第12章

Commandfollowedcommand。Astheschoonerpaidoff，theforeandmainsheetswereslackedawayforfairwind。Andbeforethewindwewere，andleaping，whenJohnson，easinghissheetatimminentperil，cutacrossourwakeahundredfeetaway。AgainWolfLarsenlaughed，atthesametimebeckoningthemwithhisarmtofollow。Itwasevidentlyhisintentiontoplaywiththem，——alesson，Itookit，inlieuofabeating，thoughadangerouslesson，forthefrailcraftstoodinmomentarydangerofbeingoverwhelmed。

Johnsonsquaredawaypromptlyandranafterus。Therewasnothingelseforhimtodo。Deathstalkedeverywhere，anditwasonlyamatteroftimewhensomeoneofthosemanyhugeseaswouldfallupontheboat，rolloverit，andpasson。

"’Tisthefearivdeathattheheartsivthem，"Louismutteredinmyear，asIpassedforwardtoseetotakingintheflyingjibandstaysail。

"Oh，he’llheavetoinalittlewhileandpickthemup，"answeredcheerfully。

"He’sbentupongivingthemalesson，that’sall。"

Louislookedatmeshrewdly。"Thinkso？"heasked。

"Surely，"Ianswered。"Don’tyou？"

"Ithinknothingbutivmyownskin，thesedays，"washisanswer。"An’

’tiswithwonderI’mfilledastotheworkin’outivthings。Aprettymessthat’Friscowhiskeygotmeinto，an’aprettiermessthatwoman’sgotyouintoaftthere。Ah，it’smyselfthatknowsyeforablitherin’fool。"

"Whatdoyoumean？"Idemanded；for，havingspedhisshaft，hewasturningaway。

"WhatdoImean？"hecried。"Andit’syouthatasksme！’TisnotwhatImean，butwhattheWolf’llmean。TheWolf，Isaid，theWolf！"

"Iftroublecomes，willyoustandby？"Iaskedimpulsively，forhehadvoicedmyownfear。

"Standby？’TisoldfatLouisIstandby，an’troubleenoughit’llbe。

We’reatthebeginnin’ivthings，I’mtellin’ye，thebarebeginnin’ivthings。"

"Ihadnotthoughtyousogreatacoward，"Isneered。

Hefavoredmewithacontemptuousstare。"IfIraisedneverahandforthatpoorfool，"——pointingasterntothetinysail，——"d’yethinkI’mhungerin’forabrokenheadforawomanIneverlaidmeeyesuponbeforethisday？"

Iturnedscornfullyawayandwentaft。

"Bettergetinthosetopsails，Mr。VanWeyden，"WolfLarsensaid，asIcameonthepoop。

Ifeltrelief，atleastasfarasthetwomenwereconcerned。Itwasclearhedidnotwishtoruntoofarawayfromthem。Ipickeduphopeatthethoughtandputtheorderswiftlyintoexecution。Ihadscarcelyopenedmymouthtoissuethenecessarycommands，wheneagermenwerespringingtohalyardsanddownhauls，andotherswereracingaloft。ThiseagernessontheirpartwasnotedbyWolfLarsenwithagrimsmile。

Stillweincreasedourlead，andwhentheboathaddroppedasternseveralmileswehovetoandwaited。Alleyeswatcheditcoming，evenWolfLarsen’s；

buthewastheonlyunperturbedmanaboard。Louis，gazingfixedly，betrayedatroubleinhisfacehewasnotquiteabletohide。

Theboatdrewcloserandcloser，hurlingalongthroughtheseethinggreenlikeathingalive，liftingandsendinganduptossingacrossthehuge—backedbreakers，ordisappearingbehindthemonlytorushintosightagainandshootskyward。Itseemedimpossiblethatitcouldcontinuetolive，yetwitheachdizzyingsweepitdidachievetheimpossible。Arain—squalldrovepast，andoutoftheflyingwettheboatemerged，almostuponus。

"Hardup，there！"WolfLarsenshouted，himselfspringingtothewheelandwhirlingitover。

AgaintheGhostsprangawayandracedbeforethewind，andfortwohoursJohnsonandLeachpursuedus。Wehovetoandranaway，hovetoandranaway，andeverasternthestrugglingpatchofsailtossedskywardandfellintotherushingvalleys。Itwasaquarterofamileawaywhenathicksquallofrainveileditfromview。Itneveremerged。Thewindblewtheairclearagain，butnopatchofsailbrokethetroubledsurface。

IthoughtIsaw，foraninstant，theboat’sbottomshowblackinabreakingcrest。Atthebest，thatwasall。ForJohnsonandLeachthetravailofexistencehadceased。

Themenremainedgroupedamidships。Noonehadgonebelow，andnoonewasspeaking。Norwereanylooksbeingexchanged。Eachmanseemedstunned——deeplycontemplative，asitwere，and，notquitesure，tryingtorealizejustwhathadtakenplace。WolfLarsengavethemlittletimeforthought。

HeatonceputtheGhostuponhercourse——acoursewhichmeantthesealherdandnotYokohamaharbor。Butthemenwerenolongereagerastheypulledandhauled，andIheardcursesamongstthem，whichlefttheirlipssmotheredandasheavyandlifelessaswerethey。Notsowasitwiththehunters。Smoketheirrepressiblerelatedastory，andtheydescendedintothesteerage，bellowingwithlaughter。

AsIpassedtoleewardofthegalleyonmywayaft，Iwasapproachedbytheengineerwehadrescued。Hisfacewaswhite，hislipsweretrembling。

"GoodGod！sir，whatkindofacraftisthis？"hecried。

"Youhaveeyes，youhaveseen，"Ianswered，almostbrutally，whatofthepainandfearatmyownheart。

"Yourpromise？"IsaidtoWolfLarsen。

"IwasnotthinkingoftakingthemaboardwhenImadethatpromise，"

heanswered。"Andanyway，you’llagreeI’venotlaidmyhandsuponthem。"

"Farfromit，farfromit，"helaughedamomentlater。

Imadenoreply。Iwasincapableofspeaking，mymindwastooconfused。

Imusthavetimetothink，Iknew。Thiswoman，sleepingevennowinthesparecabin，wasaresponsibilitywhichImustconsider，andtheonlyrationalthoughtthatflickeredthroughmymindwasthatImustdonothinghastilyifIweretobeanyhelptoheratall。TheSeaWolf：Chapter20CHAPTER20

Theremainderofthedaypasseduneventfully。Theyoungslipofagale，havingwettedourgills，proceededtomoderate。Thefourthengineerandthethreeoilers，afterawarminterviewwithWolfLarsen，werefurnishedwithoutfitsfromtheslop—chests，assignedplacesunderthehuntersinthevariousboatsandwatchesonthevessel，andbundledforwardintotheforecastle。Theywentprotestingly，buttheirvoiceswerenotloud。TheywereawedbywhattheyhadalreadyseenofWolfLarsen’scharacter，whilethetaleofwoetheyspeedilyheardintheforecastletookthelastbitofrebellionoutofthem。

MissBrewster，——wehadlearnedhernamefromtheengineer，——sleptonandon。AtsupperIrequestedthehunterstolowertheirvoices，soshewasnotdisturbed；anditwasnottillnextmorningthatshemadeherappearance。Ithadbeenmyintentiontohavehermealsservedapart，butWolfLarsenputdownhisfoot。Whowasshethatsheshouldbetoogoodforcabintableandcabinsociety？hadbeenhisdemand。

Buthercomingtothetablehadsomethingamusinginit。Thehuntersfellsilentasclams。JockHornerandSmokealonewereunabashed，stealingstealthyglancesathernowandagain，andeventakingpartintheconversation。

Theotherfourmengluedtheireyesontheirplatesandchewedsteadilyandwiththoughtfulprecision，theirearsmovingandwobbling，intimewiththeirjaws，liketheearsofsomanyanimals。

WolfLarsenhadlittletosayatfirst，doingnomorethanreplywhenhewasaddressed。Notthathewasabashed。Farfromit。Thiswomanwasanewtypetohim，adifferentbreedfromanyhehadeverknown，andhewascurious。Hestudiedher，hiseyesrarelyleavingherfaceunlesstofollowthemovementsofherhandsorshoulders。studiedhermyself，andthoughitwasIwhomaintainedtheconversation，IknowthatIwasabitshy，notquiteself—possessed。Hiswastheperfectpoise，thesupremeconfidenceinself，whichnothingcouldshake；andhewasnomoretimidofawomanthanhewasofstormandbattle。

"AndwhenshallwearriveatYokohama？"sheasked，turningtohimandlookinghimsquarelyintheeyes。

Thereitwas，thequestionflat。Thejawsstoppedworking，theearsceasedwobbling，andthougheyesremainedgluedonplates，eachmanlistenedgreedilyfortheanswer。

"Infourmonths，possiblythreeiftheseasonclosesearly，"WolfLarsensaid。

Shecaughtherbreath，andstammered，"I——Ithought——IwasgiventounderstandthatYokohamawasonlyaday’ssailaway。It——"Hereshepausedandlookedaboutthetableatthecircleofunsympatheticfacesstaringhardattheplates。"Itisnotright，"sheconcluded。

"ThatisaquestionyoumustsettlewithMr。VanWeydenthere，"hereplied，noddingtomewithamischievoustwinkle。"Mr。VanWeydeniswhatyoumaycallanauthorityonsuchthingsasrights。NowI，whoamonlyasailor，wouldlookuponthesituationsomewhatdifferently。Itmaypossiblybeyourmisfortunethatyouhavetoremainwithus，butitiscertainlyourgoodfortune。"

Heregardedhersmilingly。Hereyesfellbeforehisgaze，butsheliftedthemagain，anddefiantly，tomine。Ireadtheunspokenquestionthere：

wasitright？ButIhaddecidedthatthepartIwastoplaymustbeaneutralone，soIdidnotanswer。

"Whatdoyouthink？"shedemanded。

"Thatitisunfortunate，especiallyifyouhaveanyengagementsfallingdueinthecourseofthenextseveralmonths。But，sinceyousaythatyouwerevoyagingtoJapanforyourhealth，IcanassureyouthatitwillimprovenobetteranywherethanaboardtheGhost。"

Isawhereyesflashwithindignation，andthistimeitwaswhodroppedmine，whileIfeltmyfaceflushingunderhergaze。Itwascowardly，butwhatelsecouldIdo？

"Mr。VanWeydenspeakswiththevoiceofauthority，"WolfLarsenlaughed。

Inoddedmyhead，andshe，havingrecoveredherself，waitedexpectantly。

"Notthatheismuchtospeakofnow，"WolfLarsenwenton，"buthehasimprovedwonderfully。Youshouldhaveseenhimwhenhecameonboard。

Amorescrawny，pitifulspecimenofhumanityonecouldhardlyconceive。

Isn’tthatso，Kerfoot？"

Kerfoot，thusdirectlyaddressed，wasstartledintodroppinghisknifeonthefloor，thoughhemanagedtogruntaffirmation。

"Developedhimselfbypeelingpotatoesandwashingdishes。Eh，Kerfoot？"

Againthatworthygrunted。

"Lookathimnow。True，heisnotwhatyouwouldtermmuscular，butstillhehasmuscles，whichismorethanhehadwhenhecameaboard。Also，hehaslegstostandon。Youwouldnotthinksotolookathim，buthewasquiteunabletostandaloneatfirst。"

Thehuntersweresnickering，butshelookedatmewithasympathyinhereyeswhichmorethancompensatedforWolfLarsen’snastiness。Intruth，ithadbeensolongsinceIhadreceivedsympathythatIwassoftened，andIbecamethen，andgladly，herwillingslave。ButIwasangrywithWolfLarsen。Hewaschallengingmymanhoodwithhisslurs，challengingtheverylegsheclaimedtobeinstrumentalingettingforme。

"Imayhavelearnedtostandonmyownlegs，"Iretorted。"ButIhaveyettostampuponotherswiththem。"

Helookedatmeinsolently。"Youreducationisonlyhalfcompleted，then，"hesaiddryly，andturnedtoher。

"WeareveryhospitableupontheGhost。Mr。VanWeydenhasdiscoveredthat。Wedoeverythingtomakeourguestsfeelathome，eh，Mr。VanWeyden？"

"Eventothepeelingofpotatoesandthewashingofdishes，"answered，"tosaynothingtowringingtheirnecksoutofveryfellowship。"

"IbegofyounottoreceivefalseimpressionsofusfromMr。VanWeyden，"

heinterposedwithmockanxiety。"Youwillobserve，MissBrewster，thathecarriesadirkinhisbelt，a——ahem——amostunusualthingforaship’sofficertodo。Whilereallyveryestimable，Mr。VanWeydenissometimes——howshallIsay？——er——quarrelsome，andharshmeasuresarenecessary。

Heisquitereasonableandfairinhiscalmmoments，andasheiscalmnowhewillnotdenythatonlyyesterdayhethreatenedmylife。"

Iwaswell—nighchoking，andmyeyeswerecertainlyfiery。Hedrewattentiontome。

"Lookathimnow。Hecanscarcelycontrolhimselfinyourpresence。

Heisnotaccustomedtothepresenceofladies，anyway。shallhavetoarmmyselfbeforeIdaregoondeckwithhim。"

Heshookhisheadsadly，murmuring，"Toobad，toobad，"whilethehuntersburstintoguffawsoflaughter。

Thedeep—seavoicesofthesemen，rumblingandbellowingintheconfinedspace，producedawildeffect。Thewholesettingwaswild，andforthefirsttime，regardingthisstrangewomanandrealizinghowincongruousshewasinit，IwasawareofhowmuchapartofitIwasmyself。Iknewthesemenandtheirmentalprocesses，wasoneofthemmyself，livingtheseal—huntinglife，eatingtheseal—huntingfare，thinking，largely，theseal—huntingthoughts。Therewasformenostrangenesstoit，totheroughclothes，thecoarsefaces，thewildlaughter，andthelurchingcabinwallsandswayingsea—lamps。

AsIbutteredapieceofbreadmyeyeschancedtorestuponmyhand。

Theknuckleswereskinnedandinflamedclearacross，thefingersswollen，thenailsrimmedwithblack。Ifeltthemattress—likegrowthofbeardonmyneck，knewthatthesleeveofmycoatwasripped，thatabuttonwasmissingfromthethroatoftheblueshirtIwore。ThedirkmentionedbyWolfLarsenrestedinitssheathonmyhip。Itwasverynaturalthatitshouldbethere，——hownaturalIhadnotimagineduntilnow，whenIlookeduponitwithhereyesandknewhowstrangeitandallthatwentwithitmustappeartoher。

ButshedivinedthemockeryinWolfLarsen’swords，andagainfavoredmewithasympatheticglance。Buttherewasalookofbewildermentalsoinhereyes。Thatitwasmockerymadethesituationmorepuzzlingtoher。

"Imaybetakenoffbysomepassingvessel，perhaps，"shesuggested。

"Therewillbenopassingvessels，exceptothersealingschooners，"

WolfLarsenmadeanswer。

"Ihavenoclothes，nothing，"sheobjected。"Youhardlyrealize，sir，thatIamnotaman，orthatIamunaccustomedtothevagrant，carelesslifewhichyouandyourmenseemtolead。"

"Thesooneryougetaccustomedtoit，thebetter，"hesaid。

"I’llfurnishyouwithcloth，needles，andthread，"headded。"Ihopeitwillnotbetoodreadfulahardshipforyoutomakeyourselfadressortwo。"

Shemadeawrypuckerwithhermouth，asthoughtoadvertiseherignoranceofdressmaking。Thatshewasfrightenedandbewildered，andthatshewasbravelystrivingtohideit，wasquiteplaintome。

"Isupposeyou’relikeMr。VanWeydenthere，accustomedtohavingthingsdoneforyou。Well，Ithinkdoingafewthingsforyourselfwillhardlydislocateanyjoints。Bytheway，whatdoyoudoforaliving？"

Sheregardedhimwithamazementunconcealed。

"Imeannooffence，believeme。Peopleeat，thereforetheymustprocurethewherewithal。Thesemenhereshootsealsinordertolive；forthesamereasonIsailthisschooner；andMr。VanWeyden，forthepresentatanyrate，earnshissaltygrubbyassistingme。Nowwhatdoyoudo？"

Sheshruggedhershoulders。

"Doyoufeedyourself？Ordoessomeoneelsefeedyou？"

"I’mafraidsomeoneelsehasfedmemostofmylife，"shelaughed，tryingbravelytoenterintothespiritofhisquizzing，thoughIcouldseeaterrordawningandgrowinginhereyesasshewatchedWolfLarsen。

"AndIsupposesomeoneelsemakesyourbedforyou？"

"Ihavemadebeds，"shereplied。

"Veryoften？"

Sheshookherheadwithmockruefulness。

"DoyouknowwhattheydotopoormenintheStates，who，likeyou，donotworkfortheirliving？"

"Iamveryignorant，"shepleaded。"Whatdotheydotothepoormenwhoarelikeme？"

"Theysendthemtojail。Thecrimeofnotearningaliving，intheircase，iscalledvagrancy。IfIwereMr。VanWeyden，whoharpseternallyonquestionsofrightandwrong，I’daskbywhatrightdoyoulivewhenyoudonothingtodeserveliving？"

"ButasyouarenotMr。VanWeyden，Idon’thavetoanswer，doI？"

Shebeameduponhimthroughherterror—filledeyes，andthepathosofitcutmetotheheart。Imustinsomewaybreakinandleadtheconversationintootherchannels。

"Haveyoueverearnedadollarbyyourownlabor？"hedemanded，certainofheranswer，atriumphantvindictivenessinhisvoice。

"Yes，Ihave，"sheansweredslowly，andIcouldhavelaughedaloudathiscrestfallenvisage。"Iremembermyfathergivingmeadollaronce，whenIwasalittlegirl，forremainingabsolutelyquietforfiveminutes。"

Hesmiledindulgently。

"Butthatwaslongago，"shecontinued。"Andyouwouldscarcelydemandalittlegirlofninetoearnherownliving。"

"Atpresent，however，"shesaid，afteranotherslightpause，"earnabouteighteenhundreddollarsayear。"

Withoneaccord，alleyeslefttheplatesandsettledonher。Awomanwhoearnedeighteenhundreddollarsayearwasworthlookingat。WolfLarsenwasundisguisedinhisadmiration。

"Salaryorpiece—work？"heasked。

"Piece—work，"sheansweredpromptly。

"Eighteenhundred，"hecalculated。"That’sahundredandfiftydollarsamonth。Well，MissBrewster，thereisnothingsmallabouttheGhost。

Consideryourselfonsalaryduringthetimeyouremainwithus。"

Shemadenoacknowledgment。Shewastoounusedasyettothewhimsofthemantoacceptthemwithequanimity。

"Iforgottoinquire，"hewentonsuavely，"astothenatureofyouroccupation。Whatcommoditiesdoyouturnout？Whattoolsandmaterialsdoyourequire？"

"Paperandink，"shelaughed。"And，oh！alsoatypewriter。"

"YouareMaudBrewster，"Isaidslowlyandwithcertainty，almostasthoughIwerechargingherwithacrime。

Hereyesliftedcuriouslytomine。"Howdoyouknow？"

"Aren’tyou？"Idemanded。

Sheacknowledgedheridentitywithanod。ItwasWolfLarsen’sturntobepuzzled。Thenameanditsmagicsignifiednothingtohim。wasproudthatitdidmeansomethingtome，andforthefirsttimeinawearywhileIwasconvincinglyconsciousofasuperiorityoverhim。

"Irememberwritingareviewofathinlittlevolume——"Ihadbeguncarelessly，whensheinterruptedme。

"You！"shecried。"Youare——"

Shewasnowstaringatmeinwide—eyedwonder。

Inoddedmyidentity，inturn。

"HumphreyVanWeyden，"sheconcluded；thenaddedwithasighofrelief，andunawarethatshehadglancedthatreliefatWolfLarsen，"Iamsoglad。"

"Irememberthereview，"shewentonhastily，becomingawareoftheawkwardnessofherremark；"thattoo，tooflatteringreview。"

"Notatall，"Ideniedvaliantly。"Youimpeachmysoberjudgmentandmakemycanonsoflittleworth。Besides，allmybrothercriticswerewithme。Didn’tLangincludeyour`KissEndured’amongthefoursupremesonnetsbywomenintheEnglishlanguage？"

"ButyoucalledmetheAmericanMrs。Meynell！"

"Wasitnottrue？"Idemanded。

"No，notthat，"sheanswered。"Iwashurt。"

"Wecanmeasuretheunknownonlybytheknown，"Ireplied，inmyfinestacademicmanner。"AsacriticIwascompelledtoplaceyou。Youhavenowbecomeayardstickyourself。Sevenofyourthinlittlevolumesareonmyshelves；andtherearetwothickervolumes，theessays，which，youwillpardonmysaying，andIknownotwhichisflatteredmore，fullyequalyourverse。ThetimeisnotfardistantwhensomeunknownwillariseinEnglandandthecriticswillnamehertheEnglishMaudBrewster。"

"Youareverykind，Iamsure，"shemurmured；andtheveryconventionalityofhertonesandwords，withthehostofassociationsitarousedoftheoldlifeontheothersideoftheworld，gavemeaquickthrill——richwithremembrancebutstingingsharpwithhomesickness。

"AndyouareMaudBrewster，"Isaidsolemnly，gazingacrossather。

"AndyouareHumphreyVanWeyden，"shesaid，gazingbackatmewithequalsolemnityandawe。"Howunusual！Idon’tunderstand。Wesurelyarenottoexpectsomewildlyromanticsea—storyfromyoursoberpen？"

"No，Iamnotgatheringmaterial，Iassureyou，"wasmyanswer。"Ihaveneitheraptitudenorinclinationforfiction。"

"Tellme，whyhaveyoualwaysburiedyourselfinCalifornia？"shenextasked。"Ithasnotbeenkindofyou。WeoftheEasthaveseensoverylittleofyou——toolittle，indeed，oftheDeanofAmericanLetters，theSecond。"

Ibowedto，anddisclaimed，thecompliment。"Inearlymetyou，once，inPhiladelphia，someBrowningaffairorother——youweretolecture，youknow。Mytrainwasfourhourslate。"

Andthenwequiteforgotwherewewere，leavingWolfLarsenstrandedandsilentinthemidstofourfloodofgossip。Thehuntersleftthetableandwentondeck，andstillwetalked。WolfLarsenaloneremained。SuddenlyIbecameawareofhim，leaningbackfromthetableandlisteningcuriouslytoouralienspeechofaworldhedidnotknow。

Ibrokeshortoffinthemiddleofasentence。Thepresent，withallitsperilsandanxieties，rusheduponmewithstunningforce。ItsmoteMissBrewsterlikewise，avagueandnamelessterrorrushingintohereyesassheregardedWolfLarsen。

Herosetohisfeetandlaughedawkwardly。Thesoundofitwasmetallic。

"Oh，don’tmindme，"hesaid，withaself—depreciatorywaveofhishand。

"Idon’tcount。Goon，goon，Iprayyou。"

Butthegatesofspeechwereclosed，andwe，too，rosefromthetableandlaughedawkwardly。TheSeaWolf：Chapter21CHAPTER21

ThechagrinWolfLarsenfeltfrombeingignoredbyMaudBrewsterandmeintheconversationattablehadtoexpressitselfinsomefashion，anditfelltoThomasMugridgetobethevictim。Hehadnotmendedhiswaysnorhisshirt，thoughthelatterhecontendedhehadchanged。Thegarmentitselfdidnotbearouttheassertion，nordidtheaccumulationsofgreaseonstoveandpotandpanattestageneralcleanliness。

"I’vegivenyouwarning，Cooky，"WolfLarsensaid，"andnowyou’vegottotakeyourmedicine。"

Mugridge’sfaceturnedwhiteunderitssootyveneer，andwhenWolfLarsencalledforaropeandacoupleofmen，themiserableCockneyfledwildlyoutofthegalleyanddodgedandduckedaboutthedeckwiththegrinningcrewinpursuit。Fewthingscouldhavebeenmoretotheirlikingthantogivehimatowovertheside，fortotheforecastlehehadsentmessesandconcoctionsofthevilestorder。Conditionsfavoredtheundertaking。

TheGhostwasslippingthroughthewateratnomorethanthreemilesanhour，andtheseawasfairlycalm。ButMugridgehadlittlestomachforadipinit。Possiblyhehadseenmentowedbefore。Besides，thewaterwasfrightfullycold，andhiswasanythingbutaruggedconstitution。

Asusual，thewatchesbelowandthehuntersturnedoutforwhatpromisedsport。Mugridgeseemedtobeinrabidfearofthewater，andheexhibitedanimblenessandspeedwedidnotdreamhepossessed。Corneredintheright—angleofthepoopandgalley，hespranglikeacattothetopofthecabinandranaft。Buthispursuersforstallinghim，hedoubledbackacrossthecabin，passedoverthegalley，andgainedthedeckbymeansofthesteerage—scuttle。

Straightforwardheraced，theboat—pullerHarrisonathisheelsandgainingonhim。ButMugridge，leapingsuddenly，caughtthejib—boom—lift。Ithappenedinaninstant。Holdinghisweightbyhisarms，andinmid—airdoublinghisbodyatthehips，heletflywithbothfeet。TheoncomingHarrisoncaughtthekicksquarelyinthepitofthestomach，groanedinvoluntarily，anddoubledupandsankbackwardtothedeck。

Hand—clappingandroarsoflaughterfromthehuntersgreetedtheexploit，whileMugridge，eludinghalfofhispursuersattheforemast，ranaftandthroughtheremainderlikearunneronthefootballfield。Straightaftheheld，tothepoopandalongthepooptothestern。Sogreatwashisspeedthatashecurvedpastthecornerofthecabinheslippedandfell。

Nilsonwasstandingatthewheel，andtheCockney’shurtlingbodystruckhislegs。Bothwentdowntogether，butMugridgealonearose。Bysomefreakofpressures，hisfrailbodyhadsnappedthestrongman’sleglikeapipestem。

Parsonstookthewheel，andthepursuitcontinued。Roundandroundthedeckstheywent，Mugridgesickwithfear，thesailorshallooingandshoutingdirectionstooneanother，andthehuntersbellowingencouragementandlaughter。Mugridgewentdownonthefore—hatchunderthreemen；butheemergedfromthemasslikeaneel，bleedingatthemouth，theoffendingshirtrippedintotatters，andsprangforthemain—rigging。Uphewent，clearup，beyondtheratlines，totheverymasthead。

Halfadozensailorsswarmedtothecrosstreesafterhim，wheretheyclusteredandwaitedwhiletwooftheirnumber，Oofty—OoftyandBlack，（whowasLatimer’sboat—steerer），continuedupthethinsteelstays，liftingtheirbodieshigherandhigherbymeansoftheirarms。

Itwasaperilousundertaking，for，ataheightofoverahundredfeetfromthedeck，holdingonbytheirhands，theywerenotinthebestofpositionstoprotectthemselvesfromMugridge’sfeet。AndMugridgekickedsavagely，tilltheKanaka，hangingonwithonehand，seizedtheCockney’sfootwiththeother。Blackduplicatedtheperformanceamomentlaterwiththeotherfoot。Thenthethreewrithedtogetherinaswayingtangle，struggling，sliding，andfallingintothearmsoftheirmatesonthecrosstrees。

Theaerialbattlewasover，andThomasMugridge，whiningandgibbering，hismouthfleckedwithbloodyfoam，wasbroughtdowntodeck。WolfLarsenroveabowlineinapieceofropeandslippeditunderhisshoulders。Thenhewascarriedaftandflungintothesea。Forty，——fifty，——sixtyfeetoflineranout，whenWolfLarsencried"Belay！"Oofty—Ooftytookaturnonabitt，theropetautened，andtheGhost，lungingonward，jerkedthecooktothesurface。

Itwasapitifulspectacle。Thoughhecouldnotdrown，andwasnine—livedinaddition，hewassufferingalltheagoniesofhalf—drowning。TheGhostwasgoingveryslowly，andwhenhersternliftedonawaveandsheslippedforwardshepulledthewretchtothesurfaceandgavehimamomentinwhichtobreathe；butbetweeneachliftthesternfell，andwhilethebowlazilyclimbedthenextwavethelineslackedandhesankbeneath。

IhadforgottentheexistenceofMaudBrewster，andrememberedherwithastartasshesteppedlightlybesideme。Itwasherfirsttimeondecksinceshehadcomeaboard。Adeadsilencegreetedherappearance。

"Whatisthecauseofthemerriment？"sheasked。

"AskCaptainLarsen，"Iansweredcomposedlyandcoldly，thoughinwardlymybloodwasboilingatthethoughtthatsheshouldbewitnesstosuchbrutality。

Shetookmyadviceandwasturningtoputitintoexecution，whenhereyeslightedonOofty—Oofty，immediatelybeforeher，hisbodyinstinctwithalertnessandgraceasheheldtheturnoftherope。

"Areyoufishing？"sheaskedhim。