第19章

Buthestoodmotionlessandstaringasbefore。AndasIfacedhim，withlevelledgunshakinginmyhands，Ihadtimetonotethewornandhaggardappearanceofhisface。Itwasasifsomestronganxietyhadwastedit。

Thecheeksweresunken，andtherewasawearied，puckeredexpressiononthebrow。Anditseemedtomethathiseyeswerestrange，notonlytheexpression，butthephysicalseeming，asthoughtheopticnervesandsupportingmuscleshadsufferedstrainandslightlytwistedtheeyeballs。

AllthisIsaw，andmybrainnowworkingrapidly，Ithoughtathousandthoughts；andyetIcouldnotpullthetriggers。Iloweredthegunandsteppedtothecornerofthecabin，primarilytorelievethetensiononmynervesandtomakeanewstart，andincidentallytobecloser。AgainIraisedthegun。Hewasalmostatarm’slength。Therewasnohopeforhim。Iwasresolved。Therewasnopossiblechanceofmissinghim，nomatterhowpoormymarksmanship。AndyetIwrestledwithmyselfandcouldnotpullthetriggers。

"Well？"hedemandedimpatiently。

Istrovevainlytoforcemyfingersdownonthetriggers，andvainlyIstrovetosaysomething。

"Whydon’tyoushoot？"heasked。

Iclearedmythroatofahuskinesswhichpreventedspeech。

"Hump，"hesaidslowly，"youcan’tdoit。Youarenotexactlyafraid。

Youareimpotent。Yourconventionalmoralityisstrongerthanyou。Youaretheslavetotheopinionswhichhavecredenceamongthepeopleyouhaveknownandhavereadabout。Theircodehasbeendrummedintoyourheadfromthetimeyoulisped，andinspiteofyourphilosophy，andofwhatIhavetaughtyou，itwon’tletyoukillanunarmed，unresistingman。"

"Iknowit，"Isaidhoarsely。

"AndyouknowthatIwouldkillanunarmedmanasreadilyaswouldsmokeacigar，"hewenton。"YouknowmeforwhatIam，——myworthintheworldbyyourstandard。Youhavecalledmesnake，tiger，shark，monster，andCaliban。Andyet，youlittleragpuppet，youlittleechoingmechanism，youareunabletokillmeasyouwouldasnakeorashark，becauseIhavehands，feet，andabodyshapedsomewhatlikeyours。Bah！Ihadhopedbetterthingsofyou，Hump。"

Hesteppedoutofthecompanionwayandcameuptome。

"Putdownthatgun。Iwanttoaskyousomequestions。haven’thadachancetolookaroundyet。Whatplaceisthis？HowistheGhostlying？Howdidyougetwet？Where’sMaud？——Ibegyourpardon，MissBrewster——orshouldIsay，`Mrs。VanWeyden’？"

Ihadbackedawayfromhim，almostweepingatmyinabilitytoshoothim，butnotfoolenoughtoputdownthegun。Ihoped，desperately，thathemightcommitsomehostileact，attempttostrikemeorchokeme；forinsuchwayonlyIknewIcouldbestirredtoshoot。

"ThisisEndeavorIsland，"Isaid。

"Neverheardofit，"hebrokein。

"Atleast，that’sournameforit，"Iamended。

"Our？"hequeried。"Who’sour？"

"MissBrewsterandmyself。AndtheGhostislying，asyoucanseeforyourself，bowontothebeach。"

"Therearesealshere，"hesaid。"Theywokemeupwiththeirbarking，orI’dbesleepingyet。IheardthemwhenIdroveinlastnight。TheywerethefirstwarningthatIwasonaleeshore。It’sarookery，thekindofathingI’vehuntedforyears。ThankstomybrotherDeath，I’velightedonafortune。It’samint。What’sitsbearings？"

"Haven’ttheleastidea，"Isaid。"Butyououghttoknowquiteclosely。

Whatwereyourlastobservations？"

Hesmiledinscrutably，butdidnotanswer。

"Well，where’sallhands？"Iasked。"Howdoesitcomethatyouarealone？"

Iwaspreparedforhimagaintosetasidemyquestion，andwassurprisedatthereadinessofhisreply。

"Mybrothergotmeinsideforty—eighthours，andthroughnofaultofmine。Boardedmeinthenightwithonlythewatchondeck。Hunterswentbackonme。Hegavethemabiggerlay。Heardhimofferingit。Diditrightbeforeme。Ofcoursethecrewgavemethego—by。Thatwastobeexpected。

Allhandswentovertheside，andthereIwas，maroonedonmyownvessel。

ItwasDeath’sturn，andit’sallinthefamilyanyway。"

"Buthowdidyoulosethemasts？"Iasked。

"Walkoverandexaminethoselanyards，"hesaid，pointingtowherethemizzenriggingshouldhavebeen。

"Theyhavebeencutwithaknife！"Iexclaimed。

"Notquite，"helaughed。"Itwasaneaterjob。Lookagain。"

Ilooked。Thelanyardshadbeenalmostsevered，withjustenoughlefttoholdtheshroudstillsomeseverestrainshouldbeputuponthem。

"Cookydidthat，"helaughedagain。"Iknow，thoughIdidn’tspothimatit。Kindofevenedupthescoreabit。"

"GoodforMugridge！"Icried。

"Yes，that’swhatIthoughtwheneverythingwentovertheside。OnlyIsaiditontheothersideofmymouth。"

"Butwhatwereyoudoingwhileallthiswasgoingon？"Iasked。

"Mybest，youmaybesure，whichwasn’tmuchunderthecircumstances。"

IturnedtorexamineThomasMugridge’swork。

"IguessI’llsitdownandtakethesunshine，"IheardWolfLarsensaying。

Therewasahint，justaslighthint，ofphysicalfeeblenessinhisvoice，anditwassostrangethatIlookedquicklyathim。Hishandwassweepingnervouslyacrosshisface，asthoughhewerebrushingawaycobwebs。

Iwaspuzzled。ThewholethingwassounliketheWolfLarsenIhadknown。

"Howareyourheadaches？"Iasked。

"Theystilltroubleme，"washisanswer。"IthinkIhaveonecomingonnow。"

Heslippeddownfromhissittingposturetillhelayonthedeck。Thenherolledoveronhisside，hisheadrestingonthebicepsoftheunderarm，theforearmshieldinghiseyesfromthesun。Istoodregardinghimwonderingly。

"Now’syourchance，Hump，"hesaid。

"Idon’tunderstand，"Ilied，forIthoroughlyunderstood。

"Oh，nothing，"headdedsoftly，asifheweredrowsing；"onlyyou’vegotmewhereyouwantme。"

"No，Ihaven’t，"Iretorted；"forIwantyouafewthousandmilesawayfromhere。"

Hechuckled，andthereafterspokenomore。HedidnotstirasIpassedbyhimandwentdownintothecabin。Iliftedthetrapinthefloor，butforsomemomentsgazeddubiouslyintothedarknessofthelazarettebeneath。

Ihesitatedtodescend。Whatifhislyingdownwerearuse？Pretty，indeed，tobecaughttherelikearat。Icreptsoftlyupthecompanionwayandpeepedathim。HewaslyingasIhadlefthim。AgainIwentbelow；butbeforeIdroppedintothelazaretteItooktheprecautionofcastingdownthedoorinadvance。Atleasttherewouldbenolidtothetrap。Butitwasallneedless。Iregainedthecabinwithastoreofjams，sea—biscuits，cannedmeats，andsuchthings，——allcouldcarry，——andreplacedthetrap—door。

ApeepatWolfLarsenshowedmethathehadnotmoved。Abrightthoughtstruckme。Istoleintohisstate—roomandpossessedmyselfofhisrevolvers。

Therewerenootherweapons，thoughthoroughlyransackedthethreeremainingstate—rooms。Tomakesure，returnedandwentthroughthesteerageandforecastle，andinthegalleygatheredupallthesharpmeatandvegetableknives。

ThenIbethoughtmeofthegreatyachtsman’sknifehealwayscarried，andIcametohimandspoketohim，firstsoftly，thenloudly。Hedidnotmove。

Ibentoverandtookitfromhispocket。Ibreathedmorefreely。Hehadnoarmswithwhichtoattackmefromadistance；whileI，armed，couldalwaysforestallhimshouldheattempttograpplemewithhisterriblegorillaarms。

Fillingacoffee—potandfrying—panwithpartofmyplunder，andtakingsomechinawarefromthecabinpantry，IleftWolfLarsenlyinginthesunandwentashore。

Maudwasstillasleep。Iblewuptheembers，（wehadnotyetarrangedawinterkitchen），andquitefeverishlycookedthebreakfast。Towardtheend，Iheardhermovingaboutwithinthehut，makinghertoilet。Justasallwasreadyandthecoffeepoured，thedooropenedandshecameforth。

"It’snotfairofyou，"washergreeting。"Youareusurpingoneofmyprerogatives。Youknowyouagreedthatthecookingshouldbemine，and——"

"Butjustthisonce，"Ipleaded。

"Ifyoupromisenottodoitagain，"shesmiled。"Unless，ofcourse，youhavegrowntiredofmypoorefforts。"

Tomydelightsheneveroncelookedtowardthebeach，andmaintainedthebanterwithsuchsuccessthatallunconsciouslyshesippedcoffeefromthechinacup，atefriedevaporatedpotatoes，andspreadmarmaladeonherbiscuit。Butitcouldnotlast。Isawthesurprisethatcameoverher。

Shehaddiscoveredthechinaplatefromwhichshewaseating。Shelookedoverthebreakfast，notingdetailafterdetail。Thenshelookedatme，andherfaceturnedslowlytowardthebeach。

"Humphrey！"shesaid。

Theoldunnamableterrormountedintohereyes。

"Is——he——？"shequavered。

Inoddedmyhead。TheSeaWolf：Chapter33CHAPTER33

WewaitedalldayforWolfLarsentocomeashore。Itwasanintolerableperiodofanxiety。EachmomentoneortheotherofuscastexpectantglancestowardtheGhost。Buthedidnotcome。Hedidnotevenappearondeck。

"Perhapsitishisheadache，"Isaid。"Ilefthimlyingonthepoop。

Hemayliethereallnight。IthinkI’llgoandsee。"

Maudlookedentreatyatme。

"Itisallright，"Iassuredher。"Ishalltaketherevolvers。YouknowIcollectedeveryweapononboard。"

"Buttherearehisarms，hishands，histerrible，terriblehands！"sheobjected。Andthenshecried，"Oh，Humphrey，Iamafraidofhim！Don’tgo——pleasedon’tgo！"

Sherestedherhandappealinglyonmine，andsentmypulsefluttering。

Myheartwassurelyinmyeyesforamoment。Thedearandlovelywoman！

Andshewassomuchthewoman，clingingandappealing，sunshineanddewtomymanhood，rootingitdeeperandsendingthroughitthesapofanewstrength。Iwasforputtingmyarmaroundher，aswheninthemidstofthesealherd；butIconsidered，andrefrained。

"Ishallnottakeanyrisks，"Isaid。"I’llmerelypeepoverthebowandsee。"

Shepressedmyhandearnestlyandletmego。ButthespaceondeckwhereIhadlefthimlyingwasvacant。Hehadevidentlygonebelow。Thatnightwestoodalternatewatches，oneofussleepingatatime；fortherewasnotellingwhatWolfLarsenmightdo。Hewascertainlycapableofanything。

Thenextdaywewaited，andthenext，andstillhemadenosign。

"Theseheadachesofhis，theseattacks，"Maudsaid，ontheafternoonofthefourthday；"perhapsheisill，veryill。Hemaybedead。"

"Ordying，"washerafterthought，whenshehadwaitedsometimeformetospeak。

"Betterso，"Ianswered。

"Butthink，Humphrey，afellow—creatureinhislastlonelyhour。"

"Perhaps，"Isuggested。

"Yes，evenperhaps，"sheacknowledged。"Butwedonotknow。Itwouldbeterribleifhewere。Icouldneverforgivemyself。Wemustdosomething。"

"Perhaps，"Isuggestedagain。

Iwaited，smilinginwardlyatthewomanofherwhichcompelledasolicitudeforWolfLarsen，ofallcreatures。Wherewashersolicitudeforme，Ithought，——formewhomshehadbeenafraidtohavemerelypeepaboard？

Shewastoosubtlenottofollowthetrendofmysilence。Andshewasasdirectasshewassubtle。

"Youmustgoaboard，Humphrey，andfindout，"shesaid。"Andifyouwanttolaughatme，youhavemyconsentandforgiveness。"

Iaroseobedientlyandwentdownthebeach。

"Dobecareful，"shecalledafterme。

Iwavedmyarmfromtheforecastleheadanddroppeddowntothedeck。

AftIwalkedtothecabincompanion，whereIcontentedmyselfwithhailingbelow。WolfLarsenanswered，andashestartedtoascendthestairsIcockedmyrevolver。Idisplayeditopenlyduringourconversation，buthetooknonoticeofit。Heappearedthesame，physically，aswhenlastIsawhim，buthewasgloomyandsilent。Infact，thefewwordswespokecouldhardlybecalledaconversation。didnotinquirewhyhehadnotbeenashore，nordidheaskwhyIhadnotcomeaboard。Hisheadwasallrightagain，hesaid，andso，withoutfurtherparley，Ilefthim。

Maudreceivedmyreportwithobviousrelief，andthesightofsmokewhichlaterroseinthegalleyputherinamorecheerfulmood。Thenextday，andthenext，wesawthegalleysmokerising，andsometimeswecaughtglimpsesofhimonthepoop。Butthatwasall。Hemadenoattempttocomeashore。Thisweknew，forwestillmaintainedournight—watches。Wewerewaitingforhimtodosomething，toshowhishand，sotosay，andhisinactionpuzzledandworriedus。

Aweekofthispassedby。WehadnootherinterestthanWolfLarsen，andhispresenceweighedusdownwithanapprehensionwhichpreventedusfromdoinganyofthelittlethingswehadplanned。

Butattheendoftheweekthesmokeceasedrisingfromthegalley，andhenolongershowedhimselfonthepoop。IcouldseeMaud’ssolicitudeagaingrowing，thoughshetimidly，——andevenproudly，think，——foreborearepetitionofherrequest。Afterall，whatcensurecouldbeputuponher？Shewasdivinelyaltruistic，andshewasawoman。Besides，IwasmyselfawareofhurtatthoughtofthismanwhomIhadtriedtokill，dyingalonewithhisfellow—creaturessonear。Hewasright。ThecodeofmygroupwasstrongerthanI。Thefactthathehadhands，feet，andabodyshapedsomewhatlikemine，constitutedaclaimwhichIcouldnotignore。

SoIdidnotwaitasecondtimeforMaudtosendme。discoveredthatwestoodinneedofcondensedmilkandmarmalade，andannouncedthatI

wasgoingaboard。Icouldseethatshewavered。Sheevenwentsofarastomurmurthattheywerenon—essentialsandthatmytripafterthemmightbeinexpedient。Andasshehadfollowedthetrendofmysilence，shenowfollowedthetrendofmyspeech，andsheknewthatIwasgoingaboard，notbecauseofcondensedmilkandmarmalade，butbecauseofherandofheranxiety，whichsheknewshehadfailedtohide。

ItookoffmyshoeswhenIgainedtheforecastlehead，andwentnoiselesslyaftinmystockingfeet。NordidIcallthistimefromthetopofthecompanionway。

Cautiouslydescending，Ifoundthecabindeserted。Thedoortohisstate—roomwasclosed。AtfirstIthoughtofknocking，thenIrememberedmyostensibleerrandandresolvedtocarryitout。Carefullyavoidingnoise，Iliftedthetrap—doorinthefloorandsetittooneside。Theslop—chest，aswellastheprovisions，wasstoredinthelazarette，andItookadvantageoftheopportunitytolayinastockofunderclothing。

AsIemergedfromthelazaretteIheardsoundsinWolfLarsen’sstate—room。

Icrouchedandlistened。Thedoor—knobrattled。Furtively，instinctively，Islunkbackbehindthetableanddrewandcockedmyrevolver。Thedoorswungopenandhecameforth。NeverhadseensoprofoundadespairasthatwhichIsawonhisface，——thefaceofWolfLarsenthefighter，thestrongman，theindomitableone。Foralltheworldlikeawomanwringingherhands，heraisedhisclenchedfistsandgroaned。Onefistunclosed，andtheopenpalmsweptacrosshiseyesasthoughbrushingawaycobwebs。

"God！God！"hegroaned，andtheclenchedfistswereraisedagaintotheinfinitedespairwithwhichhisthroatvibrated。

Itwashorrible。Iwastremblingallover，andIcouldfeeltheshiversrunningupanddownmyspineandthesweatstandingoutonmyforehead。

Surelytherecanbelittleinthisworldmoreawfulthanthespectacleofastrongmaninthemomentwhenheisutterlyweakandbroken。

ButWolfLarsenregainedcontrolofhimselfbyanexertionofhisremarkablewill。Anditwasexertion。Hiswholeframeshookwiththestruggle。Heresembledamanonthevergeofafit。Hisfacestrovetocomposeitself，writhingandtwistingintheefforttillhebrokedownagain。Oncemoretheclenchedfistswentupwardandhegroaned。Hecaughthisbreathonceortwiceandsobbed。Thenhewassuccessful。IcouldhavethoughthimtheoldWolfLarsen，andyettherewasinhismovementsavaguesuggestionofweaknessandindecision。Hestartedforthecompanionway，andsteppedforwardquiteasIhadbeenaccustomedtoseehimdo；andyetagain，inhisverywalk，thereseemedthatsuggestionofweaknessandindecision。

Iwasnowconcernedwithfearformyself。Theopentraplaydirectlyinhispath，andhisdiscoveryofitwouldleadinstantlytohisdiscoveryofme。Iwasangrywithmyselfforbeingcaughtinsocowardlyaposition，crouchingonthefloor。Therewasyettime。roseswiftlytomyfeet，and，Iknow，quiteunconsciouslyassumedadefiantattitude。Hetooknonoticeofme。Nordidhenoticetheopentrap。BeforeIcouldgraspthesituation，oract，hehadwalkedrightintothetrap。Onefootwasdescendingintotheopening，whiletheotherfootwasjustonthevergeofbeginningtheuplift。Butwhenthedescendingfootmissedthesolidflooringandfeltvacancybeneath，itwastheoldWolfLarsenandthetigermusclesthatmadethefallingbodyspringacrosstheopening，evenasitfell，sothathestruckonhischestandstomach，witharmsoutstretched，ontheflooroftheoppositeside。Thenextinstanthehaddrawnuphislegsandrolledclear。Butherolledintomymarmaladeandunderclothesandagainstthetrap—door。

Theexpressiononhisfacewasoneofcompletecomprehension。ButbeforeIcouldguesswhathehadcomprehended，hehaddroppedthetrap—doorintoplace，closingthelazarette。ThenIunderstood。Hethoughthehadmeinside。

Also，hewasblind，blindasabat。watchedhim，breathingcarefullysothatheshouldnothearme。Hesteppedquicklytohisstate—room。Isawhishandmissthedoor—knobbyaninch，quicklyfumbleforit，andfindit。Thiswasmychance。tiptoedacrossthecabinandtothetopofthestairs。Hecameback，draggingaheavysea—chest，whichhedepositedontopofthetrap。Notcontentwiththis，hefetchedasecondchestandplaceditontopofthefirst。Thenhegatheredupthemarmaladeandunderclothesandputthemonthetable。Whenhestartedupthecompanionway，Iretreated，silentlyrollingoverontopofthecabin。

Heshovedtheslidepartwaybackandrestedhisarmsonit，hisbodystillinthecompanionway。Hisattitudewasofonelookingforwardthelengthoftheschooner，orstaring，rather，forhiseyeswerefixedandunblinking。Iwasonlyfivefeetawayanddirectlyinwhatshouldhavebeenhislineofvision。Itwasuncanny。Ifeltmyselfaghost，whatofmyinvisibility。Iwavedmyhandbackandforth，ofcoursewithouteffect；

butwhenthemovingshadowfellacrosshisfaceIsawatoncethathewassusceptibletotheimpression。Hisfacebecamemoreexpectantandtenseashetriedtoanalyzeandidentifytheimpression。Heknewthathehadrespondedtosomethingfromwithout，thathissensibilityhadbeentouchedbyachangingsomethinginhisenvironment；butwhatitwashecouldnotdiscover。Iceasedwavingmyhand，sothattheshadowremainedstationary。

Heslowlymovedhisheadbackandforthunderitandturnedfromsidetoside，nowinthesunshine，nowintheshade，feelingtheshadow，asitwere，testingitbysensation。

I，too，wasbusy，tryingtoreasonouthowhewasawareoftheexistenceofsointangibleathingasashadow。Ifitwerehiseyeballsonlythatwereaffected，orifhisopticnervewerenotwhollydestroyed，theexplanationwassimple。Ifotherwise，thentheonlyconclusionIcouldreachwasthatthesensitiveskinrecognizedthedifferenceoftemperaturebetweenshadeandsunshine。Or，perhaps，——whocantell？——itwasthatfabledsixthsensewhichconveyedtohimtheloomandfeelofanobjectcloseathand。

Givingoverhisattempttodeterminetheshadow，hesteppedondeckandstartedforward，walkingwithaswiftnessandconfidencewhichsurprisedme。Andstilltherewasthathintofthefeeblenessoftheblindinhiswalk。Iknewitnowforwhatitwas。

Tomyamusedchagrin，hediscoveredmyshoesontheforecastleheadandbroughtthembackwithhimintothegalley。Iwatchedhimbuildthefireandsetaboutcookingfoodforhimself；thenIstoleintothecabinformymarmaladeandunderclothes，slippedbackpastthegalley，andclimbeddowntothebeachtodelivermybarefootreport。TheSeaWolf：Chapter34CHAPTER34

"It’stoobadtheGhosthaslosthermasts。Why，wecouldsailawayinher。Don’tyouthinkwecould，Humphrey？"

Isprangexcitedlytomyfeet。

"Iwonder，Iwonder，"Irepeated，pacingupanddown。

Maud’seyeswereshiningwithanticipationastheyfollowedme。Shehadsuchfaithinme！Andthethoughtofitwassomuchaddedpower。I

rememberedMichelet’s"Toman，womanisastheearthwastoherlegendaryson；hehasbuttofalldownandkissherbreastandheisstrongagain。"

ForthefirsttimeIknewthewonderfultruthofhiswords。Why，Iwaslivingthem。Maudwasallthistome，anunfailingsourceofstrengthandcourage。Ihadbuttolookather，orthinkofher，andbestrongagain。

"Itcanbedone，itcanbedone，"Iwasthinkingandassertingaloud。

"Whatmenhavedone，Icando；andiftheyhaveneverdonethisbefore，stillIcandoit。"

"What？forgoodnesssake，"Mauddemanded。"Dobemerciful。Whatisityoucando？"

"Wecandoit，"Iamended。"Why，nothingelsethanputthemastsbackintotheGhostandsailaway。"

"Humphrey！"sheexclaimed。

AndIfeltasproudofmyconceptionasifitwerealreadyafactaccomplished。

"Buthowisitpossibletobedone？"sheasked。

"Idon’tknow，"wasmyanswer。"IknowonlythatIamcapableofdoinganythingthesedays。"

Ismiledproudlyather——tooproudly，forshedroppedhereyesandwasforthemomentsilent。

"ButthereisCaptainLarsen，"sheobjected。

"Blindandhelpless，"Iansweredpromptly，wavinghimasideasastraw。

"Butthoseterriblehandsofhis！Youknowhowheleapedacrosstheopeningofthelazarette。"

"AndyouknowalsohowIcreptaboutandavoidedhim，"contendedgayly。

"Andlostyourshoes。"

"You’dhardlyexpectthemtoavoidWolfLarsenwithoutmyfeetinsideofthem。"

Webothlaughed，andthenwentseriouslytoworkconstructingtheplanwherebyweweretostepthemastsoftheGhostandreturntotheworld。Irememberedhazilythephysicsofmyschooldays，whilethelastfewmonthshadgivenmepracticalexperiencewithmechanicalpurchases。

Imustsay，though，whenwewalkeddowntotheGhosttoinspectmorecloselythetaskbeforeus，thatthesightofthegreatmastslyinginthewateralmostdisheartenedme。Wherewerewetobegin？Iftherehadbeenonemaststanding，somethinghighuptowhichtofastenblocksandtackles！Buttherewasnothing。Itremindedmeoftheproblemofliftingoneselfbyone’sboot—straps。Iunderstoodthemechanicsoflevers；butwherewasItogetafulcrum？

Therewasthemainmast，fifteeninchesindiameteratwhatwasnowthebutt，stillsixty—fivefeetinlength，andweighing，Iroughlycalculated，atleastthreethousandpounds。Andthencametheforemast，largerindiameterandweighingsurelythirty—fivehundredpounds。WherewasItobegin？Maudstoodsilentlybymyside，whileIevolvedinmymindthecontrivanceknownamongsailorsas"shears。"But，thoughknowntosailors，IinventeditthereonEndeavorIsland。Bycrossingandlashingtheendsoftwospars，andthenelevatingthemintheairlikeaninverted"V，"Icouldgetapointabovethedecktowhichtomakefastmyhoistingtackle。TothishoistingtackleIcould，ifnecessary，attachasecondhoistingtackle。

Andthentherewasthewindlass！

MaudsawthatIhadachievedasolution，andhereyeswarmedsympathetically。

"Whatareyougoingtodo？"sheasked。

"Clearthatraffle，"Ianswered，pointingtothetangledwreckageoverside。

Ah，thedecisiveness，theverysoundofthewords，wasgoodinmyears。

"Clearthatraffle！"ImaginesosaltyaphraseonthelipsoftheHumphreyVanWeydenofafewmonthsgone！

Theremusthavebeenatouchofthemelodramaticinmyposeandvoice，forMaudsmiled。Herappreciationoftheridiculouswaskeen，andinallthingssheunerringlysawandfelt，whereitexisted，thetouchofsham，theovershading，theovertone。Itwasthiswhichhadgivenpoiseandpenetrationtoherownworkandmadeherofworthtotheworld。Theseriouscritic，withthesenseofhumorandthepowerofexpression，mustinevitablycommandtheworld’sear。Andsoitwasthatshehadcommanded。Hersenseofhumorwasreallytheartist’sinstinctforproportion。

"I’msureI’vehearditbefore，somewhere，inbooks，"shemurmuredgleefully。

Ihadaninstinctforproportionmyself，andIcollapsedforthwith，descendingfromthedominantposeofamasterofmattertoastateofhumbleconfusionwhichwas，tosaytheleast，verymiserable。

Herhandleaptoutatoncetomine。

"I’msosorry，"shesaid。

"Noneedtobe，"Igulped。"Itdoesmegood。There’stoomuchoftheschoolboyinme。Allofwhichisneitherherenorthere。Whatwe’vegottodoisactuallyandliterallytoclearthatraffle。Ifyou’llcomewithmeintheboat，we’llgettoworkandstraightenthingsout。"

"`Whenthetopmencleartherafflewiththeirclasp—knivesintheirteeth，’"shequotedatme；andfortherestoftheafternoonwemademerryoverourlabor。

HertaskwastoholdtheboatinpositionwhileIworkedatthetangle。

Andsuchatangle——halyards，sheets，guys，downhauls，shrouds，stays，allwashedaboutandbackandforthandthrough，andtwinedandknottedbythesea。Icutnomorethanwasnecessary，andwhatwithpassingthelongropesunderandaroundtheboomsandmasts，ofunreevingthehalyardsandsheets，ofcoilingdownintheboatanduncoilinginordertopassthroughanotherknotinthebight，Iwassoonwettotheskin。

Thesailsdidrequiresomecutting，andthecanvas，heavywithwater，triedmystrengthseverely；butIsucceededbeforenightfallingettingitallspreadoutonthebeachtodry。Wewerebothverytiredwhenweknockedoffforsupper，andwehaddonegoodwork，too，thoughtotheeyeitappearedinsignificant。

Nextmorning，withMaudasableassistant，IwentintotheholdoftheGhosttoclearthestepsofthemast—butts。WehadnomorethanbegunworkwhenthesoundofmyknockingandhammeringbroughtWolfLarsen。

"Hellobelow！"hecrieddowntheopenhatch。

ThesoundofhisvoicemadeMaudquicklydrawclosetome，asforprotection，andsherestedonehandonmyarmwhileweparleyed。

"Helloondeck，"Ireplied。"Goodmorningtoyou。"

"Whatareyoudoingdownthere？"hedemanded。"Tryingtoscuttlemyshipforme？"

"Quitetheopposite；I’mrepairingher，"wasmyanswer。

"Butwhatinthunderareyourepairing？"Therewaspuzzlementinhisvoice。

"Why，I’mgettingeverythingreadyforresteppingthemasts，"repliedeasily，asthoughitwerethesimplestprojectimaginable。

"Itseemsasthoughyou’restandingonyourownlegsatlast，Hump，"

weheardhimsay；andthenforsometimehewassilent。

"ButIsay，Hump，"hecalleddown，"youcan’tdoit。"

"Oh，yes，Ican，"Iretorted。"I’mdoingitnow。"

"Butthisismyvessel，myparticularproperty。Whatifforbidyou？"

"Youforget，"Ireplied。"Youarenolongerthebiggestbitoftheferment。

Youwere，once，andabletoeatme，asyouwerepleasedtophraseit；buttherehasbeenadiminishing，andIamnowabletoeatyou。Theyeasthasgrownstale。"

Hegaveashort，disagreeablelaugh。"Iseeyou’reworkingmyphilosophybackonmeforallitisworth。Butdon’tmakethemistakeofunderestimatingme。ForyourowngoodIwarnyou。"

"Sincewhenhaveyoubecomeaphilanthropist？"Iqueried。"Confess，now，inwarningmeformyowngood，thatyouareveryinconsistent。"

Heignoredmysarcasm，saying，"SupposeIclapthehatchon，now？Youwon’tfoolmeasyoudidinthelazarette。"

"WolfLarsen，"Isaidsternly，forthefirsttimeaddressinghimbythishismostfamiliarname，"Iamunabletoshootahelpless，unresistingman。Youhaveprovedthattomysatisfactionaswellasyours。ButIwarnyounow，andnotsomuchforyourowngoodasformine，thatIshallshootyouthemomentyouattemptahostileact。Icanshootyounow，asIstandhere；andifyouaresominded，justgoaheadandtrytoclaponthehatch。"

"Nevertheless，Iforbidyou，Idistinctlyforbidyourtamperingwithmyship。"

"But，man！"Iexpostulated，"youadvancethefactthatitisyourshipasthoughitwereamoralright。Youhaveneverconsideredmoralrightsinyourdealingswithothers。YousurelydonotdreamthatI’llconsiderthemindealingwithyou？"

IhadsteppedunderneaththeopenhatchwaysothatIcouldseehim。

Thelackofexpressiononhisface，sodifferentfromwhenIhadwatchedhimunseen，wasenhancedbytheunblinking，staringeyes。Itwasnotapleasantfacetolookupon。