第14章

Ageneralsmilefollowed，inwhichWolfLarsenjoined，andthedinnerwentonsmoothly，thankstome，forhetreatedmeabominablytherestofthemeal，sneeringatmeandpatronizingmetillIwasalla—tremblewithsuppressedrage。YetIknewImustcontrolmyselfforMaudBrewster’ssake，andIreceivedmyrewardwhenhereyescaughtmineforafleetingsecond，andtheysaid，asdistinctlyasifshespoke，"Bebrave，bebrave。"

Weleftthetabletogoondeck，forasteamerwasawelcomebreakinthemonotonyoftheseaonwhichwefloated，whiletheconvictionthatitwasDeathLarsenandtheMacedoniaaddedtotheexcitement。Thestiffbreezeandheavyseawhichhadsprungupthepreviousafternoonhadbeenmoderatingallmorning，sothatitwasnowpossibletolowertheboatsforanafternoon’shunt。Thehuntingpromisedtobeprofitable。Wehadsailedsincedaylightacrossaseabarrenofseals，andwerenowrunningintotheherd。

Thesmokewasstillmilesastern，butoverhaulingusrapidly，whenweloweredourboats。Theyspreadoutandstruckanortherlycourseacrosstheocean。Nowandagainwesawasaillower，heardthereportsoftheshotguns，andsawthesailgoupagain。Thesealswerethick，thewindwasdyingaway；everythingfavoredabigcatch。Asweranofftogetourleewardpositionofthelastleeboat，wefoundtheoceanfairlycarpetedwithsleepingseals。Theywereallaboutus，thickerthanIhadeverseenthembefore，intwosandthreesandbunches，stretchedfulllengthonthesurfaceandsleepingforalltheworldlikesomanylazyyoungdogs。

Undertheapproachingsmokethehullandupperworksofasteamerweregrowinglarger。ItwastheMacedonia。Ireadhernamethroughtheglassesasshepassedbyscarcelyamiletostarboard。WolfLarsenlookedsavagelyatthevessel，whileMaudBrewsterwascurious。

"Whereisthetroubleyouweresosurewasbreezingup，CaptainLarsen？"

sheaskedgayly。

Heglancedather，amoment’samusementsofteninghisfeatures。

"Whatdidyouexpect？Thatthey’dcomeaboardandcutourthroats？"

"Somethinglikethat，"sheconfessed。"Youunderstand，seal—huntersaresonewandstrangetomethatIamquitereadytoexpectanything。"

Henoddedhishead。"Quiteright，quiteright。Yourerroristhatyoufailedtoexpecttheworst。"

"Why，whatcanbeworsethancuttingourthroats？"sheasked，withprettyna寁esurprise。

"Cuttingourpurses，"heanswered。"Manissomadethesedaysthathiscapacityforlivingisdeterminedbythemoneyhepossesses。"

"`Whostealsmypursestealstrash，’"shequoted。

"Whostealsmypursestealsmyrighttolive，"wasthereply，"oldsawstothecontrary。Forhestealsmybreadandmeatandbed，andinsodoingimperilsmylife。Therearenotenoughsoup—kitchensandbread—linestogoaround，youknow，andwhenmenhavenothingintheirpursestheyusuallydie，anddiemiserably——unlesstheyareabletofilltheirpursesprettyspeedily。"

"ButIfailtoseethatthissteamerhasanydesignsonyourpurse。"

"Waitandyouwillsee，"heansweredgrimly。

Wedidnothavelongtowait。Havingpassedseveralmilesbeyondourlineofboats，theMacedoniaproceededtolowerherown。Weknewshecarriedfourteenboatstoourfive，（wewereoneshortthroughthedesertionofWainwright），andshebegandroppingthemfartoleewardofourlastboat，continueddroppingthemathwartourcourse，andfinisheddroppingthemfartowindwardofourfirstweatherboat。Thehunting，forus，wasspoiled。Therewerenosealsbehindus，andaheadofusthelineoffourteenboats，likeahugebroom，swepttheherdbeforeit。

OurboatshuntedacrossthetwoorthreemilesofwaterbetweenthemandthepointwheretheMacedonia’shadbeendropped，andthenheadedforhome。Thewindhadfallentoawhisper，theoceanwasgrowingcalmerandcalmer，andthis，coupledwiththepresenceofthegreatherd，madeaperfecthuntingday——oneofthetwoorthreedaystobeencounteredinthewholeofaluckyseason。Anangrylotofmen，boat—pullersandsteerersaswellashunters，swarmedoverourside。Eachmanfeltthathehadbeenrobbed；andtheboatswerehoistedinamidcurses，which，ifcurseshadpower，wouldhavesettledDeathLarsenforalleternity——"Deadanddamnedforadozeniveternities，"commentedLouis，hiseyestwinklingupatmeasherestedfromhaulingtautthelashingsofhisboat。

"Listentothem，andfindifitishardtodiscoverthemostvitalthingintheirsouls，"saidWolfLarsen。"Faith？andlove？andhighideals？Thegood？thebeautiful？thetrue？"

"Theirinnatesenseofrighthasbeenviolated，"MaudBrewstersaid，joiningtheconversation。

Shewasstandingadozenfeetaway，onehandrestingonthemainshroudsandherbodyswayinggentlytotheslightrolloftheship。Shehadnotraisedhervoice，andyetIwasstruckbyitsclearandbell—liketone。

Ah，itwassweetinmyears！Iscarcelydaredlookatherjustthen，forthefearofbetrayingmyself。Aboy’scapwasperchedonherhead，andherhair，lightbrownandarrangedinalooseandfluffyorderthatcaughtthesun，seemedanaureoleaboutthedelicateovalofherface。Shewaspositivelybewitching，and，withal，sweetlyspirituelle，ifnotsaintly。

Allmyold—timemarvelatlifereturnedtomeatsightofthissplendidincarnationofit，andWolfLarsen’scoldexplanationoflifeanditsmeaningwastrulyridiculousandlaughable。

"Asentimentalist，"hesneered，"likeMr。VanWeyden。Thosemenarecursingbecausetheirdesireshavebeenoutraged。Thatisall。Whatdesires？

Thedesiresforthegoodgrubandsoftbedsashorewhichahandsomepay—daybringsthem——thewomenandthedrink，thegorgingandthebeast—linesswhichsotrulyexpressesthem，thebestthatisinthem，theirhighestaspirations，theirideals，ifyouplease。Theexhibitiontheymakeoftheirfeelingsisnotatouchingsight，yetitshowshowdeeplytheyhavebeentouched，howdeeplytheirpurseshavebeentouched；fortolayhandsontheirpursesistolayhandsontheirsouls。"

"Youhardlybehaveasifyourpursehadbeentouched，"shesaid，smilingly。

"ThenitsohappensthatIambehavingdifferently，formypurseandmysoulhavebothbeentouched。AtthecurrentpriceofskinsintheLondonmarket，andbasedonafairestimateofwhattheafternoon’scatchwouldhavebeenhadnottheMacedoniahoggedit，theGhosthaslostaboutfifteenhundreddollars’worthofskins。"

"Youspeaksocalmly——"shebegan。

"ButIdonotfeelcalm；Icouldkillthemanwhorobbedme，"heinterrupted。

"Yes，yes，Iknow，andthatmanmybrother——moresentiment！Bah！"

Hisfaceunderwentasuddenchange。Hisvoicewaslessharshandwhollysincereashesaid：

"Youmustbehappy，yousentimentalists，reallyandtrulyhappyatdreamingandfindingthingsgood，and，becauseyoufindsomeofthemgood，feelinggoodyourself。Now，tellme，youtwo，doyoufindmegood？"

"Youaregoodtolookupon——inaway，"Iqualified。

"Thereareinyouallpowersforgood，"wasMaudBrewster’sanswer。

"Thereyouare！"hecriedather，halfangrily。"Yourwordsareemptytome。Thereisnothingclearandsharpanddefiniteaboutthethoughtyouhaveexpressed。Youcannotpickitupinyourtwohandsandlookatit。Inpointoffact，itisnotathought。Itisafeeling，asentiment，asomethingbaseduponillusionandnotaproductoftheintellectatall。"

Ashewentonhisvoiceagaingrewsoft，andaconfidingnotecameintoit。"Doyouknow，IsometimescatchmyselfwishingthatI，too，wereblindtothefactsoflifeandonlyknewitsfanciesandillusions。They’rewrong，allwrong，ofcourse，andcontrarytoreason；butinthefaceofthemmyreasontellsme，wrongandmostwrong，thattodreamandliveillusionsgivesgreaterdelight。Andafterall，delightisthewageforliving。Withoutdelight，livingisaworthlessact。Tolaboratlivingandbeunpaidisworsethantobedead。Hewhodelightsthemostlivesthemost，andyourdreamsandunrealitiesarelessdisturbingtoyouandmoregratifyingthanaremyfactstome。"

Heshookhisheadslowly，pondering。

"Ioftendoubt，Ioftendoubt，theworthwhilenessofreason。Dreamsmustbemoresubstantialandsatisfying。Emotionaldelightismorefillingandlastingthanintellectualdelight；and，besides，youpayforyourmomentsofintellectualdelightbyhavingtheblues。Emotionaldelightisfollowedbynomorethanjadedsenseswhichspeedilyrecuperate。Ienvyyou，Ienvyyou。"

Hestoppedabruptly，andthenonhislipsformedoneofhisstrangequizzicalsmiles，asheadded：

"It’sfrommybrainIenvyyou，takenotice，andnotfrommyheart。

Myreasondictatesit。Theenvyisanintellectualproduct。amlikeasobermanlookingupondrunkenmen，and，greatlyweary，wishinghe，too，weredrunk。"

"Orlikeawisemanlookinguponfoolsandwishinghe，too，wereafool，"

Ilaughed。

"Quiteso，"hesaid。"Youareablessed，bankruptpairoffools。Youhavenofactsinyourpocketbook。"

"Yetwespendasfreelyasyou，"wasMaudBrewster’scontribution。

"Morefreely，becauseitcostsyounothing。"

"Andbecausewedrawuponeternity，"sheretorted。

"Whetheryoudoorthinkyoudo，it’sthesamething。Youspendwhatyouhaven’tgot，andinreturnyougetgreatervaluefromspendingwhatyouhaven’tgotthanIgetfromspendingwhatIhavegot，andwhatIhavesweatedtoget。"

"Whydon’tyouchangethebasisofyourcoinage，then？"shequeriedteasingly。

Helookedatherquickly，half—hopefully，andthensaid，allregretfully：

"Toolate。I’dliketo，perhaps，butIcan’t。Mypocketbookisstuffedwiththeoldcoinage，andit’sastubbornthing。Icanneverbringmyselftorecognizeanythingelseasvalid。"

Heceasedspeaking，andhisgazewanderedabsentlypastherandbecamelostintheplacidsea。Theoldprimalmelancholywasstronguponhim。

Hewasquiveringtoit。Hehadreasonedhimselfintoaspelloftheblues，andwithinfewhoursonecouldlookforthedevilwithinhimtobeupandstirring。IrememberedCharleyFuruseth，andknewthisman’ssadnessasthepenaltywhichthematerialisteverpaysforhismaterialism。TheSeaWolf：Chapter25CHAPTER25

"You’vebeenondeck，Mr。VanWeyden，"WolfLarsensaid，thefollowingmorningatthebreakfasttable。"Howdothingslook？"

"Clearenough，"Ianswered，glancingatthesunshinewhichstreameddowntheopencompanionway。"Fairwesterlybreeze，withapromiseofstiffening，ifLouispredictscorrectly。"

Henoddedhisheadinapleasedway。"Anysignsoffog？"

"Thickbanksinthenorthandnorthwest。"

Henoddedhisheadagain，evincingevengreatersatisfactionthanbefore。

"WhatoftheMacedonia？"

"Notsighted，"Ianswered。

Icouldhaveswornhisfacefellattheintelligence，butwhyheshouldbedisappointedIcouldnotconceive。

Iwassoontolearn。"Smokeho！"camethehailfromondeck，andhisfacebrightened。

"Good！"heexclaimed，andleftthetableatoncetogoondeckandintothesteerage，wherethehuntersweretakingthefirstbreakfastoftheirexile。

MaudBrewsterandIscarcelytouchedthefoodbeforeus，gazing，instead，insilentanxietyateachother，andlisteningtoWolfLarsen’svoice，whicheasilypenetratedthecabinthroughtheinterveningbulkhead。Hespokeatlength，andhisconclusionwasgreetedwithawildroarofcheers。

Thebulkheadwastoothickforustohearwhathesaid；butwhateveritwasitaffectedthehuntersstrongly，forthecheeringwasfollowedbyloudexclamationsandshoutsofjoy。

FromthesoundsondeckIknewthatthesailorshadbeenroutedoutandwerepreparingtolowertheboats。MaudBrewsteraccompaniedmeondeck，butIleftheratthebreakofthepoop，whereshemightwatchthesceneandnotbeinit。Thesailorsmusthavelearnedwhateverprojectwasonhand，andthevimandsnaptheyputintotheirworkattestedtheirenthusiasm。Thehunterscametroopingondeckwithshotgunsandammunition—boxes，and，mostunusual，theirrifles。Thelatterwererarelytakenintheboats，foraseal，shotatlongrangewitharifle，invariablysankbeforeaboatcouldreachit。Buteachhunterthisdayhadhisrifleandalargesupplyofcartridges。noticedtheygrinnedwithsatisfactionwhenevertheylookedattheMacedonia’ssmoke，whichwasrisinghigherandhigherassheapproachedfromthewest。

Thefiveboatswentoverthesidewitharush，spreadoutliketheribsofafan，andsetanortherlycourse，asontheprecedingafternoon，forustofollow。Iwatchedforsometime，curiously，butthereseemednothingextraordinaryabouttheirbehavior。Theyloweredsails，shotseals，andhoistedsailsagain，andcontinuedontheirwayasIhadalwaysseenthemdo。TheMacedoniarepeatedherperformanceofyesterday，"hogging"

theseabydroppingherlineofboatsinadvanceofoursandacrossourcourse。Fourteenboatsrequireaconsiderablespreadofoceanforcomfortablehunting，andwhenshehadcompletelylappedourlineshecontinuedsteamingintothenortheast，droppingmoreboatsasshewent。

"What’sup？"IaskedWolfLarsen，unablelongertokeepmycuriosityincheck。

"Nevermindwhat’sup，"heansweredgruffly。"Youwon’tbeathousandyearsinfindingout，andinthemeantimejustprayforplentyofwind。"

"Oh，well，Idon’tmindtellingyou，"hesaidthenextmoment。"I’mgoingtogivethatbrotherofmineatasteofhisownmedicine。Inshort，I’mgoingtoplaythehogmyself，andnotforoneday，butfortherestoftheseason，——ifwe’reinluck。"

"Andifwe’renot？"Iqueried。

"Nottobeconsidered，"helaughed。"Wesimplymustbeinluck，orit’sallupwithus。"

Hehadthewheelatthetime，andIwentforwardtomyhospitalintheforecastle，wherelaythetwocrippledmen，NilsonandThomasMugridge。

Nilsonwasascheerfulascouldbeexpected，forhisbrokenlegwasknittingnicely；buttheCockneywasdesperatelymelancholy，andIwasawareofagreatsympathyfortheunfortunatecreature。Andthemarvelofitwasthatstillhelivedandclungtolife。Thebrutalyearshadreducedhismeagrebodytosplinteredwreckage，andyetthesparkoflifewithinburnedbrightlyasever。

"Withanartificialfoot，——andtheymakeexcellentones，——youwillbestumpingships’galleystotheendoftime，"Iassuredhimjovially。

Buthisanswerwasserious，nay，solemn。"Idon’tknowaboutwotyous’y，Mr。VanW’yden，butIdoknowI’llneverrest’appytillseethat’ell—’oundbloodywelldead。’Ecawn’tliveaslongasme。’E’sgotnorighttolive，an’astheGoodWordputsit，`’Eshallshorelydie，’an’

Is’y，`Amen，an’damnsoonatthat。’"

WhenIreturnedondeckIfoundWolfLarsensteeringmainlywithonehand，whilewiththeotherhandheheldthemarineglassesandstudiedthesituationoftheboats，payingparticularattentiontothepositionoftheMacedonia。Theonlychangenoticeableinourboatswasthattheyhadhauledcloseonthewindandwereheadingseveralpointswestofnorth。Still，Icouldnotseetheexpediencyoftheman渦vre，forthefreeseawasstillinterceptedbytheMacedonia’sfiveweatherboats，which，inturn，hadhauledcloseonthewind。Thustheyslowlydivergedtowardthewest，drawingfartherawayfromtheremainderoftheboatsintheirline。Ourboatswererowingaswellassailing。Eventhehunterswerepulling，andwiththreepairsofoarsinthewatertheyrapidlyoverhauledwhatImayappropriatelytermtheenemy。

ThesmokeoftheMacedoniahaddwindledtoadimblotonthenortheasternhorizon。Ofthesteamerherselfnothingwastobeseen。Wehadbeenloafingalong，tillnow，oursailsshakinghalfthetimeandspillingthewind；andtwice，forshortperiods，wehadbeenhoveto。Buttherewasnomoreloafing。Sheetsweretrimmed，andWolfLarsenproceededtoputtheGhostthroughherpaces。Weranpastourlineofboatsandboredownuponthefirstweatherboatoftheotherline。

"Downthatflyingjib，Mr。VanWeyden，"WolfLarsencommanded。"Andstandbytobackoverthejibs。"

Iranforwardandhadthedownhauloftheflyingjiballinandfastasweslippedbytheboatahundredfeettoleeward。Thethreemeninitgazedatussuspiciously。Theyhadbeenhoggingthesea，andtheyknewWolfLarsen，byreputationatanyrate。Inotedthatthehunter，ahugeScandinaviansittinginthebow，heldhisrifle，readytohand，acrosshisknees。Itshouldhavebeeninitsproperplaceintherack。Whentheycameoppositeourstern，WolfLarsengreetedthemwithawaveofthehand，andcried：

"Comeonboardandhavea`gam’！"

"Togam，"amongthesealingschooners，isasubstitutefortheverbs"tovisit，""togossip。"Itexpressesthegarrulityoftheseaandisapleasantbreakinthemonotonyofthelife。

TheGhostswungaroundintothewind，andIfinishedmyworkforwardintimetorunaftandlendahandwiththemainsheet。

"Youwillpleasestayondeck，MissBrewster，"WolfLarsensaid，ashestartedforwardtomeethisguest。"Andyou，too，Mr。VanWeyden。"

Theboathadlowereditssailandrunalongside。Thehunter，golden—beardedlikeasea—king，cameovertherailanddroppedondeck。Buthishugenesscouldnotquiteovercomehisapprehensiveness。Doubtanddistrustshowedstronglyinhisface。Itwasatransparentface，forallofitshairyshield，andadvertisedinstantreliefwhenheglancedfromWolfLarsentome，notedthattherewasonlythepairofus，andthenglancedoverhisowntwomenwhohadjoinedhim。Surelyhehadlittlereasontobeafraid。HetoweredlikeaGoliathaboveWolfLarsen。Hemusthavemeasuredsixfeeteightornineinchesinstature，andIsubsequentlylearnedhisweight——240

pounds。Andtherewasnofatabouthim。Itwasallboneandmuscle。

Areturnofapprehensionwasapparent，when，atthetopofthecompanionway，WolfLarseninvitedhimbelow。Buthereassuredhimselfwithaglancedownathishost——abigmanhimselfbutdwarfedbythepropinquityofthegiant。Soallhesitancyvanished，andthepairdescendedintothecabin。

Inthemeantime，histwomen，aswasthewontofvisitingsailors，hadgoneforwardintotheforecastletodosomevisitingthemselves。

Suddenly，fromthecabincameagreat，chokingbellow，followedbyallthesoundsofafuriousstruggle。Itwastheleopardandthelion，andthelionmadeallthenoise。WolfLarsenwastheleopard。

"Youseethesacrednessofourhospitality，"Isaidbitterly，toMaudBrewster。

Shenoddedherheadthatsheheard，andInotedinherfacethesignsofthesamesicknessatsightorsoundofviolentstrugglefromwhichI

hadsufferedsoseverelyduringmyfirstweeksontheGhost。

"Wouldn’titbebetterifyouwentforward，saybythesteeragecompanionway，untilitisover？"Isuggested。

Sheshookherheadandgazedatmepitifully。Shewasnotfrightened，butappalled，rather，atthehumananimalityofit。

"Youwillunderstand，"Itookadvantageoftheopportunitytosay，"whateverpartItakeinwhatisgoingonandwhatistocome，thatIamcompelledtotakeit——ifyouandIareevertogetoutofthisscrapewithourlives。"

"Itisnotnice——forme，"Iadded。

"Iunderstand，"shesaid，inaweak，far—awayvoice，andhereyesshowedmethatshedidunderstand。

Thesoundsfrombelowsoondiedaway。ThenWolfLarsencamealoneondeck。Therewasaslightflushunderhisbronze，butotherwiseheborenosignsofthebattle。

"Sendthosetwomenaft，Mr。VanWeyden，"hesaid。

Iobeyed，andaminuteortwolatertheystoodbeforehim。

"Hoistinyourboat，"hesaidtothem。"Yourhunter’sdecidedtostayaboardawhileanddoesn’twantitpoundingalongside。"

"Hoistinyourboat，Isaid，"herepeated，thistimeinsharpertonesastheyhesitatedtodohisbidding。

"Whoknows？youmayhavetosailwithmeforatime，"hesaid，quitesoftly，withasilkenthreatthatbeliedthesoftness，astheymovedslowlytocomply，"andwemightaswellstartwithafriendlyunderstanding。Livelynow！DeathLarsenmakesyoujumpbetterthanthat，andyouknowit！"

Theirmovementsperceptiblyquickenedunderhiscoaching，andastheboatswunginboardIwassentforwardtoletgothejibs。WolfLarsen，atthewheel，directedtheGhostaftertheMacedonia’ssecondweatherboat。

Underway，andwithnothingforthetimebeingtodo，Iturnedmyattentiontothesituationoftheboats。TheMacedonia’sthirdweatherboatwasbeingattackedbytwoofours，thefourthbyourremainingthree；andthefifth，turnabout，wastakingahandinthedefenceofitsnearestmate。Thefighthadopenedatlongdistance，andtherifleswerecrackingsteadily。Aquick，snappyseawasbeingkickedupbythewind，aconditionwhichpreventedfineshooting；andnowandagain，aswedrewcloser，wecouldseethebulletszip—zippingfromwavetowave。

Theboatwewerepursuinghadsquaredawayandwasrunningbeforethewindtoescapeus，and，inthecourseofitsflight，totakepartinrepulsingourgeneralboatattack。

Attendingtosheetsandtacksnowleftmelittletimetoseewhatwastakingplace，butIhappenedtobeonthepoopwhenWolfLarsenorderedthetwostrangesailorsforwardandintotheforecastle。Theywentsullenly，buttheywent。HenextorderedMissBrewsterbelow，andsmiledattheinstanthorrorthatleaptintohereyes。

"You’llfindnothinggrewsomedownthere，"hesaid，"onlyanunhurtmansecurelymadefasttothering—bolts。Bulletsareliabletocomeaboard，andIdon’twantyoukilled，youknow。"

Evenashespoke，abulletwasdeflectedbyabrass—cappedspokeofthewheelbetweenhishandsandscreechedoffthroughtheairtowindward。

"Yousee，"hesaidtoher；andthentome，"Mr。VanWeyden，willyoutakethewheel？"

MaudBrewsterhadsteppedinsidethecompanionwaysothatonlyherheadwasexposed。WolfLarsenhadprocuredarifleandwasthrowingacartridgeintothebarrel。Ibeggedherwithmyeyestogobelow，butshesmiledandsaid：

"Wemaybefeebleland—creatureswithoutlegs，butwecanshowCaptainLarsenthatweareatleastasbraveashe。"

Hegaveheraquicklookofadmiration。

"Ilikeyouahundredpercentbetterforthat，"hesaid。"Books，andbrains，andbravery。Youarewell—rounded，ablue—stockingfittobethewifeofapiratechief。Ahem，we’lldiscussthatlater，"hesmiled，asabulletstrucksolidlyintothecabinwall。

Isawhiseyesflashgoldenashespoke，andIsawtheterrormountinherown。

"Wearebraver，"Ihastenedtosay。"Atleast，speakingformyself，IknowIambraverthanCaptainLarsen。"

ItwasIwhowasnowfavoredbyaquicklook。HewaswonderingifI

weremakingfunofhim。IputthreeorfourspokesovertocounteractasheertowardthewindonthepartoftheGhost，andthensteadiedher。WolfLarsenwasstillwaitinganexplanation，andpointeddowntomyknees。

"Youwillobservethere，"Isaid，"aslighttrembling。ItisbecauseIamafraid，thefleshisafraid；andIamafraidinmymindbecauseI

donotwishtodie。Butmyspiritmastersthetremblingfleshandthequalmsofthemind。Iammorethanbrave。Iamcourageous。Yourfleshisnotafraid。

Youarenotafraid。Ontheonehand，itcostsyounothingtoencounterdanger；ontheotherhand，itevengivesyoudelight。Youenjoyit。Youmaybeunafraid，Mr。Larsen，butyoumustgrantthatthebraveryismine。"

"You’reright，"heacknowledgedatonce。"Ineverthoughtofitinthatwaybefore。Butistheoppositetrue？IfyouarebraverthanI，amImorecowardlythanyou？"

Webothlaughedattheabsurdity，andhedroppeddowntothedeckandrestedhisrifleacrosstherail。Thebulletswehadreceivedhadtravellednearlyamile，butbynowwehadcutthatdistanceinhalf。Hefiredthreecarefulshots。Thefirststruckfiftyfeettowindwardoftheboat，thesecondalongside，andatthethirdtheboat—steererletloosehissteering—oarandcrumpledupinthebottomoftheboat。

"Iguessthat’llfixthem，"WolfLarsensaid，risingtohisfeet。"I

couldn’taffordtoletthehunterhaveit，andthereisachancetheboat—pullerdoesn’tknowhowtosteer。Inwhichcase，thehuntercannotsteerandshootatthesametime。"

Hisreasoningwasjustified，fortheboatrushedatonceintothewindandthehuntersprangafttotaketheboat—steerer’splace。Therewasnomoreshooting，thoughtherifleswerestillcrackingmerrilyfromtheotherboats。

Thehunterhadmanagedtogettheboatbeforethewindagain，butwerandownuponit，goingatleasttwofeettoitsone。Ahundredyardsaway，Isawtheboat—pullerpassarifletothehunter。WolfLarsenwentamidshipsandtookthecoilofthethroat—halyardsfromitspin。Thenhepeeredovertherailwithlevelledrifle。TwiceIsawthehunterletgothesteering—oarwithonehand，reachforhisrifle，andhesitate。Wewerenowalongsideandfoamingpast。

"Here，you！"WolfLarsencriedsuddenlytotheboat—puller。"Takeaturn！"

Atthesametimeheflungthecoilofrope。Itstruckfairly，nearlyknockingthemanover，buthedidnotobey。Instead，helookedtohishunterfororders。Thehunter，inturn，wasinaquandary。Hisriflewasbetweenhisknees，butifheletgothesteering—oarinordertoshoot，theboatwouldsweeparoundandcollidewiththeschooner。AlsohesawWolfLarsen’sriflebearinguponhimandknewhewouldbeshoterehecouldgethisrifleintoplay。

"Takeaturn，"hesaidquietlytotheman。