第11章

"Numberfourboat！"Oofty—Ooftycried，hiskeeneyesreadingitsnumberintheonesecondwhenitliftedclearofthefoamandupsidedown。

ItwasHenderson’sboat，andwithhimhadbeenlostHoly—oakandWilliams，anotherofthedeep—watercrowd。Losttheyindubitablywere；buttheboatremained，andWolfLarsenmadeonemorerecklessefforttorecoverit。

Ihadcomedowntothedeck，andIsawHornerandKerfootvainlyprotestagainsttheattempt。

"ByGod，I’llnotberobbedofmyboatbyanystormthateverblewoutofhell！"heshouted，andthoughwefourstoodwithourheadstogetherthatwemighthear，hisvoiceseemedfaintandfar，asthoughremovedfromusanimmensedistance。

"Mr。VanWeyden！"hecried，andIheardthroughthetumultasonemighthearawhisper。"StandbythatjibwithJohnsonandOofty！Therestofyoutailafttothemainsheet！Livelynow！OrI’llsailyouallintoKingdomCome！Understand？"

AndwhenheputthewheelhardoverandtheGhost’sbowswungoff，therewasnothingforthehunterstodobutobeyandmakethebestofariskychance。HowgreattheriskIrealizedwhenIwasoncemoreburiedbeneaththepoundingseasandclingingforlifetothepin—railatthefootoftheforemast。Myfingersweretornloose，andsweptacrosstothesideandoverthesideintothesea。Icouldnotswim，butbeforeIcouldsinkIwassweptbackagain。Astronghandgrippedme，andwhentheGhostfinallyemerged，IfoundthatIowedmylifetoJohnson。Isawhimlookinganxiouslyabouthim，andnotedthatKelly，whohadcomeforwardatthelastmoment，wasmissing。

Thistime，havingmissedtheboatandnotbeinginthesamepositionasinthepreviousinstances，WolfLarsenwascompelledtoresorttoadifferentman渦vre。Runningoffbeforethewindwitheverythingtostarboard，hecameaboutandreturnedclose—hauledontheporttack。

"Grand！"Johnsonshoutedinmyear，aswesuccessfullycamethroughtheattendantdeluge，andIknewhereferred，nottoWolfLarsen’sseamanship，buttotheperformanceoftheGhostherself。

Itwasnowsodarkthattherewasnosignoftheboat；butWolfLarsenheldbackthroughthefrightfulturmoilasifguidedbyunerringinstinct。

Thistime，thoughwewerecontinuallyhalf—buried，therewasnotroughinwhichtobeswept，andwedriftedsquarelydownupontheup—turnedboat，badlysmashingitasitwasheavedinboard。

Twohoursofterribleworkfollowed，inwhichallhandsofus，——twohunters，threesailors，WolfLarsen，andI，——reefed，firstoneandthentheother，thejibandmainsail。Hovetounderthisshortcanvas，ourdeckswerecomparativelyfreeofwater，whiletheGhostbobbedandduckedamongstthecomberslikeacork。

Ihadburstopentheendsofmyfingersattheveryfirst，andduringthereefingIhadworkedwithtearsofpainrunningdownmycheeks。Andwhenallwasdone，Igaveuplikeawomanandrolleduponthedeckintheagonyofexhaustion。

InthemeantimeThomasMugridge，likeadrownedrat，wasbeingdraggedoutfromundertheforecastleheadwherehehadcravenlyensconcedhimself。

Isawhimpulledafttothecabinandnotedwithashockofsurprisethatthegalleyhaddisappeared。Acleanspaceofdeckshowedwhereithadstood。

InthecabinIfoundallhandsassembled，sailorsaswell，andwhilecoffeewasbeingcookedoverthesmallstovewedrankwhiskeyandcrunchedhardtack。Neverinmylifehadfoodbeensowelcome。Andneverhadhotcoffeetastedsogood。SoviolentlydidtheGhostpitchandtossandtumblethatitwasimpossibleforeventhesailorstomoveaboutwithoutholdingon，andseveraltimes，afteracryof"Nowshetakesit！"wewereheapeduponthewalloftheportcabinsasthoughithadbeenthedeck。

"Tohellwithalookout，"IheardWolfLarsensaywhenwehadeatenanddrunkourfill。"There’snothingcanbedoneondeck。Ifanything’sgoingtorunusdownwecouldn’tgetoutofitsway。Turnin，allhands，andgetsomesleep。"

Thesailorsslippedforward，settingtheside—lightsastheywent，whilethetwohuntersremainedtosleepinthecabin，itnotbeingdeemedadvisabletoopentheslidetothesteeragecompanionway。WolfLarsenandI，betweenus，cutoffKerfoot’scrushedfingerandsewedupthestump。Mugridge，who，duringallthetimehehadbeencompelledtocookandservecoffeeandkeepthefiregoing，hadcomplainedofinternalpains，nowsworethathehadabrokenribortwo。Onexaminationwefoundthathehadthree。

Buthiscasewasdeferredtonextday，principallyforthereasonthatIdidnotknowanythingaboutbrokenribsandwouldfirsthavetoreaditup。

"Idon’tthinkitwasworthit，"IsaidtoWolfLarsen，"abrokenboatforKelly’slife。"

"ButKellydidn’tamounttomuch，"wasthereply。"Goodnight。"

Afterallthathadpassed，sufferingintolerableanguishinmyfingerends，andwiththreeboatsmissing，tosaynothingofthewildcaperstheGhostwascutting，Ishouldhavethoughtitimpossibletosleep。

Butmyeyesmusthaveclosedtheinstantmyheadtouchedthepillow，andinutterexhaustionIsleptthroughoutthenight，thewhiletheGhost，lonelyandundirected，foughtherwaythroughthestorm。TheSeaWolf：Chapter18CHAPTER18

Thenextday，whilethestormwasblowingitselfout，WolfLarsenandIcrammedanatomyandsurgeryandsetMugridge’sribs。Then，whenthestormbroke，WolfLarsencruisedbackandforthoverthatportionoftheoceanwherewehadencounteredit，andsomewhatmoretothewestward，whiletheboatswerebeingrepairedandnewsailsmadeandbent。Sealingschooneraftersealingschoonerwesightedandboarded，mostofwhichwereinsearchoflostboats，andmostofwhichwerecarryingboatsandcrewstheyhadpickedupandwhichdidnotbelongtothem。Forthethickofthefleethadbeentothewestwardofus，andtheboats，scatteredfarandwide，hadheadedinmadflightforthenearestrefuge。

Twoofourboats，withmenallsafe，wetookofftheCisco，and，toWolfLarsen’shugedelightandmyowngrief，heculledSmoke，withNilsonandLeach，fromtheSanDiego。Sothat，attheendoffivedays，wefoundourselvesshortbutfourmen，——Henderson，Holyoak，Williams，andKelly，——andwereoncemorehuntingontheflanksoftheherd。

Aswefolloweditnorthwebegantoencounterthedreadedsea—fogs。

Dayafterdaytheboatsloweredandwereswallowedupalmosteretheytouchedthewater，whileweonboardpumpedthehornatregularintervalsandeveryfifteenminutesfiredthebombgun。Boatswerecontinuallybeinglostandfound，itbeingthecustomforaboattohunt，onlay，withwhateverschoonerpickeditup，untilsuchtimeitwasrecoveredbyitsownschooner。ButWolfLarsen，aswastobeexpected，beingaboatshort，tookpossessionofthefirststrayoneandcompelleditsmentohuntwiththeGhost，notpermittingthemtoreturntotheirownschoonerwhenwesightedit。

Irememberhowheforcedthehunterandhistwomenbelow，arifleattheirbreasts，whentheircaptainpassedbyatbiscuit—tossandhailedusforinformation。

ThomasMugridge，sostrangelyandpertinaciouslyclingingtolife，wassoonlimpingaboutagainandperforminghisdoubledutiesofcookandcabin—boy。

JohnsonandLeachwerebulliedandbeatenasmuchasever，andtheylookedfortheirlivestoendwiththeendofthehuntingseason；whiletherestofthecrewlivedthelivesofdogsandwereworkedlikedogsbytheirpitilessmaster。AsforWolfLarsenandmyself，wegotalongfairlywell；

thoughIcouldnotquiteridmyselfoftheideathatrightconduct，forme，layinkillinghim。Hefascinatedmeimmeasurably，andIfearedhimimmeasurably。Andyet，couldnotimaginehimlyingproneindeath。Therewasanendurance，asofperpetualyouth，abouthim，whichroseupandforbadethepicture。couldseehimonlyaslivingalways，anddominatingalways，fightinganddestroying，himselfsurviving。

Onediversionofhis，whenwewereinthemidstoftheherdandtheseawastooroughtolowertheboats，wastolowerwithtwoboatpullersandasteererandgoouthimself。Hewasagoodshot，too，andbroughtmanyaskinaboardunderwhatthehunterstermedImpossiblehuntingconditions。

Itseemedthebreathofhisnostrils，thiscarryinghislifeinhishandsandstrugglingforitagainsttremendousodds。

Iwaslearningmoreandmoreseamanship；andoneclearday，——athingwerarelyencounterednow，——IhadthesatisfactionofrunningandhandlingtheGhostandpickinguptheboatsmyself。WolfLarsenhadbeensmittenwithoneofhisheadaches，andIstoodatthewheelfrommorninguntilevening，sailingacrosstheoceanafterthelastleeboatandheavingtoandpickingitandtheotherfiveupwithoutcommandorsuggestionfromhim。

Galesweencounterednowandagain，foritwasarawandstormyregion，and，inthemiddleofJune，atyphoonmostmemorabletomeandmostimportantbecauseofthechangeswroughtthroughituponmyfuture。Wemusthavebeencaughtnearlyatthecentreofthiscircularstorm，andWolfLarsenranoutofitandtothesouthward，firstunderadouble—reefedjib，andfinallyunderbarepoles。NeverhadIimaginedsogreatasea。Theseaspreviouslyencounteredwereasripplescomparedwiththese，whichranahalfmilefromcresttocrestandwhichupreared，Iamconfident，aboveourmasthead。SogreatwasitthatWolfLarsenhimselfdidnotdareheaveto，thoughhewasbeingdrivenfartothesouthwardandoutofthesealherd。

Wemusthavebeenwellinthepathofthetrans—Pacificsteamshipswhenthetyphoonmoderated，andhere，tothesurpriseofthehunters，wefoundourselvesinthemidstofseals——asecondherd，orsortofrear—guard，theydeclared，andamostunusualthing。Butitwas"Boatsover！"，theboom—boomofguns，andthepitifulslaughterthroughthelongday。

ItwasatthistimethatIwasapproachedbyLeach。Ihadjustfinishedtallyingtheskinsofthelastboataboard，whenhecametomyside，inthedarkness，andsaidinalowtone：

"Canyoutellme，Mr。VanWeyden，howfarweareoffthecoast，andwhatthebearingsofYokohamaare？"

Myheartleapedwithgladness，forIknewwhathehadinmind，andI

gavehimthebearings——west—northwestandfivehundredmilesaway。

"Thankyou，sir，"wasallhesaidasheslippedbackintothedarkness。

NextmorningNo。3boatandJohnsonandLeachweremissing。Thewater—breakersandgrubboxesfromalltheotherboatswerelikewisemissing，aswerethebedsandseabagsofthetwomen。WolfLarsenwasfurious。Hesetsailandboreawayintothewest—northwest，twohuntersconstantlyatthemastheadsandsweepingtheseawithglasses，himselfpacingthedecklikeanangrylion。Heknewtoowellmysympathyfortherunawaystosendmealoftaslookout。

Thewindwasfairbutfitful，anditwaslikelookingforaneedleinahaystacktoraisethattinyboatoutoftheblueimmensity。ButheputtheGhostthroughherbestpacessoastogetbetweenthedesertersandtheland。Thisaccomplished，hecruisedbackandforthacrosswhatheknewmustbetheircourse。

Onthemorningofthethirdday，shortlyaftereightbells，acrythattheboatwassightedcamedownfromSmokeatthemasthead。Allhandslinedtherail。Asnappybreezewasblowingfromthewestwiththepromiseofmorewindbehindit；andthere，toleeward，inthetroubledsilveroftherisingsun，appearedanddisappearedablackspeck。

Wesquaredawayandranforit。Myheartwasaslead。feltmyselfturningsickinanticipation；andasIlookedatthegleamoftriumphinWolfLarsen’seyes，hisformswambeforemeandIfeltalmostirresistiblyimpelledtoflingmyselfuponhim。SounnervedwasIbythethoughtofimpendingviolencetoLeachandJohnsonthatmyreasonmusthaveleftme。IknowthatIslippeddownintothesteerageinadaze，andthatIwasjustbeginningtheascenttothedeck，aloadedshot—guninmyhands，whenIheardthestartledcry：

"There’sfivemeninthatboat！"

Isupportedmyselfinthecompanionway，weakandtrembling，whiletheobservationwasbeingverifiedbytheremarksoftherestofthemen。ThenmykneesgavefromundermeandIsankdown，myselfagain，butovercomebyshockatknowledgeofwhatIhadsonearlydone。Also，IwasverythankfulasIputthegunawayandslippedbackondeck。

Noonehadremarkedmyabsence。Theboatwasnearenoughforustomakeoutthatitwaslargerthananysealingboatandbuiltondifferentlines。

Aswedrewcloser，thesailwastakeninandthemastunstepped。Oarswereshipped，anditsoccupantswaitedforustoheavetoandtakethemaboard。

Smoke，whohaddescendedtothedeckandwasnowstandingbymyside，begantochuckleinasignificantway。Ilookedathiminquiringly。

"Talkofamess！"hegiggled。

"What’swrong？"Idemanded。

Againhechuckled。

"Don’tyouseethere，inthestern—sheets，onthebottom。MayInevershootasealagainifthatain’tawoman！"

Ilookedclosely，butwasnotsureuntilexclamationsbrokeoutonallsides。Theboatcontainedfourmen，anditsfifthoccupantwascertainlyawoman。Wewereagogwithexcitement，allexceptWolfLarsen，whowastooevidentlydisappointedinthatitwasnothisownboatwiththetwovictimsofhismalice。

Werandowntheflyingjib，hauledthejib—sheetstowindwardandthemainsheetflat，andcameupintothewind。Theoarsstruckthewater，andwithafewstrokestheboatwasalongside。Inowcaughtmyfirstfairglimpseofthewoman。Shewaswrappedinalongulster，forthemorningwasraw；andIcouldseenothingbutherfaceandamassoflightbrownhairescapingfromundertheseaman’scaponherhead。Theeyeswerelargeandbrownandlustrous，themouthsweetandsensitive，andthefaceitselfadelicateoval，thoughsunandexposuretobrinywindhadburntthefacescarlet。

Sheseemedtomelikeabeingfromanotherworld。Iwasawareofahungryoutreachingforher，asofastarvingmanforbread。Butthen，Ihadnotseenawomanforaverylongtime。IknowthatIwaslostinagreatwonder，almostastupor，——this，then，wasawoman？——sothatIforgotmyselfandmymate’sduties，andtooknopartinhelpingthenewcomersaboard。

ForwhenoneofthesailorsliftedherintoWolfLarsen’sdown—stretchedarms，shelookedupintoourcuriousfacesandsmiledamusedlyandsweetly，asonlyawomancansmile，andasIhadseennoonesmileforsolongthatIhadforgottensuchsmilesexisted。

"Mr。VanWeyden！"

WolfLarsen’svoicebroughtmesharplybacktomyself。

"Willyoutaketheladybelowandseetohercomfort？Makeupthatspareportcabin。PutCookytoworkonit。Andseewhatyoucandoforthatface。

It’sburnedbadly。"

Heturnedbrusquelyawayfromusandbegantoquestionthenewmen。

Theboatwascastadrift，thoughoneofthemcalledita"bloodyshame"

withYokohamasonear。

IfoundmyselfstrangelyafraidofthiswomanIwasescortingaft。AlsoIwasawkward。ItseemedtomethatIwasrealizingforthefirsttimewhatadelicate，fragilecreatureawomanis；andasIcaughtherarmtohelpherdownthecompanionstairs，Iwasstartledbyitssmallnessandsoftness。Indeed，shewasaslender，delicatewomanaswomengo，buttomeshewassoethereallyslenderanddelicatethatwasquitepreparedforherarmtocrumbleinmygrasp。Allthis，infrankness，toshowmyfirstimpression，afterlongdenial，ofwomeningeneralandofMaudBrewsterinparticular。

"Noneedtogotoanygreattroubleforme，"sheprotested，whenIhadseatedherinWolfLarsen’sarm—chair，whichIhaddraggedhastilyfromhiscabin。"Themenwerelookingforlandatanymomentthismorning，andthevesselshouldbeinbynight；don’tyouthinkso？"

Hersimplefaithintheimmediatefuturetookmeaback。HowcouldI

explaintoherthesituation，thestrangemanwhostalkedthesealikeDestiny，allthatithadtakenmemonthstolearn？ButIansweredhonestly：

"Ifitwereanyothercaptainexceptours，IshouldsayyouwouldbeashoreinYokohamato—morrow。Butourcaptainisastrangeman，andIbegofyoutobepreparedforanything，understand？——foranything。"

"I——IconfessIhardlydounderstand，"shehesitated，aperturbedbutnotfrightenedexpressioninhereyes。"Orisitamisconceptionofminethatshipwreckedpeoplearealwaysshowneveryconsideration？Thisissuchalittlething，youknow。Wearesoclosetoland。"

"Candidly，Idonotknow，"Istrovetoreassureher。"Iwishedmerelytoprepareyoufortheworst，iftheworstistocome。Thisman，thiscaptain，isabrute，ademon，andonecannevertellwhatwillbehisnextfantasticact。"

Iwasgrowingexcited，butsheinterruptedmewithan"Oh，see，"andhervoicesoundedweary。Tothinkwaspatentlyaneffort。Shewasclearlyonthevergeofphysicalcollapse。

Sheaskednofurtherquestions，andIvouchsafednoremarks，devotingmyselftoWolfLarsen’scommand，whichwastomakehercomfortable。Ibustledaboutinquitehousewifelyfashion，procuringsoothinglotionsforhersunburn，raidingWolfLarsen’sprivatestoresforabottleofportIknewtobethere，anddirectingThomasMugridgeinthepreparationofthesparestate—room。

Thewindwasfresheningrapidly，theGhostheelingovermoreandmore，andbythetimethestate—roomwasreadyshewasdashingthroughthewateratalivelyclip。IhadquiteforgottentheexistenceofLeachandJohnson，whensuddenly，likeathunderclap，"Boatho！"camedowntheopencompanionway。ItwasSmoke’sunmistakablevoice，cryingfromthemasthead。

Ishotaglanceatthewoman，butshewasleaningbackinthearm—chair，hereyesclosed，unutterablytired。Idoubtedthatshehadheard，andI

resolvedtopreventherseeingthebrutalityknewwouldfollowthecaptureofthedeserters。Shewastired。Verygood。Sheshouldsleep。

Therewereswiftcommandsondeck，astampingoffeetandaslappingofreef—pointsastheGhostshotintothewindandaboutontheothertack。Asshefilledawayandheeled，thearm—chairbegantoslideacrossthecabinfloor，andIsprangforitjustintimetopreventtherescuedwomanfrombeingspilledout。

Hereyesweretooheavytosuggestmorethanahintofthesleepysurprisethatperplexedherasshelookedupatme，andshehalfstumbled，halftottered，asIledhertohercabin。MugridgegrinnedinsinuatinglyinmyfaceasIshovedhimoutandorderedhimbacktohisgalleywork；andhewonhisrevengebyspreadingglowingreportsamongthehuntersastowhatanexcellent"lydy’smyde"Iwasprovingmyselftobe。

Sheleanedheavilyagainstme，andIdobelievethatshehadfallenasleepagainbetweenthearm—chairandthestate—room。Thisdiscoveredwhenshenearlyfellintothebunkduringasuddenlurchoftheschooner。

Shearoused，smileddrowsily，andwasofftosleepagain；andasleepI

lefther，underaheavypairofsailor’sblankets，herheadrestingonapillowIhadappropriatedfromWolfLarsen’sbunk。TheSeaWolf：Chapter19CHAPTER19

IcameondecktofindtheGhostheadingupcloseontheporttackandcuttingintowindwardofafamiliarspritsailclose—hauledonthesametackaheadofus。Allhandswereondeck，fortheyknewthatsomethingwastohappenwhenLeachandJohnsonweredraggedaboard。

Itwasfourbells。Louiscameafttorelievethewheel。Therewasadampnessintheair，andInoticedhehadonhisoilskins。

"Whatarewegoingtohave？"Iaskedhim。

"Ahealthyyoungslipofagalefromthebreathivit，sir，"heanswered，"withasplatterivrainjusttowetourgillsan’nomore。"

"Toobadwesightedthem，"Isaid，astheGhost’sbowwasflungoffapointbyalargeseaandtheboatleapedforamomentpastthejibsandintoourlineofvision。

Louisgaveaspokeandtemporized。"They’dneverivmadetheland，sir，I’mthinkin’。"

"Thinknot？"Iqueried。

"No，sir。Didyoufeelthat？"（Apuffhadcaughttheschooner，andhewasforcedtoputthewheeluprapidlytokeepheroutofthewind。）"’Tisnoegg—shell’llfloatonthisseaanhourcome，an’it’sastrokeivluckforthemwe’reheretopick’emup。"

WolfLarsenstrodeaftfromamidships，wherehehadbeentalkingwiththerescuedmen。Thecatlikespringinessinhistreadwasalittlemorepronouncedthanusual，andhiseyeswerebrightandsnappy。

"Threeoilersandafourthengineer，"washisgreeting。"Butwe’llmakesailorsoutofthem，orboat—pullersatanyrate。Now，whatofthelady？"

Iknownotwhy，butIwasawareofatwingeorpang，likethecutofaknife，whenhementionedher。Ithoughtitacertainsillyfastidiousnessonmypart，butitpersistedinspiteofme，andImerelyshruggedmyshouldersinanswer。

WolfLarsenpursedhislipsinalong，quizzicalwhistle。

"What’shername，then？"hedemanded。

"Idon’tknow，"Ireplied。"Sheisasleep。Shewasverytired。Infact，Iamwaitingtohearthenewsfromyou。Whatvesselwasit？"

"Mailsteamer，"heansweredshortly。"TheCityofTokio，from’Frisco，boundforYokohama。Disabledinthattyphoon。Oldtub。Openeduptopandbottomlikeasieve。Theywereadriftfourdays。Andyoudon’tknowwhoorwhatsheis，eh？——maid，wife，orwidow？Well，well。"

Heshookhisheadinabanteringway，andregardedmewithlaughingeyes。

"Areyou——"Ibegan。ItwasonthevergeofmytonguetoaskifheweregoingtotakethecastawaysintoYokohama。

"AmIwhat？"heasked。

"WhatdoyouintenddoingwithLeachandJohnson？"

Heshookhishead。"Really，Hump，Idon’tknow。Yousee，withtheseadditionsI’veaboutallthecrewIwant。"

"Andthey’veaboutalltheescapingtheywant，"Isaid。"Whynotgivethemachangeoftreatment？Takethemaboard，anddealgentlywiththem。

Whatevertheyhavedonetheyhavebeenhoundedintodoing。"

"Byme？"

"Byyou，"Iansweredsteadily。"AndIgiveyouwarning，WolfLarsen，thatImayforgetloveofmyownlifeinthedesiretokillyouifyougotoofarinmaltreatingthosepoorwretches。"

"Bravo！"hecried。"Youdomeproud，Hump！You’vefoundyourlegswithavengeance。You’requiteanindividual。Youwereunfortunateinhavingyourlifecastineasyplaces，butyou’redeveloping，andIlikeyouthebetterforit。"

Hisvoiceandexpressionchanged。Hisfacewasserious。"Doyoubelieveinpromises？"heasked。"Aretheysacredthings？"

"Ofcourse，"Ianswered。

"Thenhere’sacompact，"hewenton，consummateactorthathewas。"IfIpromisenottolaymyhandsuponLeachandJohnson，willyoupromise，inturn，nottoattempttokillme？"

"Oh，notthatI’mafraidofyou，notthatI’mafraidofyou，"hehastenedtoadd。

Icouldhardlybelievemyears。Whatwascomingovertheman？

"Isitago？"heaskedimpatiently。

"Ago，"Ianswered。

Hishandwentouttomine，andasIshookitheartilyIcouldhaveswornIsawthemockingdevilshineupforamomentinhiseyes。

Westrolledacrossthepooptotheleeside。Theboatwascloseathandnow，andindesperateplight。Johnsonwassteering，Leachbailing。Weoverhauledthemabouttwofeettotheirone。WolfLarsenmotionedLouistokeepoffslightly，andwedashedabreastoftheboat，notascoreoffeettowindward。

TheGhostblanketedit。Thespritsailflappedemptilyandtheboatrightedtoanevenkeel，causingthetwomenswiftlytochangeposition。

Theboatlostheadway，and，asweliftedonahugesurge，toppledandfellintothetrough。

ItwasatthismomentthatLeachandJohnsonlookedupintothefacesoftheirshipmates，wholinedtherailamidships。Therewasnogreeting。

Theywereasdeadmenintheircomrades’eyes，andbetweenthemwasthegulfthatpartsthelivingandthedead。

Thenextinstanttheywereoppositethepoop，wherestoodWolfLarsenandI。Wewerefallinginthetrough，theywererisingonthesurge。Johnsonlookedatme，andIcouldseethathisfacewaswornandhaggard。Iwavedmyhandtohim，andheansweredthegreeting，butwithawavethatwashopelessanddespairing。Itwasasifheweresayingfarewell。IdidnotseeintotheeyesofLeach，forhewaslookingatWolfLarsen，theoldandimplacablesnarlofhatredstrongaseveronhisface。

Thentheyweregoneastern。Thespritsailfilledwiththewind，suddenly，careeningthefrailopencrafttillitseemeditwouldsurelycapsize。

Awhitecapfoamedaboveitandbrokeacrossinasnow—whitesmother。Thentheboatemerged，halfswamped，LeachflingingthewateroutandJohnsonclingingtothesteering—oar，hisfacewhiteandanxious。

WolfLarsenbarkedashortlaughinmyearandstrodeawaytotheweathersideofthepoop。IexpectedhimtogiveordersfortheGhosttoheaveto，butshekeptonhercourseandhemadenosign。Louisstoodimperturbablyatthewheel，butInoticedthegroupedsailorsforwardturningtroubledfacesinourdirection。StilltheGhosttorealong，tilltheboatdwindledtoaspeck，whenWolfLarsen’svoicerangoutincommandandhewentaboutonthestarboardtack。

Backweheld，twomilesandmoretowindwardofthestrugglingcockle—shell，whentheflyingjibwasrundownandtheschoonerhoveto。Thesealingboatsarenotmadeforwindwardwork。Theirhopeliesinkeepingaweatherpositionsothattheymayrunbeforethewindfortheschoonerwhenitbreezesup。ButinallthatwildwastetherewasnorefugeforLeachandJohnsonsaveontheGhost，andtheyresolutelybeganthewindwardbeat。Itwasslowworkintheheavyseathatwasrunning。Atanymomenttheywereliabletobeoverwhelmedbythehissingcombers。Timeandagainandcountlesstimeswewatchedtheboatluffintothebigwhitecaps，loseheadway，andbeflungbacklikeacork。

Johnsonwasasplendidseaman，andheknewasmuchaboutsmallboatsashedidaboutships。Attheendofanhourandahalfhewasnearlyalongside，standingpastoursternonthelastlegout，aimingtofetchusonthenextlegback。

"Soyou’vechangedyourmind？"IheardWolfLarsenmutter，halftohimself，halftothemasthoughtheycouldhear。"Youwanttocomeaboard，eh？Well，then，justkeepa—coming。"

"Hardupwiththathelm！"hecommandedOofty—Oofty，theKanaka，whohadinthemeantimerelievedLouisatthewheel。