworking。Thoughtherestofhersailsweregone，thejib，backedtowindward，andthemainsailhauleddownflat，werethemselvesholding，andholdingherbowtothefuriousseaaswell。

Ilookedfortheboat，and，whileWolfLarsenclearedtheboat—tackles，sawitlifttoleewardonabigseaandnotascoreoffeetaway。And，sonicelyhadhemadehiscalculation，wedriftedfairlydownuponit，sothatnothingremainedtodobuthookthetacklestoeitherendandhoistitaboard。Butthiswasnotdonesoeasilyasitiswritten。

InthebowwasKerfoot，Oofty—Ooftyinthestern，andKellyamidships。

Aswedriftedcloser，theboatwouldriseonawavewhilewesankinthetrough，tillalmoststraightabovemeIcouldseetheheadsofthethreemencranedoversideandlookingdown。Then，thenextmoment，wewouldliftandsoarupwardwhiletheysankfardownbeneathus。ItseemedincrediblethatthenextsurgeshouldnotcrushtheGhostdownuponthetinyeggshell。

But，attherightmoment，IpassedthetackletotheKanaka，whileWolfLarsendidthesamethingforwardtoKerfoot。Bothtackleswerehookedinatrice，andthethreemen，deftlytimingtheroll，madeasimultaneousleapaboardtheschooner。AstheGhostrolledhersideoutofwater，theboatwasliftedsnuglyagainsther，andbeforethereturnrollcame，wehadheaveditinoverthesideandturneditbottomuponthedeck。

InoticedbloodspoutingfromKerfoot’slefthand。Insomewaythethirdfingerhadbeencrushedtoapulp。Buthegavenosignofpain，andwithhissinglerighthandhelpeduslashtheboatinitsplace。

"Standbytoletthatjibover，youOofty！"WolfLarsencommanded，theverysecondwehadfinishedwiththeboat。"Kelly，comeaftandslackoffthemain—sheet！You，Kerfoot，gofor’ardandseewhat’sbecomeofCooky！

Mr。VanWeyden，runaloftagain，andcutawayanystraystuffonyourway！"

Andhavingcommanded，hewentaftwithhispeculiartigerishleaps，tothewheel。WhileItoiledupthefore—shroudstheGhostslowlypaidoff。Thistime，aswewentintothetroughoftheseaandwereswept，therewerenosailstocarryaway。And，halfwaytothecrosstreesandflattenedagainsttheriggingbythefullforceofthewindsothatitwouldhavebeenimpossibleformetohavefallen，theGhostalmostonherbeamendsandthemastsparallelwiththewater，looked，notdown，butatalmostrightanglesfromtheperpendicular，tothedeckoftheGhost。ButIsaw，notthedeck，butwherethedeckshouldhavebeen，foritwasburiedbeneathawildtumblingofwater。OutofthiswaterIcouldseethetwomastsrising，andthatwasall。TheGhost，forthemoment，wasburiedbeneaththesea。Asshesquaredoffmoreandmore，escapingfromthesidepressure，sherightedherselfandbrokeherdeck，likeawhale’sback，throughtheoceansurface。

Thenweraced，andwildly，acrossthewildsea，thewhilehunglikeaflyinthecrosstreesandsearchedfortheotherboats。InhalfanhourIsightedthesecondone，swampedandbottomup，towhichweredesperatelyclingingJockHorner，fatLouis，andJohnson。ThistimeIremainedaloft，andWolfLarsensucceededinheavingtowithoutbeingswept。Asbefore，wedrifteddownuponit。Tacklesweremadefastandlinesflungtothemen，whoscrambledaboardlikemonkeys。Theboatitselfwascrushedandsplinteredagainsttheschooner’ssideasitcameinboard；butthewreckwassecurelylashed，foritcouldbepatchedandmadewholeagain。

OncemoretheGhostboreawaybeforethestorm，thistimesosubmergingherselfthatforsomesecondsIthoughtshewouldneverreappear。

Eventhewheel，quiteadealhigherthanthewaist，wascoveredandsweptagainandagain。AtsuchmomentsIfeltstrangelyalonewithGod，alonewithhimandwatchingthechaosofhiswrath。Andthenthewheelwouldreappear，andWolfLarsen’sbroadshoulders，hishandsgrippingthespokesandholdingtheschoonertothecourseofhiswill，himselfanearth—god，dominatingthestorm，flingingitsdescendingwatersfromhimandridingittohisownends。Andoh，themarvelofit！themarvelofit！Thattinymenshouldliveandbreatheandwork，anddrivesofrailacontrivanceofwoodandcloththroughsotremendousanelementalstrife！

Asbefore，theGhostswungoutofthetrough，liftingherdeckagainoutofthesea，anddashedbeforethehowlingblast。Itwasnowhalf—pastfive，andhalfanhourlater，whenthelastofthedaylostitselfinadimandfurioustwilight，Isightedathirdboat。Itwasbottomup，andtherewasnosignofitscrew。WolfLarsenrepeatedhisman渦vre，holdingoffandthenroundinguptowindwardanddriftingdownuponit。Butthistimehemissedbyfortyfeet，theboatpassingastern。