Asoftlightsuffusedhisfaceandhiseyesglistened，asthoughsomewhereinthedeepsofhisbeinghisancestorshadquickenedandstirredwithdimmemoriesoftipsreceivedinformerlives。
\"Thankyou，sir，\"hesaid，verygratefullyandveryhumblyindeed。
Preciselyinthewaythatthedoorslidback，heslidaside，andIsteppedoutondeck。Iwasstillweakfrommyprolongedimmersion。Apuffofwindcaughtme，andIstaggeredacrossthemovingdecktoacornerofthecabin，towhichIclungforsupport。Theschooner，heeledoverfaroutfromtheperpendicular，wasbowingandplungingintothelongPacificroll。IfshewereheadingsouthwestasJohnsonhadsaid，thewind，then，Icalculated，wasblowingnearlyfromthesouth。Thefogwasgone，andinitsplacethesunsparkledcrisplyonthesurfaceofthewater。Iturnedtotheeast，whereIknewCaliforniamustlie，butcouldseenothingsavelow—lyingfog—banks——thesamefog，doubtless，thathadbroughtaboutthedisastertotheMartinezandplacedmeinmypresentsituation。Tothenorth，andnotfaraway，agroupofnakedrocksthrustabovethesea，ononeofwhichcoulddistinguishalighthouse。Inthesouthwest，andalmostinourcourse，Isawthepyramidalloomofsomevessel’ssails。
Havingcompletedmysurveyofthehorizon，Iturnedtomymoreimmediatesurroundings。MyfirstthoughtwasthatamanwhohadcomethroughacollisionandrubbedshoulderswithdeathmeritedmoreattentionthanIreceived。
Beyondasailoratthewheelwhostaredcuriouslyacrossthetopofthecabin，Iattractednonoticewhatever。
Everybodyseemedinterestedinwhatwasgoingonamidships。There，onahatch，alargemanwaslyingonhisback。Hewasfullyclothed，thoughhisshirtwasrippedopeninfront。Nothingwastobeseenofhischest，however，foritwascoveredwithamassofblackhair，inappearancelikethefurrycoatofadog。Hisfaceandneckwerehiddenbeneathablackbeard，intershotwithgray，whichwouldhavebeenstiffandbushyhaditnotbeenlimpanddraggledanddrippingwithwater。Hiseyeswereclosed，andhewasapparentlyunconscious；buthismouthwaswideopen，hisbreastheavingasthoughfromsuffocationashelaborednoisilyforbreath。A
sailor，fromtimetotimeandquitemethodically，asamatterofroutine，droppedacanvasbucketintotheoceanattheendofarope，hauleditinhandunderhand，andsluiceditscontentsovertheprostrateman。
Pacingbackandforththelengthofthehatchway，andsavagelychewingtheendofacigar，wasthemanwhosecasualglancehadrescuedmefromthesea。Hisheightwasprobablyfivefeetteninches，ortenandahalf；
butmyfirstimpression，orfeeloftheman，wasnotofthis，butofhisstrength。Andyet，whilehewasofmassivebuild，withbroadshouldersanddeepchest，Icouldnotcharacterizehisstrengthasmassive。Itwaswhatmightbetermedasinewy，knottystrength，ofthekindweascribetoleanandwirymen，butwhich，inhim，becauseofhisheavybuild，partookmoreoftheenlargedgorillaorder。Notthatinappearanceheseemedintheleastgorilla—like。WhatIamstrivingtoexpressisthisstrengthitself，moreasathingapartfromhisphysicalsemblance。Itwasastrengthwearewonttoassociatewiththingsprimitive，withwildanimals，andthecreaturesweimagineourtree—dwellingprototypestohavebeen——
astrengthsavage，ferocious，aliveinitself，theessenceoflifeinthatitisthepotencyofmotion，theelementalstuffitselfoutofwhichthemanyformsoflifehavebeenmolded；inshort，thatwhichwrithesinthebodyofasnakewhentheheadiscutoff，andthesnake，asasnake，isdead，orwhichlingersinashapelesslumpofturtle—meatandrecoilsandquiversfromtheprodofafinger。
SuchwastheimpressionofstrengthIgatheredfromthismanwhopacedupanddown。Hewasfirmlyplantedonhislegs；hisfeetstruckthedecksquarelyandwithsurety；everymovementofamuscle，fromtheheaveoftheshoulderstothetighteningofthelipsaboutthecigar，wasdecisive，andseemedtocomeoutofastrengththatwasexcessiveandoverwhelming。
Infact，thoughthisstrengthpervadedeveryactionofhis，itseemedbuttheadvertisementofagreaterstrengththatlurkedwithin，thatlaydormantandnomorethanstirredfromtimetotime，butwhichmightarouse，atanymoment，terribleandcompelling，liketherageofalionorthewrathofastorm。
Thecookstuckhisheadoutofthegalleydoorandgrinnedencouraginglyatme，atthesametimejerkinghisthumbinthedirectionofthemanwhopacedupanddownbythehatchway。ThusIwasgiventounderstandthathewasthecaptain，the\"OldMan，\"inthecook’svernacular，theindividualwhomImustinterviewandputtothetroubleofsomehowgettingmeashore。
Ihadhalfstartedforward，togetoverwithwhatIwascertainwouldbeastormyfiveminutes，whenamoreviolentsuffocatingparoxysmseizedtheunfortunatepersonwhowaslyingonhisback。Hewrenchedandwrithedaboutconvulsively。Thechin，withthedampblackbeard，pointedhigherintheairasthebackmusclesstiffenedandthechestswelledinanunconsciousandinstinctiveefforttogetmoreair。Underthewhiskers，andallunseen，Iknewthattheskinwastakingonapurplishhue。
Thecaptain，orWolfLarsen，asmencalledhim，ceasedpacingandgazeddownatthedyingman。Sofiercehadthisfinalstrugglebecomethatthesailorpausedintheactofflingingmorewateroverhimandstaredcuriously，thecanvasbucketpartlytiltedanddrippingitscontentstothedeck。
Thedyingmanbeatatattooonthehatchwithhisheels，straightenedouthislegs，andstiffenedinonegreattenseeffort，androlledhisheadfromsidetoside。Thenthemusclesrelaxed，theheadstoppedrolling，andasigh，asofprofoundrelief，floatedupwardfromhislips。Thejawdropped，theupperliplifted，andtworowsoftobacco—discoloredteethappeared。Itseemedasthoughhisfeatureshadfrozenintoadiabolicalgrinattheworldhehadleftandoutwitted。
Thenamostsurprisingthingoccurred。Thecaptainbrokelooseuponthedeadmanlikeathunderclap。Oathsrolledfromhislipsinacontinuousstream。Andtheywerenotnamby—pambyoaths，ormereexpressionsofindecency。
Eachwordwasablasphemy，andthereweremanywords。Theycrispedandcrackledlikeelectricsparks。Ihadneverheardanythinglikeitinmylife，norcouldIhaveconceiveditpossible。Withaturnforliteraryexpressionmyself，andapenchantforforciblefiguresandphrases，Iappreciated，asnootherlistener，daresay，thepeculiarvividnessandstrengthandabsoluteblasphemyofhismetaphors。Thecauseofitall，asnearasI
couldmakeout，wasthattheman，whowasmate，hadgoneonadebauchbeforeleavingSanFrancisco，andthenhadthepoortastetodieatthebeginningofthevoyageandleaveWolfLarsenshort—handed。
Itshouldbeunnecessarytostate，atleasttomyfriends，thatIwasshocked。Oathsandvilelanguageofanysorthadalwaysbeenrepellenttome。Ifeltawiltingsensation，asinkingattheheart，and，Imightjustaswellsay，agiddiness。Tome，deathhadalwaysbeeninvestedwithsolemnityanddignity。Ithadbeenpeacefulinitsoccurrence，sacredinitsceremonial。ButdeathinitsmoresordidandterribleaspectswasathingwithwhichIhadbeenunacquaintedtillnow。AsIsay，whileIappreciatedthepoweroftheterrificdenunciationthatsweptoutofWolfLarsen’smouth，Iwasinexpressiblyshocked。Thescorchingtorrentwasenoughtowitherthefaceofthecorpse。Ishouldnothavebeensurprisedifthewetblackbeardhadfrizzledandcurledandflaredupinsmokeandflame。
Butthedeadmanwasunconcerned。Hecontinuedtogrinwithasardonichumor，withacynicalmockeryanddefiance。Hewasmasterofthesituation。TheSeaWolf：Chapter3CHAPTER3
WolfLarsenceasedswearingassuddenlyashehadbegun。Herelightedhiscigarandglancedaround。Hiseyeschanceduponthecook。
\"Well，Cooky？\"hebegan，withasuavenessthatwascoldandofthetemperofsteel。
\"Yes，sir，\"thecookeagerlyinterpolated，withappeasingandapologeticservility。
\"Don’tyouthinkyou’vestretchedthatneckofyoursjustaboutenough？
It’sunhealthy，youknow。Themate’sgone，soIcan’taffordtoloseyoutoo。Youmustbevery，verycarefulofyourhealth，Cooky。Understand？\"
Hislastword，instrikingcontrastwiththesmoothnessofhispreviousutterance，snappedlikethelashofawhip。Thecookquailedunderit。
\"Yes，sir，\"wasthemeekreply，astheoffendingheaddisappearedintothegalley。
Atthissweepingrebuke，whichthecookhadonlypointed，therestofthecrewbecameuninterestedandfelltoworkatonetaskoranother。A
numberofmen，however，whowereloungingaboutacompanionwaybetweenthegalleyandthehatch，andwhodidnotseemtobesailors，continuedtalkinginlowtoneswithoneanother。These，afterwardlearned，werethehunters，themenwhoshottheseals，andaverysuperiorbreedtocommonsailor—folk。
\"Johansen！\"WolfLarsencalledout。Asailorsteppedforwardobediently。
\"Getyourpalmandneedleandsewthebeggarup。You’llfindsomeoldcanvasinthesail—locker。Makeitdo。\"
\"What’llIputonhisfeet，sir？\"themanasked，afterthecustomary\"Ay，ay，sir。\"
\"We’llseetothat，\"WolfLarsenanswered，andelevatedhisvoiceinacallof\"Cooky！\"
ThomasMugridgepoppedoutofhisgalleylikeajack—in—the—box。
\"Gobelowandfillasackwithcoal。\"
\"AnyofyoufellowsgotaBibleorprayer—book？\"wasthecaptain’snextdemand，thistimeofthehuntersloungingaboutthecompanionway。
Theyshooktheirheads，andsomeonemadeajocularremarkwhichIdidnotcatch，butwhichraisedagenerallaugh。
WolfLarsenmadethesamedemandofthesailors。Biblesandprayer—booksseemedscarcearticles，butoneofthemenvolunteeredtopursuethequestamongstthewatchbelow，returninginaminutewiththeinformationthattherewasnone。
Thecaptainshruggedhisshoulders。\"Thenwe’lldrophimoverwithoutanypalavering，unlessourclerical—lookingcast—awayhastheburialserviceatseabyheart。\"
Bythistimehehadswungfullyaroundandwasfacingme。
\"You’reapreacher，aren’tyou？\"heasked。
Thehunters，——thereweresixofthem，——toaman，turnedandregardedme。Iwaspainfullyawareofmylikenesstoascarecrow。Alaughwentupatmyappearance，——alaughthatwasnotlessenedorsoftenedbythedeadmanstretchedandgrinningonthedeckbeforeus；alaughthatwasasroughandharshandfrankastheseaitself；thataroseoutofcoarsefeelingsandbluntedsensibilities，fromnaturesthatknewneithercourtesynorgentleness。
WolfLarsendidnotlaugh，thoughhisgrayeyeslightedwithaslightglintofamusement；andinthatmoment，havingsteppedforwardquiteclosetohim，Ireceivedmyfirstimpressionofthemanhimself，ofthemanasapartfromhisbodyandfromthetorrentofblasphemyhadheardhimspewforth。Theface，withlargefeaturesandstronglines，ofthesquareorder，yetwellfilledout，wasapparentlymassiveatfirstsight；butagain，aswiththebody，themassivenessseemedtovanishandaconvictiontogrowofatremendousandexcessivementalorspiritualstrengththatlaybehind，sleepinginthedeepsofhisbeing。Thejaw，thechin，thebrowrisingtoagoodlyheightandswellingheavilyabovetheeyes，——these，whilestronginthemselves，unusuallystrong，seemedtospeakanimmensevigororvirilityofspiritthatlaybehindandbeyondandoutofsight。
Therewasnosoundingsuchaspirit，nomeasuring，nodeterminingofmetesandbounds，norneatlyclassifyinginsomepigeonholewithothersofsimilartype。
Theeyes——anditwasmydestinytoknowthemwell——werelargeandhandsome，wideapartasthetrueartist’sarewide，shelteringunderaheavybrowandarchedoverbythickblackeyebrows。Theeyesthemselveswereofthatbafflingproteangraywhichisnevertwicethesame；whichrunsthroughmanyshadesandcoloringslikeintershotsilkinsunshine；
whichisgray，darkandlight，andgreenishgray，andsometimesoftheclearazureofthedeepsea。Theywereeyesthatmaskedthesoulwithathousandguises，andthatsometimesopened，atraremoments，andallowedittorushupasthoughitwereabouttofareforthnakedlyintotheworldonsomewonderfuladventure，——eyesthatcouldbroodwiththehopelesssombrenessofleadenskies；thatcouldsnapandcracklepointsoffirelikethosewhichsparklefromawhirlingsword；thatcouldgrowchillasanarcticlandscape，andyetagain，thatcouldwarmandsoftenandbealla—dancewithlove—lights，intenseandmasculine，luringandcompelling，whichatthesametimefascinateanddominatewomentilltheysurrenderinagladnessofjoyandofreliefandsacrifice。
Buttoreturn。Itoldhimthat，unhappilyfortheburialservice，I
wasnotapreacher，whenhesharplydemanded：
\"Whatdoyoudoforaliving？\"
IconfessIhadneverhadsuchaquestionaskedmebefore，norhadI
evercanvassedit。Iwasquitetakenaback，andbeforeIcouldfindmyselfhadsillilystammered，\"Iamagentleman。\"
Hislipcurledinaswiftsneer。
\"Ihaveworked，Idowork，\"Icriedimpetuously，asthoughheweremyjudgeandIrequiredvindication，andatthesametimeverymuchawareofmyarrantidiocyindiscussingthesubjectatall。
\"Foryourliving？\"
TherewassomethingsoimperativeandmasterfulabouthimthatIwasquitebesidemyself——\"rattled，\"asFurusethwouldhavetermedit，likeaquakingchildbeforeasternschoolmaster。
\"Whofeedsyou？\"washisnextquestion。
\"Ihaveanincome，\"Iansweredstoutly，andcouldhavebittenmytonguethenextinstant。\"Allofwhich，youwillpardonmyobserving，hasnothingwhatsoevertodowithwhatIwishtoseeyouabout。\"
Buthedisregardedmyprotest。
\"Whoearnedit？Eh？Ithoughtso。Yourfather。Youstandondeadmen’slegs。You’veneverhadanyofyourown。Youcouldn’twalkalonebetweentwosunrisesandhustlethemeatforyourbellyforthreemeals。Letmeseeyourhand。\"
Histremendous，dormantstrengthmusthavestirred，swiftlyandaccurately，orImusthavesleptamoment，forbeforeIknewithehadsteppedtwopacesforward，grippedmyrighthandinhis，andhelditupforinspection。
Itriedtowithdrawit，buthisfingerstightened，withoutvisibleeffort，tillIthoughtminewouldbecrushed。Itishardtomaintainone’sdignityundersuchcircumstances。Icouldnotsquirmorstrugglelikeaschoolboy。
NorcouldIattacksuchacreaturewhohadbuttotwistmyarmtobreakit。Nothingremainedbuttostandstillandaccepttheindignity。Ihadtimetonoticethatthepocketsofthedeadmanhadbeenemptiedonthedeck，andthathisbodyandhisgrinhadbeenwrappedfromviewincanvas，thefoldsofwhichthesailor，Johansen，wassewingtogetherwithcoarsewhitetwine，shovingtheneedlethroughwithaleathercontrivancefittedonthepalmofhishand。
WolfLarsendroppedmyhandwithaflirtofdisdain。
\"Deadmen’shandshavekeptitsoft。Goodforlittleelsethandish—washingandscullionwork。\"
\"Iwishtobeputashore，\"Isaidfirmly，forInowhadmyselfincontrol。
\"Ishallpayyouwhateveryoujudgeyourdelayandtroubletobeworth。\"
Helookedatmecuriously。Mockeryshoneinhiseyes。
\"Ihaveacounterpropositiontomake，andforthegoodofyoursoul。
Mymate’sgone，andthere’llbealotofpromotion。Asailorcomesafttotakemate’splace，cabin—boygoesfor’ardtotakesailor’splace，andyoutakethecabin—boy’splace，signthearticlesforthecruise，twentydollarspermonthandfound。Nowwhatdoyousay？Andmindyou，it’sforyourownsoul’ssake。Itwillbethemakingofyou。Youmightlearnintimetostandonyourownlegsandperhapstotoddlealongabit。\"
ButItooknonotice。ThesailsofthevesselIhadseenofftothesouthwesthadgrownlargerandplainer。Theywereofthesameschooner—rigastheGhost，thoughthehullitself，Icouldsee，wassmaller。
Shewasaprettysight，leapingandflyingtowardus，andevidentlyboundtopassatcloserange。Thewindhadbeenmomentarilyincreasing，andthesun，afterafewangrygleams，haddisappeared。Theseahadturnedadullleadengrayandgrownrougher，andwasnowtossingfoamingwhitecapstothesky。Weweretravellingfasterandheeledfartherover。Once，inagust，theraildippedunderthesea，andthedecksonthatsidewereforthemomentawashwithwaterthatmadeacoupleofthehuntershastilylifttheirfeet。
\"Thatvesselwillsoonbepassingus，\"Isaid，afteramoment’spause。
\"Assheisgoingintheoppositedirection，sheisveryprobablyboundforSanFrancisco。\"
\"Veryprobably，\"wasWolfLarsen’sanswer，asheturnedpartlyawayfrommeandcriedout，\"Cooky！Oh，Cooky！\"
TheCockneypoppedoutofthegalley。
\"Where’sthatboy？TellhimIwanthim。\"
\"Yes，sir；\"andThomasMugridgefledswiftlyaftanddisappeareddownanothercompanionwaynearthewheel。Amomentlaterheemerged，aheavy—setyoungfellowofeighteenornineteen，withaglowering，villanouscountenance，trailingathisheels。
\"’Ere’eis，sir，\"thecooksaid。
ButWolfLarsenignoredthatworthy，turningatoncetothecabin—boy。
\"What’syourname，boy？\"
\"GeorgeLeach，sir，\"camethesullenanswer，andtheboy’sbearingshowedclearlythathedivinedthereasonforwhichhehadbeensummoned。
\"NotanIrishname，\"thecaptainsnappedsharply。\"O’TooleorMcCarthywouldsuityourmugadamnsightbetter。Unless，verylikely，there’sanIrishmaninyourmother’swoodpile。\"
Isawtheyoungfellow’shandsclenchattheinsult，andthebloodcrawlscarletuphisneck。
\"Butletthatgo，\"WolfLarsencontinued。\"Youmayhaveverygoodreasonsforforgettingyourname，andI’lllikeyounonetheworseforitaslongasyoutoethemark。TelegraphHill，ofcourse，isyourportofentry。
Itsticksoutalloveryourmug。Toughastheymakethemandtwiceasnasty。
Iknowthekind。Well，youcanmakeupyourmindtohaveittakenoutofyouonthiscraft。Understand？Whoshippedyou，anyway？\"
\"McCreadyandSwanson。\"
\"Sir！\"WolfLarsenthundered。
\"McCreadyandSwanson，sir，\"theboycorrected，hiseyesburningwithabitterlight。
\"Whogottheadvancemoney？\"
\"Theydid，sir。\"
\"Ithoughtasmuch。Anddamnedgladyouweretoletthemhaveit。Couldn’tmakeyourselfscarcetooquick，withseveralgentlemenyoumayhaveheardoflookingforyou。\"
Theboymetamorphosedintoasavageontheinstant。Hisbodybunchedtogetherasthoughforaspring，andhisfacebecameasaninfuriatedbeast’sashesnarled，\"It’sa——\"
\"Awhat？\"WolfLarsenasked，apeculiarsoftnessinhisvoice，asthoughhewereoverwhelminglycurioustoheartheunspokenword。
Theboyhesitated，thenmasteredhistemper。\"Nothin’，sir。takeitback。\"
\"AndyouhaveshownmeIwasright。\"Thiswithagratifiedsmile。\"Howoldareyou？\"
\"Justturnedsixteen，sir。\"
\"Alie。You’llneverseeeighteenagain。Bigforyourageatthat，withmuscleslikeahorse。Packupyourkitandgofor’ardintothefo’c’sle。
You’reaboat—pullernow。You’repromoted；see？\"
Withoutwaitingfortheboy’sacceptance，thecaptainturnedtothesailorwhohadjustfinishedthegrewsometaskofsewingupthecorpse。
\"Johansen，doyouknowanythingaboutnavigation？\"
\"No，sir。\"
\"Well，nevermind；you’rematejustthesame。Getyourtrapsaftintothemate’sberth。\"
\"Ay，ay，sir，\"wasthecheeryresponse，asJohansenstartedforward。
Inthemeantimetheerstwhilecabin—boyhadnotmoved。
\"Whatareyouwaitingfor？\"WolfLarsendemanded。
\"Ididn’tsignforboat—puller，sir，\"wasthereply。\"Isignedforcabin—boy。
An’Idon’twantnoboat—pullin’inmine。\"
\"Packupandgofor’ard。\"
ThistimeWolfLarsen’scommandwasthrillinglyimperative。Theboygloweredsullenly，butrefusedtomove。
ThencameanotherstirringofWolfLarsen’stremendousstrength。Itwasutterlyunexpected，anditwasoveranddonewithbetweentheticksoftwoseconds。Hehadsprungfullysixfeetacrossthedeckanddrivenhisfistintotheother’sstomach。Atthesamemoment，asthoughIhadbeenstruckmyself，Ifeltasickeningshockinthepitofmystomach。
Iinstancethistoshowthesensitivenessofmynervousorganizationatthetime，andhowunusedIwastospectaclesofbrutality。Thecabin—boy——andheweighedonehundredandsixty—fiveattheveryleast——crumpledup。Hisbodywrappedlimplyaboutthefistlikeawetragaboutastick。
Heliftedintotheair，describedashortcurve，andstruckthedeckalongsidethecorpseonhisheadandshoulders，wherehelayandwrithedaboutinagony。
\"Well？\"Larsenaskedofme。\"Haveyoumadeupyourmind？\"
Ihadglancedoccasionallyattheapproachingschooner，anditwasnowalmostabreastofusandnotmorethanacoupleofhundredyardsaway。
Itwasaverytrimandneatlittlecraft。Icouldseealarge，blacknumberononeofitssails，andIhadseenpicturesofpilot—boats。
\"Whatvesselisthat？\"Iasked。
\"Thepilot—boatLadyMine，\"WolfLarsenansweredgrimly。\"GotridofherpilotsandrunningintoSanFrancisco。She’llbethereinfiveorsixhourswiththiswind。\"
\"Willyoupleasesignalit，then，sothatImaybeputashore。\"
\"Sorry，butI’velostthesignalbookoverboard，\"heremarked，andthegroupofhuntersgrinned。
Idebatedamoment，lookinghimsquarelyintheeyes。Ihadseenthefrightfultreatmentofthecabin—boy，andknewthatIshouldveryprobablyreceivethesame，ifnotworse。AsIsay，Idebatedwithmyself，andthenIdidwhatIconsiderthebravestactofmylife。Irantotheside，wavingmyarmsandshouting：
\"LadyMineahoy！Takemeashore！Athousanddollarsifyoutakemeashore！\"
Iwaited，watchingtwomenwhostoodbythewheel，oneofthemsteering。
Theotherwasliftingamegaphonetohislips。Ididnotturnmyhead，thoughIexpectedeverymomentakillingblowfromthehumanbrutebehindme。Atlast，afterwhatseemedcenturies，unablelongertostandthestrain，Ilookedaround。Hehadnotmoved。Hewasstandinginthesameposition，swayingeasilytotherolloftheshipandlightingafreshcigar。
\"Whatisthematter？Anythingwrong？\"
ThiswasthecryfromtheLadyMine。
\"Yes！\"Ishouted，atthetopofmylungs。\"Lifeordeath！Onethousanddollarsifyoutakemeashore！\"
\"Toomuch’Friscotanglefootforthehealthofmycrew！\"WolfLarsenshoutedafter。\"Thisone，\"——indicatingmewithhisthumb，——\"fanciessea—serpentsandmonkeysjustnow！\"
ThemanontheLadyMinelaughedbackthroughthemegaphone。
Thepilot—boatplungedpast。
\"Givehimhellforme！\"cameafinalcry，andthetwomenwavedtheirarmsinfarewell。
Ileaneddespairinglyovertherail，watchingthetrimlittleschoonerswiftlyincreasingthebleaksweepofoceanbetweenus。AndshewouldprobablybeinSanFranciscoinfiveorsixhours！Myheadseemedbursting。Therewasanacheinmythroatasthoughmyheartwereupinit。Acurlingwavestruckthesideandsplashedsaltsprayonmylips。Thewindpuffedstrongly，andtheGhostheeledfarover，buryingherleerail。Icouldhearthewaterrushingdownuponthedeck。
WhenIturnedaround，amomentlater，Isawthecabin—boystaggeringtohisfeet。Hisfacewasghastlywhite，twitchingwithsuppressedpain。
Helookedverysick。
