第13章

Hemadenoreply。Hiseyes，fixedintentlyontheseaastern，suddenlyflashed。

"Sharkho，sir！"hecried。

"Heavein！Lively！Allhandstailon！"WolfLarsenshouted，springinghimselftotheropeinadvanceofthequickest。

MugridgehadheardtheKanaka’swarningcryandwasscreamingmadly。

Icouldseeablackfincuttingthewaterandmakingforhimwithgreaterswiftnessthanhewasbeingpulledaboard。Itwasaneventosswhetherthesharkorwewouldgethim，anditwasamatterofmoments。WhenMugridgewasdirectlybeneathus，thesterndescendedtheslopeofapassingwave，thusgivingtheadvantagetotheshark。Thefindisappeared。Thebellyflashedwhiteinaswiftupwardrush。Almostequallyswift，butnotquite，wasWolfLarsen。Hethrewhisstrengthintoonetremendousjerk。TheCockney’sbodyleftthewater；sodidpartoftheshark’s。Hedrewuphislegs，andtheman—eaterseemednomorethanbarelytotouchonefoot，sinkingbackintothewaterwithasplash。ButatthemomentofcontactThomasMugridgecriedout。Thenhecameinlikeafresh—caughtfishonaline，clearingtherailgenerouslyandstrikingthedeckinaheap，onhandsandknees，androllingover。

Butafountainofbloodwasgushingforth。Therightfootwasmissing，amputatedneatlyattheankle。IlookedinstantlytoMaudBrewster。Herfacewaswhite，hereyesdilatedwithhorror。Shewasgazing，notatThomasMugridge，butatWolfLarsen。Andhewasawareofit，forhesaid，withoneofhisshortlaughs：

"Man—play，MissBrewster。Somewhatrougher，Iwarrant，thanwhatyouhavebeenusedto，butstill——man—play。Thesharkwasnotinthereckoning。

It——"

Butatthisjuncture，Mugridge，whohadliftedhisheadandascertainedtheextentofhisloss，flounderedoveronthedeckandburiedhisteethinWolfLarsen’sleg。WolfLarsenstooped，coolly，totheCockney，andpressedwiththumbandfingerattherearofthejawsandbelowtheears。

Thejawsopenedwithreluctance，andWolfLarsensteppedfree。

"AsIwassaying，"hewenton，asthoughnothingunwontedhadhappened，"thesharkwasnotinthereckoning。Itwas——ahem——shallwesayProvidence？"

Shegavenosignthatshehadheard，thoughtheexpressionofhereyeschangedtooneofinexpressibleloathingasshestartedtoturnaway。Shenomorethanstarted，forsheswayedandtottered，andreachedherhandweaklyouttomine。Icaughtherintimetosaveherfromfalling，andhelpedhertoaseatonthecabin。Ithoughtshemustfaintoutright，butshecontrolledherself。

"Willyougetatourniquet，Mr。VanWeyden，"WolfLarsencalledtome。

Ihesitated。Herlipsmoved，andthoughtheyformednowords，shecommandedmewithhereyes，plainlyasspeech，togotothehelpoftheunfortunateman。

"Please，"shemanagedtowhisper，andIcouldbutobey。

BynowIhaddevelopedsuchskillatsurgerythatWolfLarsen，withafewwordsofadvice，leftmetomytaskwithacoupleofsailorsforassistants。Forhistaskheelectedavengeanceontheshark。Aheavyswivel—hook，baitedwithfatsalt—pork，wasdroppedoverside；andbythetimeIhadcompressedtheseveredveinsandarteries，thesailorsweresingingandheavingintheoffendingmonster。Ididnotseeitmyself，butmyassistants，firstoneandthentheother，desertedmeforafewmomentstorunamidshipsandlookatwhatwasgoingon。Theshark，asixteen—footer，washoistedupagainstthemain—rigging。Itsjawswerepriedaparttotheirgreatestextension，andastoutstake，sharpenedatbothends，wassoinsertedthatwhentheprieswereremovedthespreadjawswerefixeduponit。Thisaccomplished，thehookwascutout。Thesharkdroppedbackintothesea，helpless，yetwithitsfullstrength，doomedtolingeringstarvation——alivingdeathlessmeetforitthanforthemanwhodevisedthepunishment。TheSeaWolf：Chapter22CHAPTER22

Iknewwhatitwasasshecametowardme。Fortenminuteshadwatchedhertalkingearnestlywiththeengineer，andnow，withasignforsilence，Idrewheroutofearshotofthehelmsman。Herfacewaswhiteandset；

herlargeeyes，largerthanusualwhatofthepurposeinthem，lookedpenetratinglyintomine。Ifeltrathertimidandapprehensive，forshehadcometosearchHumphreyVanWeyden’ssoul，andHumphreyVanWeydenhadnothingofwhichtobeparticularlyproudsincehisadventontheGhost。

Wewalkedtothebreakofthepoop，wheresheturnedandfacedme。I

glancedaroundtoseethatnoonewaswithinhearingdistance。

"Whatisit？"Iaskedgently；buttheexpressionofdeterminationonherfacedidnotrelax。

"Icanreadilyunderstand，"shebegan，"thatthismorning’saffairwaslargelyanaccident；butIhavebeentalkingwithMr。Haskins。Hetellsmethatthedaywewererescued，evenwhileIwasinthecabin，twomenweredrowned，deliberatelydrowned——murdered。"

Therewasaqueryinhervoice，andshefacedmeaccusingly，asthoughIwereguiltyofthedeed，oratleastapartytoit。

"Theinformationisquitecorrect，"Ianswered。"Thetwomenweremurdered。"

"Andyoupermittedit！"shecried。

"Iwasunabletopreventit，isabetterwayofphrasingit，"replied，stillgently。

"Butyoutriedtopreventit？"Therewasanemphasisonthe"tried，"

andapleadinglittlenoteinhervoice。

"Oh，butyoudidn’t，"shehurriedon，diviningmyanswer。"Butwhydidn’tyou？"

Ishruggedmyshoulders。"Youmustremember，MissBrewster，thatyouareanewinhabitantofthislittleworld，andthatyoudonotyetunderstandthelawswhichoperatewithinit。Youbringwithyoucertainfineconceptionsofhumanity，manhood，conduct，andsuchthings；buthereyouwillfindthemmisconceptions。Ihavefounditso，"Iadded，withaninvoluntarysigh。

Sheshookherheadincredulously。

"Whatwouldyouadvise，then？"Iasked。"ThatIshouldtakeaknife，oragun，oranaxe，andkillthisman？"

Shehalfstartedback。

"No，notthat！"

"ThenwhatshouldIdo？Killmyself？"

"Youspeakinpurelymaterialisticterms，"sheobjected。"Thereissuchathingasmoralcourage，andmoralcourageisneverwithouteffect。"

"Ah，"Ismiled，"youadvisemetokillneitherhimnormyself，buttolethimkillme。"Iheldupmyhandasshewasabouttospeak。"Formoralcourageisaworthlessassetonthislittlefloatingworld。Leach，oneofthemenwhoweremurdered，hadmoralcouragetoanunusualdegree。Sohadtheotherman，Johnson。Notonlydiditnotstandthemingoodstead，butitdestroyedthem。AndsowithmeifIshouldexercisewhatlittlemoralcourageImaypossess。

"Youmustunderstand，MissBrewster，andunderstandclearly，thatthismanisamonster。Heiswithoutconscience。Nothingissacredtohim，nothingistooterribleforhimtodo。ItwasduetohiswhimthatIwasdetainedaboardinthefirstplace。ItisduetohiswhimthatIamstillalive。

Idonothing，candonothing，becauseIamaslavetothismonster，asyouarenowaslavetohim；becauseIdesiretolive，asyouwilldesiretolive；becauseIcannotfightandovercomehim，justasyouwillnotbeabletofightandovercomehim。"

Shewaitedformetogoon。

"Whatremains？Mineisther攍eoftheweak。Iremainsilentandsufferignominy，asyouwillremainsilentandsufferignominy。Anditiswell。

Itisthebestwecandoifwewishtolive。Thebattleisnotalwaystothestrong。Wehavenotthestrengthwithwhichtofightthisman；wemustdissimulate，andwin，ifwinwecan，bycraft。Ifyouwillbeadvisedbyme，thisiswhatyouwilldo。Iknowmypositionisperilous，andImaysayfranklythatyoursisevenmoreperilous。Wemuststandtogether，withoutappearingtodoso，insecretalliance。shallnotbeabletosidewithyouopenly，and，nomatterwhatindignitiesmaybeputuponme，youaretoremainlikewisesilent。Wemustprovokenosceneswiththisman，norcrosshiswill。Andwemustkeepsmilingfacesandbefriendlywithhimnomatterhowrepulsiveitmaybe。"

Shebrushedherhandacrossherforeheadinapuzzledway，saying，"StillIdonotunderstand。"

"YoumustdoasIsay，"Iinterruptedauthoritatively，forsawWolfLarsen’sgazewanderingtowardusfromwherehepacedupanddownwithLatimeramidships。"DoasIsay，anderelongyouwillfindamright。"

"WhatshallIdo，then？"sheasked，detectingtheanxiousglanceIhadshotattheobjectofourconversation，andimpressed，flattermyself，withtheearnestnessofmymanner。

"Dispensewithallthemoralcourageyoucan，"Isaidbriskly。"Don’tarousethisman’sanimosity。Bequitefriendlywithhim，talkwithhim，discussliteratureandartwithhim——heisfondofsuchthings。Youwillfindhimaninterestedlistenerandnofool。Andforyourownsaketrytoavoidwitnessing，asmuchasyoucan，thebrutalitiesoftheship。Itwillmakeiteasierforyoutoactyourpart。"

"Iamtolie，"shesaidinsteady，rebellioustones，"byspeechandactiontolie。"

WolfLarsenhadseparatedfromLatimerandwascomingtowardus。Iwasdesperate。

"Please，pleaseunderstandme，"Isaidhurriedly，loweringmyvoice。

"Allyourexperienceofmenandthingsisworthlesshere。Youmustbeginoveragain。Iknow，——Icanseeit，——youhave，amongotherways，beenusedtomanagingpeoplewithyoureyes，lettingyourmoralcouragespeakoutthroughthem，asitwere。Youhavealreadymanagedmewithyoureyes，commandedmewiththem。Butdon’ttryitonWolfLarsen。Youcouldaseasilycontrolalion，whilehewouldmakeamockofyou。Hewould——Ihavealwaysbeenproudofthefactthatdiscoveredhim，"Isaid，turningtheconversationasWolfLarsensteppedonthepoopandjoinedus。"Theeditorswereafraidofhimandthepublisherswouldhavenoneofhim。ButIknew，andhisgeniusandmyjudgmentwerevindicatedwhenhemadethatmagnificenthitwithhis`Forge。’"

"Anditwasanewspaperpoem，"shesaidglibly。

"Itdidhappentoseethelightinanewspaper，"Ireplied，"butnotbecausethemagazineeditorshadbeendeniedaglimpseatit。"

"WeweretalkingofHarris，"IsaidtoWolfLarsen。

"Oh，yes，"heacknowledged。"Irememberthe`Forge。’Filledwithprettysentimentsandanalmightyfaithinhumanillusions。Bytheway，Mr。VanWeyden，you’dbetterlookinonCooky。He’scomplainingandrestless。"

ThuswasIbluntlydismissedfromthepoop，onlytofindMugridgesleepingsoundlyfromthemorphineIhadgivenhim。Imadenohastetoreturnondeck，andwhenIdidIwasgratifiedtoseeMissBrewsterinanimatedconversationwithWolfLarsen。AsIsay，thesightgratifiedme。Shewasfollowingmyadvice。AndyetIwasconsciousofaslightshockorhurtinthatshewasabletodothethingIhadbeggedhertodoandwhichshehadnotablydisliked。TheSeaWolf：Chapter23CHAPTER23

Bravewinds，blowingfair，swiftlydrovetheGhostnorthwardintothesealherd。Weencountereditwelluptotheforty—fourthparallel，inarawandstormyseaacrosswhichthewindharriedthefog—banksineternalflight。Fordaysatatimewecouldneverseethesunnortakeanobservation；thenthewindwouldsweepthefaceoftheoceanclean，thewaveswouldrippleandflash，andwewouldlearnwherewewere。Adayofclearweathermightfollow，orthreedaysorfour，andthenthefogwouldsettledownuponus，seeminglythickerthanever。

Thehuntingwasperilous；yettheboats，lowereddayafterday，wereswallowedupinthegrayobscurity，andwereseennomoretillnightfall，andoftennottilllongafter，whentheywouldcreepinlikesea—wraiths，onebyone，outofthegray。Wainwright，——thehunterwhomWolfLarsenhadstolenwithboatandmen，——tookadvantageoftheveiledseaandescaped。

Hedisappearedonemorningintheencirclingfogwithhistwomen，andweneversawthemagain，thoughitwasnotmanydayswhenwelearnedthattheyhadpassedfromschoonertoschooneruntiltheyfinallyregainedtheirown。

ThiswasthethingIhadsetmymindupondoing，buttheopportunityneveroffered。Itwasnotinthemate’sprovincetogooutintheboats，andthoughIman渦vredcunninglyforit，WolfLarsennevergrantedmetheprivilege。Hadhedoneso，IshouldhavemanagedsomehowtocarryMissBrewsterawaywithme。Asitwas，thesituationwasapproachingastagewhichIwasafraidtoconsider。Iinvoluntarilyshunnedthethoughtofit，andyetthethoughtcontinuallyaroseinmymindlikeahauntingspectre。

Ihadreadsea—romancesinmytime，whereinfigured，asamatterofcourse，thelonewomaninthemidstofashiploadofmen；butIlearned，now，thatIhadnevercomprehendedthedeepersignificanceofsuchasituation——thethingthewritersharpeduponandexploitedsothoroughly。Andhereitwas，now，andIwasfacetofacewithit。Thatitshouldbeasvitalaspossible，itrequirednomorethanthatthewomanshouldbeMaudBrewster，whonowcharmedmeinpersonasshehadlongcharmedmethroughherwork。

Noonemoreoutofenvironmentcouldbeimagined。Shewasadelicate，etherealcreature，swayingandwillowy，lightandgracefulofmovement。

Itneverseemedtomethatshewalked，or，atleast，walkedaftertheordinarymannerofmortals。Herswasanextremelithesomeness，andshemovedwithacertainindefinableairiness，approachingoneasdownmightfloatorasabirdonnoiselesswings。

ShewaslikeabitofDresdenchina，andIwascontinuallyimpressedwithwhatImaycallherfragility。AsatthetimeIcaughtherarmwhenhelpingherbelow，soatanytimeIwasquiteprepared，shouldstressorroughhandlingbefallher，toseehercrumbleaway。haveneverseenbodyandspiritinsuchperfectaccord。Describeherverse，asthecriticshavedescribedit，assublimatedandspiritual，andyouhavedescribedherbody。

Itseemedtopartakeofhersoul，tohaveanalogousattributes，andtolinkittolifewiththeslenderestofchains。Indeed，shetrodtheearthlightly，andinherconstitutiontherewaslittleoftherobustclay。

ShewasinstrikingcontrasttoWolfLarsen。Eachwasnothingthattheotherwas，everythingthattheotherwasnot。Inotedthemwalkingthedecktogetheronemorning，andIlikenedthemtotheextremeendsofthehumanladderofevolution——theonetheculminationofallsavagery，theotherthefinishedproductofthefinestcivilization。True，WolfLarsenpossessedintellecttoanunusualdegree，butitwasdirectedsolelytotheexerciseofhissavageinstinctsandmadehimbutthemoreformidableasavage。Hewassplendidlymuscled，aheavyman，andthoughhestrodewiththecertitudeanddirectnessofthephysicalman，therewasnothingheavyabouthisstride。Thejungleandthewildernesslurkedintheupliftanddownputofhisfeet。Hewascat—footed，andlithe，andstrong，alwaysstrong。Ilikenedhimtosomegreattiger，abeastofprowessandprey。

Helookedit，andthepiercingglitterthataroseattimesinhiseyeswasthesamepiercingglitterIhadobservedintheeyesofcagedleopardsandotherpreyingcreaturesofthewild。

Butthisday，asInotedthempacingupanddown，Isawthatitwasshewhoterminatedthewalk。TheycameuptowhereIwasstandingbytheentrancetothecompanionway。Thoughshebetrayeditbynooutwardsign，Ifelt，somehow，thatshewasgreatlyperturbed。Shemadesomeidleremark，lookingatme，andlaughedlightlyenough；butIsawhereyesreturntohis，involuntarily，asthoughfascinated；thentheyfell，butnotswiftlyenoughtoveiltherushofterrorthatfilledthem。

ItwasinhiseyesthatIsawthecauseofherperturbation。Ordinarilygrayandcoldandharsh，theywerenowwarmandsoftandgolden，andalladancewithtinylightsthatdimmedandfaded，orwelleduptillthefullorbswerefloodedwithaglowingradiance。Perhapsitwastothisthatthegoldencolorwasdue；butgoldenhiseyeswere，enticingandmasterful，atthesametimeluringandcompelling，andspeakingademandandclamorofthebloodwhichnowoman，muchlessMaudBrewster，couldmisunderstand。

Herownterrorrusheduponme，andinthatmomentoffear，——themostterriblefearamancanexperience，——Iknewthatininexpressiblewaysshewasdeartome。TheknowledgethatIlovedherrusheduponmewiththeterror，andwithbothemotionsgrippingatmyheartandcausingmybloodatthesametimetochillandtoleapriotously，Ifeltmyselfdrawnbyapowerwithoutmeandbeyondme，andfoundmyeyesreturningagainstmywilltogazeintotheeyesofWolfLarsen。Buthehadrecoveredhimself。

Thegoldencolorandthedancinglightsweregone。Coldandgrayandglitteringtheywereashebowedbrusquelyandturnedaway。

"Iamafraid，"shewhispered，withashiver。"Iamsoafraid。"

I，too，wasafraid，andwhatofmydiscoveryofhowmuchshemeanttomemymindwasinaturmoil；butIsucceededinansweringquitecalmly：

"Allwillcomeright，MissBrewster。Trustme，itwillcomeright。"

Sheansweredwithagratefullittlesmilethatsentmyheartpounding，andstartedtodescendthecompanion—stairs。

ForalongwhileIremainedstandingwhereshehadleftme。Therewasimperativeneedtoadjustmyself，toconsiderthesignificanceofthechangedaspectofthings。Ithadcome，atlast，lovehadcome，whenIleastexpecteditandunderthemostforbiddingconditions。Ofcourse，myphilosophyhadalwaysrecognizedtheinevitablenessofthelove—callsoonerorlater；

butlongyearsofbookishsilencehadmademeinattentiveandunprepared。

Andnowithadcome！MaudBrewster！Mymemoryflashedbacktothatfirstthinlittlevolumeonmydesk，andIsawbeforeme，asthoughintheconcrete，therowofthinlittlevolumesonmylibraryshelf。HowIhadwelcomedeachofthem！Eachyearonehadcomefromthepress，andtomeeachwastheadventoftheyear。Theyhadvoicedakindredintellectandspirit，andassuchIhadreceivedthemintoacamaraderieofthemind；butnowtheirplacewasinmyheart。

Myheart？Arevulsionoffeelingcameoverme。Iseemedtostandoutsidemyselfandtolookatmyselfincredulously。MaudBrewster！HumphreyVanWeyden，the"cold—bloodedfish，"the"emotionlessmonster，"the"analyticaldemon，"ofCharleyFuruseth’schristening，inlove！Andthen，withoutrhymeorreason，allsceptical，mymindflewbacktoasmallbiographicalnoteinthered—bound"Who’sWho，"andIsaidtomyself，"ShewasborninCambridge，andsheistwenty—sevenyearsold。"AndthenIsaid，"Twenty—sevenyearsoldandstillfreeandfancyfree？"ButhowdidIknowshewasfancyfree？

Andthepangofnew—bornjealousyputallincredulitytoflight。Therewasnodoubtaboutit。Iwasjealous；thereforeIloved。AndthewomanlovedwasMaudBrewster。

I，HumphreyVanWeyden，wasinlove！Andagainthedoubtassailedme。

NotthatIwasafraidofit，however，orreluctanttomeetit。Onthecontrary，idealistthatIwastothemostpronounceddegree，myphilosophyhadalwaysrecognizedandguerdonedloveasthegreatestthingintheworld，theaimandthesummitofbeing，themostexquisitepitchofjoyandhappinesstowhichlifecouldthrill，thethingofallthingstobehailedandwelcomedandtakenintotheheart。ButnowthatithadcomeIcouldnotbelieve。

Icouldnotbesofortunate。Itwastoogood，toogoodtobetrue。Symons’slinescameintomyhead：

"IwanderedalltheseyearsamongAworldofwomen，seekingyou。"

AndthenIhadceasedseeking。Itwasnotforme，thisgreatestthingintheworld，Ihaddecided。Furusethwasright；Iwasabnormal，an"emotionlessmonster，"astrangebookishcreature，capableofpleasuringinsensationsonlyofthemind。AndthoughIhadbeensurroundedbywomenallmydays，myappreciationofthemhadbeenaestheticandnothingmore。Ihadactually，attimes，consideredmyselfoutsidethepale，amonkishfellowdeniedtheeternalorthepassingpassionsIsawandunderstoodsowellinothers。

Andnowithadcome！Undreamedofandunheralded，ithadcome。Inwhatcouldhavebeennolessthananecstasy，Ileftmypostattheheadofthecompanionwayandstartedalongthedeck，murmuringtomyselfthosebeautifullinesofMrs。Browning：

"IlivedwithvisionsformycompanyInsteadofmenandwomenyearsago，Andfoundthemgentlemates，northoughttoknowAsweetermusicthantheyplayedtome。"

Butthesweetermusicwasplayinginmyears，andIwasblindandoblivioustoallaboutme。ThesharpvoiceofWolfLarsenarousedme。

"Whatthehellareyouupto？"hewasdemanding。

Ihadstrayedforwardwherethesailorswerepainting，andcametomyselftofindmyadvancingfootonthevergeofoverturningapaint—pot。

"Sleep—walking，sunstroke，——what？"hebarked。

"No；indigestion，"Iretorted，andcontinuedmywalkasifnothinguntowardhadoccurred。TheSeaWolf：Chapter24CHAPTER24

AmongthemostvividmemoriesofmylifearethoseoftheeventsontheGhostwhichoccurredduringthefortyhourssucceedingthediscoveryofmyloveforMaudBrewster。I，whohadlivedmylifeinquietplaces，onlytoenterattheageofthirty—fiveuponacourseofthemostirrationaladventureIcouldhaveimagined，neverhadmoreincidentandexcitementcrammedintoanyfortyhoursofmyexperience。NorcanIquiteclosemyearstoasmallvoiceofpridewhichtellsmedidnotdosobadly，allthingsconsidered。

Tobeginwith，atthemiddaydinner，WolfLarseninformedthehuntersthattheyweretoeatthenceforthinthesteerage。Itwasanunprecedentedthingonsealingschooners，whereitisthecustomforthehunterstorankunofficiallyasofficers。Hegavenoreason，buthismotivewasobviousenough。HornerandSmokehadbeendisplayingagallantrytowardMaudBrewster，ludicrousinitselfandinoffensivetoher，buttohimevidentlydistasteful。

Theannouncementwasreceivedwithblacksilence，thoughtheotherfourhuntersglancedsignificantlyatthetwowhohadbeenthecauseoftheirbanishment。JockHorner，quietaswashisway，gavenosign；butthebloodsurgeddarklyacrossSmoke’sforehead，andhehalfopenedhismouthtospeak。WolfLarsenwaswatchinghim，waitingforhim，thesteelyglitterinhiseyes；butSmokeclosedhismouthagainwithouthavingsaidanything。

"Anythingtosay？"theotherdemandedaggressively。

Itwasachallenge，butSmokerefusedtoacceptit。

"Aboutwhat？"heasked，soinnocentlythatWolfLarsenwasdisconcerted，whiletheotherssmiled。

"Oh，nothing，"WolfLarsensaidlamely。"Ijustthoughtyoumightwanttoregisterakick。"

"Aboutwhat？"askedtheimperturbableSmoke。

Smoke’smateswerenowsmilingbroadly。Hiscaptaincouldhavekilledhim，andIdoubtnotthatbloodwouldhaveflowedhadnotMaudBrewsterbeenpresent。Forthatmatter，itwasherpresencewhichenabledSmoketoactashedid。HewastoodiscreetandcautiousamantoincurWolfLarsen’sangeratatimewhenthatangercouldbeexpressedintermsstrongerthanwords。Iwasinfearthatastrugglemighttakeplace，butacryfromthehelmsmanmadeiteasyforthesituationtosaveitself。

"Smokeho！"thecrycamedowntheopencompanionway。

"How’sitbear？"WolfLarsencalledup。

"Deadastern，sir。"

"Maybeit’saRussian，"suggestedLatimer。

Hiswordsbroughtanxietyintothefacesoftheotherhunters。ARussiancouldmeanbutonething——acruiser。Thehunters，nevermorethanroughlyawareofthepositionoftheship，neverthelessknewthatwewereclosetotheboundariesoftheforbiddensea，whileWolfLarsen’srecordasapoacherwasnotorious。Alleyescentreduponhim。

"We’redeadsafe，"heassuredthemwithalaugh。"Nosaltminesthistime，Smoke。ButI’lltellyouwhat——I’lllayoddsoffivetooneit’stheMacedonia。"

Nooneacceptedhisofferandhewenton。"Inwhichevent，I’lllaytentoonethere’stroublebreezingup。"

"No，thankyou，"Latimerspokeup。"Idon’tobjecttolosingmymoney，butIliketogetarunforit，anyway。Thereneverwasatimewhentherewasn’ttroublewhenyouandthatbrotherofyoursgottogether，andI’lllaytwentytooneonthat。"