第16章

Istruckthedoorofthestate—roomwhichhadformerlybeenMugridge’s，splinteringandsmashingthepanelswiththeimpactofmybody。Istruggledtomyfeet，withdifficultydraggingmyselfclearofthewreckeddoor，unawareofanyhurtwhatever。Iwasconsciousonlyofanovermasteringrage。IthinkI，too，criedaloud，asIdrewtheknifeatmyhipandsprangforwardasecondtime。

Butsomethinghadhappened。Theywerereelingapart。Iwascloseuponhim，myknifeuplifted，butIwithheldtheblow。Iwaspuzzledbythestrangenessofit。Maudwasleaningagainstthewall，onehandoutforsupport；buthewasstaggering，hislefthandpressedagainsthisforeheadandcoveringhiseyes，andwiththerighthewasgropingabouthiminadazedsortofway。Itstruckagainstthewall，andhisbodyseemedtoexpressamuscularandphysicalreliefatthecontact，asthoughhehadfoundhisbearings，hislocationinspaceaswellassomethingagainstwhichtolean。

ThenIsawredagain。Allmywrongsandhumiliationsflasheduponmewithadazzlingbrightness，allthatIhadsufferedandothershadsufferedathishands，alltheenormityoftheman’sveryexistence。Ispranguponhim，blindly，insanely，anddrovetheknifeintohisshoulder。Iknew，then，thatitwasnomorethanafleshwound，——hadfeltthesteelgrateonhisshoulder—blade，——andIraisedtheknifetostrikeatamorevitalpart。

ButMaudhadseenmyfirstblow，andshecried，"Don’t！Pleasedon’t！"

Idroppedmyarmforamoment，andamomentonly。Againtheknifewasraised，andWolfLarsenwouldhavesurelydiedhadshenotsteppedbetween。

Herarmswerearoundme，herhairwasbrushingmyface。Mypulserushedupinanunwontedmanner，yetmyragemountedwithit。Shelookedmebravelyintheeyes。

"Formysake，"shebegged。

"Iwouldkillhimforyoursake！"Icried，tryingtofreemyarmwithouthurtingher。

"Hush！"shesaid，andlaidherfingerslightlyonmylips。couldhavekissedthem，hadIdared，eventhen，inmyrage，thetouchofthemwassosweet，soverysweet。"Please，please，"shepleaded，andshedisarmedmebythewords，asIwastodiscovertheywouldeverdisarmme。

Isteppedback，separatingfromher，andreplacedtheknifeinitssheath。

IlookedatWolfLarsen。Hestillpressedhislefthandagainsthisforehead。

Itcoveredhiseyes。Hisheadwasbowed。Heseemedtohavegrownlimp。

Hisbodywassaggingatthehips，hisgreatshouldersweredroopingandshrinkingforward。

"VanWeyden！"hecalledhoarsely，andwithanoteoffrightinhisvoice。

"Oh，VanWeyden！whereareyou？"

IlookedatMaud。Shedidnotspeak，butnoddedherhead。

"HereIam，"Ianswered，steppingtohisside。"Whatisthematter？"

"Helpmetoaseat，"hesaid，inthesamehoarse，frightenedvoice。

"Iamasickman，averysickman，Hump，"hesaid，asheleftmysustaininggripandsankintoachair。

Hisheaddroppedforwardonthetableandwasburiedinhishands。Fromtimetotimeitrockedbackandforwardaswithpain。Once，whenhehalfraisedit，Isawthesweatstandinginheavydropsonhisforeheadabouttherootsofhishair。

"Iamasickman，averysickman，"herepeatedagain，andyetonceagain。

"Whatisthematter？"Iasked，restingmyhandonhisshoulder。"WhatcanIdoforyou？"

Butheshookmyhandoffwithanirritatedmovement，andforalongtimeIstoodbyhissideinsilence。Maudwaslookingon，herfaceawedandfrightened。Whathadhappenedtohimwecouldnotimagine。

"Hump，"hesaidatlast，"Imustgetintomybunk。Lendmeahand。I’llbeallrightinalittlewhile。It’sthosedamnheadaches，Ibelieve。I

wasafraidofthem。Ihadafeeling——no，don’tknowwhatI’mtalkingabout。Helpmeintomybunk。"

ButwhenIgothimintohisbunkheagainburiedhisfaceinhishands，coveringhiseyes，andasIturnedtogoIcouldhearhimmurmuring，"I

amasickman，averysickman。"

MaudlookedatmeinquiringlyasIemerged。Ishookmyhead，saying：

"Somethinghashappenedtohim。What，Idon’tknow。Heishelpless，andfrightened，Iimagine，forthefirsttimeinhislife。Itmusthaveoccurredbeforehereceivedtheknife—thrust，whichmadeonlyasuperficialwound。Youmusthaveseenwhathappened。"

Sheshookherhead。"Isawnothing。Itisjustasmysterioustome。

Hesuddenlyreleasedmeandstaggeredaway。Butwhatshallwedo？WhatshallIdo？"

"Ifyouwillwait，please，untilIcomeback，"Ianswered。wentondeck。

Louiswasatthewheel。

"Youmaygofor’ardandturnin，"Isaid，takingitfromhim。

Hewasquicktoobey，andIfoundmyselfaloneonthedeckoftheGhost。

Asquietlyaswaspossible，Iclewedupthetopsails，loweredtheflyingjibandstaysail，backedthejibover，andflattenedthemainsail。ThenIwentbelowtoMaud。Iplacedmyfingeronmylipsforsilence，andenteredWolfLarsen’sroom。HewasinthesamepositioninwhichIhadlefthim，andhisheadwasrocking——almostwrithing——fromsidetoside。

"AnythingIcandoforyou？"Iasked。

Hemadenoreplyatfirst，butonmyrepeatingthequestionheanswered，"No，no；I’mallright。Leavemealonetillmorning。"

ButasIturnedtogoInotedthathisheadhadresumeditsrockingmotion。Maudwaswaitingpatientlyforme，andItooknotice，withathrillofjoy，ofthequeenlypoiseofherheadandherglorious，calmeyes。Calmandsuretheywereasherspirititself。

"Willyoutrustyourselftomeforajourneyofsixhundredmilesorso？"Iasked。

"Youmean——？"sheasked，andIknewshehadguessedaright。

"Yes，Imeanjustthat，"Ireplied。"Thereisnothingleftforusbuttheopenboat。"

"Forme，youmean，"shesaid。"Youarecertainlyassafehereasyouhavebeen。"

"No，thereisnothingleftforusbuttheopenboat，"iteratedstoutly。

"Willyoupleasedressaswarmlyasyoucan，atonce，andmakeintoabundlewhateveryouwishtobringwithyou。"

"Andmakeallhaste，"Iadded，assheturnedtowardherstate—room。

Thelazarettewasdirectlybeneaththecabin，and，openingthetrap—doorinthefloorandcarryingacandlewithme，Idroppeddownandbeganoverhaulingtheship’sstores。Iselectedmainlyfromthecannedgoods，andbythetimeIwasready，willinghandswereextendedfromabovetoreceivewhatIpassedup。

Weworkedinsilence。Ihelpedmyselfalsotoblankets，mittens，oilskins，caps，andsuchthings，fromtheslop—chest。Itwasnolightadventure，thistrustingourselvesinasmallboattosorawandstormyasea，anditwasimperativethatweshouldguardourselvesagainstthecoldandwet。

Weworkedfeverishlyatcarryingourplunderondeckanddepositingitamidships，sofeverishlythatMaud，whosestrengthwashardlyapositivequantity，hadtogiveover，exhausted，andsitonthestepsatthebreakofthepoop。Thisdidnotservetorecoverher，andshelayonherback，ontheharddeck，armsstretchedoutandwholebodyrelaxed。ItwasatrickIrememberedofmysister，andIknewshewouldsoonbeherselfagain。

Iknew，also，thatweaponswouldnotcomeinamiss，andIrenteredWolfLarsen’sstate—roomtogethisrifleandshotgun。Ispoketohim，buthemadenoanswer，thoughhisheadwasstillrockingfromsidetosideandhewasnotasleep。

"Good—bye，Lucifer，"IwhisperedtomyselfasIsoftlyclosedthedoor。

Nexttoobtainwasastockofammunition，——aneasymatter，thoughIhadtoenterthesteeragecompanionwaytodoit。Herethehuntersstoredtheammunitionboxestheycarriedintheboats，andhere，butafewfeetfromtheirnoisyrevels，Itookpossessionoftwoboxes。

Next，toloweraboat。Notsosimpleataskforoneman。Havingcastoffthelashings，Ihoistedfirstontheforwardtackle，thenontheaft，tilltheboatclearedtherail，whenIloweredaway，onetackleandthentheother，foracoupleoffeet，tillithungsnugly，abovethewater，againsttheschooner’sside。Imadecertainthatitcontainedtheproperequipmentofoars，rowlocks，andsail。Waterwasaconsideration，andI

robbedeveryboataboardofitsbreaker。Astherewerenineboatsalltold，itmeantthatweshouldhaveplentyofwater，andballastaswell，thoughtherewasthechancethattheboatwouldbeoverloaded，whatofthegeneroussupplyofotherthingsIwastaking。

WhileMaudwaspassingmetheprovisionsandIwasstoringthemintheboat，asailorcameondeckfromthefore—castle。Hestoodbytheweatherrailforatime，（wewereloweringovertheleerail），andthensaunteredslowlyamidships，whereheagainpausedandstoodfacingthewind，withhisbacktowardus。Icouldhearmyheartbeatingascrouchedlowintheboat。Maudhadsunkdownuponthedeckandwas，knew，lyingmotionless，herbodyintheshadowofthebulwark。Butthemanneverturned，and，afterstretchinghisarmsabovehisheadandyawningaudibly，heretracedhisstepstotheforecastlescuttleanddisappeared。

Afewminutessufficedtofinishtheloading，andIloweredtheboatintothewater。AsIhelpedMaudovertherailandfeltherformclosetomine，itwasallIcoulddotokeepfromcryingout，"Iloveyou！I

loveyou！"TrulyHumphreyVanWeydenwasatlastinlove，thought，asherfingersclungtominewhileIloweredherdowntotheboat。Iheldontotherailwithonehandandsupportedherweightwiththeother，andIwasproudatthemomentofthefeat。ItwasastrengthIhadnotpossessedafewmonthsbefore，onthedayIsaidgood—bytoCharleyFurusethandstartedforSanFranciscoontheill—fatedMartinez。

Astheboatascendedonasea，herfeettouchedandIreleasedherhands。

Icastoffthetacklesandleapedafterher。Ihadneverrowedinmylife，butIputouttheoarsandattheexpenseofmucheffortgottheboatclearoftheGhost。ThenIexperimentedwiththesail。Ihadseentheboat—steerersandhunterssettheirspritsailsmanytimes，yetthiswasmyfirstattempt。Whattookthempossiblytwominutestookmetwenty，butintheendIsucceededinsettingandtrimmingit，andwiththesteering—oarinmyhandshauledonthewind。

"ThereliesJapan，"Iremarked，"straightbeforeus。"

"HumphreyVanWeyden，"shesaid，"youareabraveman。"

"Nay，"Ianswered，"itisyouwhoareabravewoman。"

Weturnedourheads，swayedbyacommonimpulsetoseethelastoftheGhost。Herlowhullliftedandrolledtowindwardonasea；hercanvasloomeddarklyinthenight；herlashedwheelcreakedastherudderkicked；thensightandsoundofherfadedawayandwewerealoneonthedarksea。TheSeaWolf：Chapter27CHAPTER27

Daybroke，grayandchill。Theboatwasclose—hauledonafreshbreezeandthecompassindicatedthatwewerejustmakingthecoursewhichwouldbringustoJapan。Thoughstoutlymittened，myfingerswerecold，andtheypainedfromthegriponthesteering—oar。Myfeetwerestingingfromthebiteofthefrost，andIhopedferventlythatthesunwouldshine。

Beforeme，inthebottomoftheboat，layMaud。She，atleast，waswarm，forunderherandoverherwerethickblankets。Thetoponehaddrawnoverherfacetoshelteritfromthenight，soIcouldseenothingbutthevagueshapeofher，andherlight—brownhair，escapedfromthecoveringandjewelledwithmoisturefromtheair。

LongIlookedather，dwellinguponthatonevisiblebitofherasonlyamanwouldwhodeemeditthemostpreciousthingintheworld。Soinsistentwasmygazethatatlastshestirredundertheblankets，thetopfoldwasthrownbackandshesmiledoutonme，hereyesyetheavywithsleep。

"Goodmorning，Mr。VanWeyden，"shesaid。"Haveyousightedlandyet？"

"No，"Ianswered，"butweareapproachingitatarateofsixmilesanhour。"

Shemadeamoueofdisappointment。

"Butthatisequivalenttoonehundredandforty—fourmilesintwenty—fourhours，"Iaddedreassuringly。

Herfacebrightened。"Andhowfarhavewetogo？"

"Siberialiesoffthere，"Isaid，pointingtothewest。"Buttothesouthwest，somesixhundredmiles，isJapan。Ifthiswindshouldhold，we’llmakeitinfivedays。"

"Andifitstorms？Theboatcouldnotlive？"

Shehadawayoflookingoneintheeyesanddemandingthetruth，andthusshelookedatmeassheaskedthequestion。

"Itwouldhavetostormveryhard，"Itemporized。

"Andifitstormsveryhard？"

Inoddedmyhead。"Butwemaybepickedupanymomentbyasealingschooner。

Theyareplentifullydistributedoverthispartoftheocean。"

"Why，youarechilledthrough！"shecried。"Look！Youareshivering。

Don’tdenyit；youare。AndhereIhavebeenlyingwarmastoast。"

"Idon’tseethatitwouldhelpmatters，ifyou，too，satupandwerechilled，"Ilaughed。

"Itwill，though，whenIlearntosteer，whichIcertainlyshall。"

Shesatupandbeganmakinghersimpletoilet。Sheshookdownherhair，anditfellaboutherinabrowncloud，hidingherfaceandshoulders。

Dear，dampbrownhair！Iwantedtokissit，torippleitthroughmyfingers，toburymyfaceinit。Igazedentranced，tilltheboatranintothewindandtheflappingsailwarnedmeIwasnotattendingtomyduties。IdealistandromanticistthatIwasandalwayshadbeeninspiteofmyanalyticalnature，yetIhadfailedtillnowingraspingmuchofthephysicalcharacteristicsoflove。Theloveofmanandwoman，Ihadalwaysheld，wasasublimatedsomethingrelatedtospirit，aspiritualbondthatlinkedanddrewtheirsoulstogether。Thebondsofthefleshhadlittlepartinmycosmosoflove。ButIwaslearningthesweetlessonformyselfthatthesoultransmuteditself，expresseditself，throughtheflesh；thatthesightandsenseandtouchofthelovedone’shairwasasmuchbreathandvoiceandessenceofthespiritasthelightthatshonefromtheeyesandthethoughtsthatfellfromthelips。Afterall，purespiritwasunknowable，athingtobesensedanddivinedonly；norcoulditexpressitselfintermsofitself。

JehovahwasanthropomorphicbecausehecouldaddresshimselftotheJewsonlyintermsoftheirunderstanding；sohewasconceivedasintheirownimage，asacloud，apillaroffire，atangible，physicalsomethingwhichthemindoftheIsraelitescouldgrasp。

AndsoIgazeduponMaud’slight—brownhair，andlovedit，andlearnedmoreoflovethanallthepoetsandsingershadtaughtmewithalltheirsongsandsonnets。Sheflungitbackwithasuddenadroitmovement，andherfaceemerged，smiling。

"Whydon’twomenweartheirhairdownalways？"Iasked。"Itissomuchmorebeautiful。"

"Ifitdidn’ttanglesodreadfully，"shelaughed。"There！I’velostoneofmyprecioushair—pins！"

Ineglectedtheboatandhadthesailspillingthewindagainandagain，suchwasmydelightinfollowinghereverymovementasshesearchedthroughtheblanketsforthepin。Iwassurprised，andjoyfully，thatshewassomuchthewoman，andthedisplayofeachtraitandmannerismthatwascharacteristicallyfemininegavemekeenerjoy。ForIhadbeenelevatinghertoohighlyinmyconceptsofher，removinghertoofarfromtheplaneofthehuman，andtoofarfromme。Ihadbeenmakingofheracreaturegoddess—likeandunapproachable。

Sohailedwithdelightthelittletraitsthatproclaimedheronlywomanafterall，suchasthetossoftheheadwhichflungbackthecloudofhair，andthesearchforthepin。Shewaswoman，mykind，onmyplane，andthedelightfulintimacyofkind，ofmanandwoman，waspossible，aswellasthereverenceandaweinwhichIknewIshouldalwaysholdher。

Shefoundthepinwithanadorablelittlecry，andIturnedmyattentionmorefullytomysteering。Iproceededtoexperiment，lashingandwedgingthesteering—oaruntiltheboatheldonfairlywellbythewindwithoutmyassistance。Occasionallyitcameuptooclose，orfellofftoofreely；

butitalwaysrecovereditselfandinthemainbehavedsatisfactorily。

"Andnowweshallhavebreakfast，"Isaid。"Butfirstyoumustbemorewarmlyclad。"

Igotoutaheavyshirt，newfromtheslop—chestandmadefromblanketgoods。Iknewthekind，sothickandsocloseoftexturethatitcouldresisttherainandnotbesoakedthroughafterhoursofwetting。Whenshehadslippedthisonoverherhead，Iexchangedtheboy’scapsheworeforaman’scap，largeenoughtocoverherhair，and，whentheflapwasturneddown，tocompletelycoverherneckandears。Theeffectwascharming。

Herfacewasofthesortthatcannotbutlookwellunderallcircumstances。

Nothingcoulddestroyitsexquisiteoval，itswell—nighclassiclines，itsdelicatelystencilledbrows，itslargebrowneyes，clear—seeingandcalm，gloriouslycalm。

Apuff，slightlystrongerthanusual，struckusjustthen。Theboatwascaughtasitobliquelycrossedthecrestofawave。Itwentoversuddenly，buryingitsgunwalelevelwiththeseaandshippingabucketfulorsoofwater。Iwasopeningacanoftongueatthemoment，andIsprangtothesheetandcastitoffjustintime。Thesailflappedandfluttered，andtheboatpaidoff。Afewminutesofregulatingsufficedtoputitonitscourseagain，whenIreturnedtothepreparationofbreakfast。

"Itdoesverywell，itseems，thoughIamnotversedinthingsnautical，"

shesaid，noddingherheadwithgraveapprovalatmysteeringcontrivance。

"Butitwillserveonlywhenwearesailingbythewind，"explained。

"Whenrunningmorefreely，withthewindastern，abeam，oronthequarter，itwillbenecessaryformetosteer。"

"ImustsayIdon’tunderstandyourtechnicalities，"shesaid，"butIdoyourconclusion，andIdon’tlikeit。Youcannotsteernightanddayandforever。SoIshallexpect，afterbreakfast，toreceivemyfirstlesson。

Andthenyoushallliedownandsleep。We’llstandwatchesjustastheydoonships。"

"Idon’tseehowIamtoteachyou，"Imadeprotest。"Iamjustlearningformyself。YoulittlethoughtwhenyoutrustedyourselftomethatIhadhadnoexperiencewhateverwithsmallboats。ThisisthefirsttimeIhaveeverbeeninone。"

"Thenwe’lllearntogether，sir。Andsinceyou’vehadanight’sstartyoushallteachmewhatyouhavelearned。Andnow，breakfast。My！thisairdoesgiveoneanappetite！"

"Nocoffee，"Isaidregretfully，passingherbutteredsea—biscuitsandasliceofcannedtongue。"Andtherewillbenotea，nosoups，nothinghot，tillwehavemadelandsomewhere，somehow。"

Afterthesimplebreakfast，cappedwithacupofcoldwater，Maudtookherlessoninsteering。InteachingherIlearnedquiteadealmyself，thoughIwasapplyingtheknowledgealreadyacquiredbysailingtheGhostandbywatchingtheboat—steererssailthesmallboats。Shewasanaptpupil，andsoonlearnedtokeepthecourse，toluffinthepuffsandtocastoffthesheetinanemergency。

Havinggrowntired，apparently，ofthetask，sherelinquishedtheoartome。Ihadfoldeduptheblankets，butshenowproceededtospreadthemoutonthebottom。Whenallwasarrangedsnugly，shesaid：

"Now，sir，tobed。Andyoushallsleepuntilluncheon。Tilldinner—time，"

shecorrected，rememberingthearrangementontheGhost。

WhatcouldIdo？Sheinsisted，andsaid，"Please，please，"whereuponIturnedtheoarovertoherandobeyed。IexperiencedapositivesensuousdelightasIcrawledintothebedshehadmadewithherhands。Thecalmandcontrolwhichweresomuchapartofherseemedtohavebeencommunicatedtotheblankets，sothatIwasawareofasoftdreaminessandcontent，andofanovalfaceandbrowneyesframedinafisherman’scapandtossingagainstabackgroundnowofgraycloud，nowofgraysea，andthenIwasawarethatIhadbeenasleep。

Ilookedatmywatch。Itwasoneo’clock。Ihadsleptsevenhours！Andshehadbeensteeringsevenhours！WhenItookthesteering—oarIhadfirsttounbendhercrampedfingers。Hermodicumofstrengthhadbeenexhausted，andshewasunableeventomovefromherposition。IwascompelledtoletgothesheetwhileIhelpedhertothenestofblanketsandchafedherhandsandarms。

"Iamsotired，"shesaid，withaquickintakeofthebreathandasigh，droopingherheadwearily。

Butshestraighteneditthenextmoment。"Nowdon’tscold，don’tyoudarescold，"shecriedwithmockdefiance。

"Ihopemyfacedoesnotappearangry，"Iansweredseriously；"forI

assureyouIamnotintheleastangry。"

"N——no，"sheconsidered。"Itlooksonlyreproachful。"

"Thenitisanhonestface，foritlookswhatIfeel。Youwerenotfairtoyourself，nortome。HowcanIevertrustyouagain？"

Shelookedpenitent。"I’llbegood，"shesaid，asanaughtychildmightsayit。"Ipromise——"

"Toobeyasasailorwouldobeyhiscaptain？"

"Yes，"sheanswered。"Itwasstupidofme，Iknow。"

"Thenyoumustpromisesomethingelse，"Iventured。

"Readily。"

"Thatyouwillnotsay，`Please，please，’toooften；forwhenyoudoyouaresuretooverridemyauthority。"

Shelaughedwithamusedappreciation。She，too，hadnoticedthepoweroftherepeated"please。"

"Itisagoodword——"Ibegan。

"ButImustnotoverworkit，"shebrokein。

Butshelaughedweakly，andherheaddroopedagain。Ilefttheoarlongenoughtotucktheblanketsaboutherfeetandtopullasinglefoldacrossherface。Alas！shewasnotstrong。Ilookedwithmisgivingtowardthesouthwestandthoughtofthesixhundredmilesofhardshipbeforeus——

ay，ifitwerenoworsethanhardship。Onthisseaastormmightblowupatanymomentanddestroyus。AndyetIwasunafraid。Iwaswithoutconfidenceinthefuture，extremelydoubtful，andyetIfeltnounderlyingfear。Itmustcomeright，itmustcomeright，Irepeatedtomyself，overandoveragain。

Thewindfreshenedintheafternoon，raisingastifferseaandtryingtheboatandmeseverely。Butthesupplyoffoodandtheninebreakersofwaterenabledtheboattostanduptotheseaandwind，andIheldonaslongasIdared。ThenIremovedthesprit，tightlyhaulingdownthepeakofthesail，andweracedalongunderwhatsailorscallaleg—of—mutton。

LateintheafternoonIsightedasteamer’ssmokeonthehorizontoleeward，andIknewiteitherforaRussiancruiser，or，morelikely，theMacedoniastillseekingtheGhost。Thesunhadnotshoneallday，andithadbeenbittercold。Asnightdrewon，thecloudsdarkenedandthewindfreshened，sothatwhenMaudandIatesupperitwaswithourmittensonandwithmestillsteeringandeatingmorselsbetweenpuffs。

Bythetimeitwasdark，windandseahadbecometoostrongfortheboat，andIreluctantlytookinthesailandsetaboutmakingadragorsea—anchor。Ihadlearnedofthedevicefromthetalkofthehunters，anditwasasimplethingtomanufacture。Furlingthesailandlashingitsecurelyaboutthemast，boom，sprit，andtwopairsofspareoars，Ithrewitoverboard。

Alineconnecteditwiththebow，andasitfloatedlowinthewater，practicallyunexposedtothewind，itdriftedlessrapidlythantheboat。Inconsequenceitheldtheboatbowontotheseaandwind——thesafestpositioninwhichtoescapebeingswampedwhentheseaisbreakingintowhitecaps。

"Andnow？"Maudaskedcheerfully，whenthetaskwasaccomplishedandIpulledonmymittens。

"AndnowwearenolongertravellingtowardJapan，"Ianswered。"Ourdriftistothesoutheast，orsouth—southeast，attherateofatleasttwomilesanhour。"

"Thatwillbeonlytwenty—fourmiles，"sheurged，"ifthewindremainshighallnight。"

"Yes，andonlyonehundredandfortymilesifitcontinuesforthreedaysandnights。"

"Butitwon’tcontinue，"shesaid，witheasyconfidence。"Itwillturnaroundandblowfair。"

"Theseaisthegreatfaithlessone。"

"Butthewind！"sheretorted。"Ihaveheardyougroweloquentoverthebravetrade—wind。"