Therewasanangrygleaminthehunter’seye，butheturnedonhisheelandenteredthesteeragecompanionway，whereheremained，lookingupward。
Allhandswereondecknow，andalleyeswerealoft，whereahumanlifewasatgrappleswithdeath。Thecallousnessofthesemen，towhomindustrialorganizationgavecontrolofthelivesofothermen，wasappalling。I，whohadlivedoutofthewhirloftheworld，hadneverdreamedthatitsworkwascarriedoninsuchfashion。Lifehadalwaysseemedapeculiarlysacredthing，buthereitcountedfornothing，wasacipherinthearithmeticofcommerce。Imustsay，however，thatthesailorsthemselvesweresympathetic，asinstancethecaseofJohnson；butthemasters，（thehuntersandthecaptain），wereheartlesslyindifferent。EventheprotestofStandisharoseoutofthefactthathedidnotwishtolosehisboat—puller。Haditbeensomeotherhunter’sboat—puller，he，likethem，wouldhavebeennomorethanamused。
ButtoreturntoHarrison。IttookJohansen，insultingandrevilingthepoorwretch，fullytenminutestogethimstartedagain。Alittlelaterhemadetheendofthegaff，where，astridethesparitself，hehadabetterchanceforholdingon。Heclearedthesheet，andwasfreetoreturn，slightlydown—hillnow，alongthehalyardstothemast。Buthehadlosthisnerve。
Unsafeaswashispresentposition，hewasloathtoforsakeitforthemoreunsafepositiononthehalyards。
Helookedalongtheairypathhemusttraverse，andthendowntothedeck。Hiseyeswerewideandstaring，andhewastremblingviolently。I
hadneverseenfearsostronglystampeduponahumanface。Johansencalledvainlyforhimtocomedown。Atanymomenthewasliabletobesnappedoffthegaff，buthewashelplesswithfright。WolfLarsen，walkingupanddownwithSmokeandinconversation，tooknomorenoticeofhim，thoughhecriedsharply，once，tothemanatthewheel：——
\"You’reoffyourcourse，myman！Becareful，unlessyou’relookingfortrouble！\"
\"Ay，ay，sir，\"thehelmsmanresponded，puttingacoupleofspokesdown。
HehadbeenguiltyofrunningtheGhostseveralpointsoffhercourseinorderthatwhatlittlewindtherewasshouldfilltheforesailandholditsteady。HehadstriventohelptheunfortunateHarrisonattheriskofincurringWolfLarsen’sanger。
Thetimewentby，andthesuspense，tome，wasterrible。ThomasMugridge，ontheotherhand，considereditalaughableaffair，andwascontinuallybobbinghisheadoutthegalleydoortomakejocoseremarks。HowIhatedhim！Andhowmyhatredforhimgrewandgrew，duringthatfearfultime，tocyclopeandimensions。ForthefirsttimeinmylifeIexperiencedthedesiretomurder——\"sawred，\"assomeofourpicturesquewritersphraseit。Lifeingeneralmightstillbesacred，butlifeintheparticularcaseofThomasMugridgehadbecomeveryprofaneindeed。IwasfrightenedwhenIbecameconsciousthatwasseeingred，andthethoughtflashedthroughmymind：wasI，too，becomingtaintedbythebrutalityofmyenvironment？
——I，whoeveninthemostflagrantcrimeshaddeniedthejusticeandrighteousnessofcapitalpunishment？
Fullyhalfanhourwentby，andthenIsawJohnsonandLouisinsomesortofaltercation。ItendedwithJohnsonflingingoffLouis’sdetainingarmandstartingforward。Hecrossedthedeck，sprangintotheforerigging，andbegantoclimb。ButthequickeyeofWolfLarsencaughthim。
\"Here，you，whatareyouupto？\"hecried。
Johnson’sascentwasarrested。Helookedhiscaptainintheeyesandrepliedslowly：——
\"Iamgoingtogetthatboydown。\"
\"You’llgetdownoutofthatrigging，anddamnlivelyaboutit！D’yehear？Getdown！\"
Johnsonhesitated，butthelongyearsofobediencetothemastersofshipsoverpoweredhim，andhedroppedsullenlytothedeckandwentonforward。
AthalfafterfiveIwentbelowtosetthecabintable，buthardlyknewwhatIdid，formyeyesandbrainwerefilledwiththevisionofaman，white—facedandtrembling，comicallylikeabug，clingingtothethrashinggaff。Atsixo’clock，whenIservedsupper，goingondecktogetthefoodfromthegalley，IsawHarrison，stillinthesameposition。Theconversationatthetablewasofotherthings。Nobodyseemedinterestedinthewantonlyimperilledlife。Butmakinganextratriptothegalleyalittlelater，IwasgladdenedbythesightofHarrisonstaggeringweaklyfromtheriggingtotheforecastlescuttle。Hehadfinallysummonedthecouragetodescend。
Beforeclosingthisincident，ImustgiveascrapofconversationI
hadwithWolfLarseninthecabin，whileIwaswashingthedishes。
\"Youwerelookingsqueamishthisafternoon，\"hebegan。\"Whatwasthematter？\"
IcouldseethatheknewwhathadmademepossiblyassickasHarrison，thathewastryingtodrawme，andIanswered，\"Itwasbecauseofthebrutaltreatmentofthatboy。\"
Hegaveashortlaugh。\"Likeseasickness，Isuppose。Somemenaresubjecttoit，andothersarenot。\"
\"Notso，\"Iobjected。
\"Justso，\"hewenton。\"Theearthisasfullofbrutalityastheseaisfullofmotion。Andsomemenaremadesickbytheone，andsomebytheother。That’stheonlyreason。\"
\"Butyou，whomakeamockofhumanlife，don’tyouplaceanyvalueuponitwhatever？\"Idemanded。
\"Value？Whatvalue？\"Helookedatme，andthoughhiseyesweresteadyandmotionless，thereseemedacynicalsmileinthem。\"Whatkindofvalue？
Howdoyoumeasureit？Whovaluesit？\"
\"Ido，\"Imadeanswer。
\"Thenwhatisitworthtoyou？Anotherman’slife，Imean。Come，now，whatisitworth？\"
Thevalueoflife？HowcouldIputatangiblevalueuponit？Somehow，I，whohavealwayshadexpression，lackedexpressionwhenwithWolfLarsen。
Ihavesincedeterminedthatapartofitwasduetotheman’spersonality，butthatthegreaterpartwasduetohistotallydifferentoutlook。UnlikeothermaterialistsIhadmetandwithwhomhadsomethingincommontostarton，Ihadnothingincommonwithhim。Perhaps，also，itwastheelementalsimplicityofhismindthatbaffledme。Hedrovesodirectlytothecoreofthematter，divestingaquestionalwaysofallsuperfluousdetails，andwithsuchanairoffinality，thatIseemedtofindmyselfstrugglingindeepwaterwithnofootingunderme。Valueoflife？HowcouldIanswerthequestiononthespurofthemoment？ThesacrednessoflifeIhadacceptedasaxiomatic。ThatitwasintrinsicallyvaluablewasatruismIhadneverquestioned。ButwhenhechallengedthetruismIwasspeechless。
\"Weweretalkingaboutthisyesterday，\"hesaid。\"Iheldthatlifewasaferment，ayeastysomethingwhichdevouredlifethatitmightlive，andthatlivingwasmerelysuccessfulpiggishness。Why，ifthereisanythinginsupplyanddemand，lifeisthecheapestthingintheworld。Thereisonlysomuchwater，somuchearth，somuchair；butthelifethatisdemandingtobebornislimitless。Natureisaspendthrift。Lookatthefishandtheirmillionsofeggs。Forthatmatter，lookatyouandme。Inourloinsarethepossibilitiesofmillionsoflives。Couldwebutfindtimeandopportunityandutilizethelastbitandeverybitoftheunbornlifethatisinus，wecouldbecomethefathersofnationsandpopulatecontinents。
Life？Bah！Ithasnovalue。Ofcheapthingsitisthecheapest。Everywhereitgoesbegging。Naturespillsitoutwithalavishhand。Wherethereisroomforonelife，shesowsathousandlives，andit’slifeeatslifetillthestrongestandmostpiggishlifeisleft。\"
\"YouhavereadDarwin，\"Isaid。\"Butyoureadhimmisunderstandinglywhenyouconcludethatthestruggleforexistencesanctionsyourwantondestructionoflife。\"
Heshruggedhisshoulders。\"Youknowyouonlymeanthatinrelationtohumanlife，forofthefleshandthefowlandthefishyoudestroyasmuchasIoranyotherman。Andhumanlifeisinnowisedifferent，thoughyoufeelitisandthinkthatyoureasonwhyitis。WhyshouldIbeparsimoniouswiththislifewhichischeapandwithoutvalue？Therearemoresailorsthanthereareshipsontheseaforthem，moreworkersthantherearefactoriesormachinesforthem。Why，youwholiveonthelandknowthatyouhouseyourpoorpeopleintheslumsofcitiesandloosefamineandpestilenceuponthem，andthattherestillremainmorepoorpeople，dyingforwantofacrustofbreadandabitofmeat，（whichislifedestroyed），thanyouknowwhattodowith。HaveyoueverseentheLondondockersfightinglikewildbeastsforachancetowork？\"
Hestartedforthecompanionstairs，butturnedhisheadforafinalword。\"Doyouknowtheonlyvaluelifehasiswhatlifeputsuponitself？
Anditisofcourseoverestimated，sinceitisofnecessityprejudicedinitsownfavor。TakethatmanIhadaloft。Heheldonasifhewereapreciousthing，atreasurebeyonddiamondsorrubies。Toyou？No。Tome？
Notatall。Tohimself？Yes。ButIdonotaccepthisestimate。Hesadlyoverrateshimself。Thereisplentymorelifedemandingtobeborn。Hadhefallenanddrippedhisbrainsuponthedecklikehoneyfromthecomb，therewouldhavebeennolosstotheworld。Hewasworthnothingtotheworld。Thesupplyistoolarge。Tohimselfonlywasheofvalue，andtoshowhowfictitiouseventhisvaluewas，beingdeadheisunconsciousthathehaslosthimself。Healoneratedhimselfbeyonddiamondsandrubies。
Diamondsandrubiesaregone，spreadoutonthedecktobewashedawaybyabucketofsea—water，andhedoesnotevenknowthatthediamondsandrubiesaregone。Hedoesnotloseanything，forwiththelossofhimselfhelosestheknowledgeofloss。Don’tyousee？Andwhathaveyoutosay？\"
\"Thatyouareatleastconsistent，\"wasallIcouldsay，andwentonwashingthedishes。TheSeaWolf：Chapter7CHAPTER7
Atlast，afterthreedaysofvariablewinds，wehavecaughtthenortheasttrades。Icameondeck，afteragoodnight’srestinspiteofmypoorknee，tofindtheGhostfoamingalong，wing—and—wing，andeverysaildrawingexceptthejibs，withafreshbreezeastern。Oh，thewonderofthegreattrade—wind！Alldaywesailed，andallnight，andthenextday，andthenext，dayafterday，thewindalwaysasternandblowingsteadilyandstrong。
Theschoonersailedherself。Therewasnopullingandhaulingonsheetsandtackles，noshiftingoftopsails，noworkatallforthesailorstodoexcepttosteer。Atnightwhenthesunwentdown，thesheetswereslackened；
inthemorning，whentheyyieldedupthedampofthedewandrelaxed，theywerepulledtightagain——andthatwasall。
Tenknots，twelveknots，elevenknots，varyingfromtimetotime，isthespeedwearemaking。Andeveroutofthenortheastthebravewindblows，drivingusonourcoursetwohundredandfiftymilesbetweenthedawns。
Itsaddensmeandgladdensme，thegaitwithwhichweareleavingSanFranciscobehindandwithwhichwearefoamingdownuponthetropics。Eachdaygrowsperceptiblywarmer。Intheseconddog—watchthesailorscomeondeck，stripped，andheavebucketsofwaterupononeanotherfromoverside。Flying—fisharebeginningtobeseen，andduringthenightthewatchabovescramblesoverthedeckinpursuitofthosethatfallaboard。Inthemorning，ThomasMugridgebeingdulybribed，thegalleyispleasantlyareekwiththeodoroftheirfrying；whiledolphinmeatisservedforeandaftonsuchoccasionsasJohnsoncatchestheblazingbeautiesfromthebowspritend。
Johnsonseemstospendallhissparetimethereoraloftatthecrosstrees，watchingtheGhostcleavingthewaterunderpressofsail。Thereispassion，adoration，inhiseyes，andhegoesaboutinasortoftrance，gazinginecstasyattheswellingsails，thefoamingwake，andtheheaveandtherunofherovertheliquidmountainsthataremovingwithusinstatelyprocession。
Thedaysandnightsare\"allawonderandawilddelight，\"andthoughIhavelittletimefrommydrearywork，IstealoddmomentstogazeandgazeattheunendinggloryofwhatIneverdreamedtheworldpossessed。
Above，theskyisstainlessblue——blueastheseaitself，whichundertheforefootisofthecolorandsheenofazuresatin。Allaroundthehorizonarepale，fleecyclouds，neverchanging，nevermoving，likeasilversettingfortheflawlessturquoisesky。
Idonotforgetonenight，whenIshouldhavebeenasleep，oflyingontheforecastle—headandgazingdownatthespectralrippleoffoamthrustasidebytheGhost’sforefoot。Itsoundedlikethegurglingofabrookovermossystonesinsomequietdell，andthecrooningsongofitluredmeawayandoutofmyselftillIwasnolongerHumpthecabin—boy，norVanWeyden，themanwhohaddreamedawaythirty—fiveyearsamongbooks。
Butavoicebehindme，theunmistakablevoiceofWolfLarsen，strongwiththeinvinciblecertitudeofthemanandmellowwithappreciationofthewordshewasquoting，arousedme。\"`Otheblazingtropicnight，whenthewake’saweltoflightThatholdsthehotskytame，Andthesteadyforefootsnoresthroughtheplanet—powderedfloorsWherethescaredwhaleflukesinflame。Herplatesarescarredbythesun，dearlass，Andherropesaretautwiththedew，Forwe’reboomingdownontheoldtrail，ourowntrail，theouttrail，We’resaggingsouthontheLongTrail——thetrailthatisalwaysnew。’\"
\"Eh，Hump？How’sitstrikeyou？\"heasked，aftertheduepausewhichwordsandsettingdemanded。
Ilookedintohisface。Itwasaglowwithlight，astheseaitself，andtheeyeswereflashinginthestarshine。
\"Itstrikesmeasremarkable，tosaytheleast，thatyoushouldshowenthusiasm，\"Iansweredcoldly。
\"Why，man，it’sliving！it’slife！\"hecried。
\"Whichisacheapthingandwithoutvalue，\"Iflunghiswordsathim。
Helaughed，anditwasthefirsttimeIhadheardhonestmirthinhisvoice。
\"Ah，Icannotgetyoutounderstand，cannotdriveitintoyourhead，whatathingthislifeis。Ofcourselifeisvalueless，excepttoitself。
AndIcantellyouthatmylifeisprettyvaluablejustnow——tomyself。
Itisbeyondprice，whichyouwillacknowledgeisaterrificoverrating，butwhichIcannothelp，foritisthelifethatisinmethatmakestherating。\"
Heappearedwaitingforthewordswithwhichtoexpressthethoughtthatwasinhim，andfinallywenton。
\"Doyouknow，Iamfilledwithastrangeuplift；Ifeelasifalltimewereechoingthroughme，asthoughallpowersweremine。knowtruth，divinegoodfromevil，rightfromwrong。Myvisionisclearandfar。IcouldalmostbelieveinGod。But，\"——andhisvoicechangedandthelightwentoutofhisface，——\"whatisthisconditioninwhichIfindmyself？thisjoyofliving？thisexultationoflife？thisinspiration，Imaywellcallit？
Itiswhatcomeswhenthereisnothingwrongwithone’sdigestion，whenhisstomachisintrimandhisappetitehasanedge，andallgoeswell。
Itisthebribeforliving，thechampagneoftheblood，theeffervescenceoftheferment——thatmakessomementhinkholythoughts，andothermentoseeGodortocreatehimwhentheycannotseehim。Thatisall，thedrunkennessoflife，thestirringandcrawlingoftheyeast，thebabblingofthelifethatisinsanewithconsciousnessthatitisalive。And——
bah！To—morrowIshallpayforitasthedrunkardpays。AndIshallknowthatmustdie，atseamostlikely，ceasecrawlingofmyselftobeallacrawlwiththecorruptionofthesea；tobefedupon，tobecarrion，toyieldupallthestrengthandmovementofmymusclesthatitmaybecomestrengthandmovementinfinandscaleandthegutsoffishes。Bah！Andbah！again。
Thechampagneisalreadyflat。Thesparkleandbubblehasgoneoutanditisatastelessdrink。\"
Heleftmeassuddenlyashehadcome，springingtothedeckwiththeweightandsoftnessofatiger。TheGhostploughedonherway。I
notedthegurglingforefootwasverylikeasnore，andasIlistenedtoittheeffectofWolfLarsen’sswiftrushfromsublimeexultationtodespairslowlyleftme。Thensomedeep—watersailor，fromthewaistoftheship，liftedarichtenorvoiceinthe\"SongoftheTradeWind：\"\"Oh，Iamthewindtheseamenlove——Iamsteady，andstrong，andtrue；Theyfollowmytrackbythecloudsabove，O’erthefathomlesstropicblue。******ThroughdaylightanddarkIfollowthebark，Ikeeplikeahoundonhertrail；I’mstrongestatnoon，yetunderthemoon，Istiffenthebuntofhersail。\"TheSeaWolf：Chapter8CHAPTER8
SometimesIthinkWolfLarsenmad，orhalf—madatleast，whatofhisstrangemoodsandvagaries。AtothertimesItakehimforagreatman，ageniuswhohasneverarrived。And，finally，Iamconvincedthatheistheperfecttypeoftheprimitiveman，bornathousandyearsorgenerationstoolateandananachronisminthisculminatingcenturyofcivilization。
Heiscertainlyanindividualistofthemostpronouncedtype。Notonlythat，butheisverylonely。Thereisnocongenialitybetweenhimandtherestofthemenaboardship。Histremendousvirilityandmentalstrengthwallhimapart。Theyaremorelikechildrentohim，eventhehunters，andaschildrenhetreatsthem，descendingperforcetotheirlevelandplayingwiththemasamanplayswithpuppies。Orelseheprobesthemwiththecruelhandofavivisectionist，gropingaboutintheirmentalprocessesandexaminingtheirsoulsasthoughtoseeofwhatsoul—stuffismade。
Ihaveseenhimascoreoftimes，attable，insultingthishunterorthat，withcoolandleveleyesand，withal，acertainairofinterest，ponderingtheiractionsorrepliesorpettyrageswithacuriosityalmostlaughabletomewhostoodonlookerandwhounderstood。Concerninghisownrages，Iamconvincedthattheyarenotreal，thattheyaresometimesexperiments，butthatinthemaintheyarethehabitsofaposeorattitudehehasseenfittotaketowardhisfellowmen。know，withthepossibleexceptionoftheincidentofthedeadmate，thatIhavenotseenhimreallyangry；nordoIwishevertoseehiminagenuinerage，whenalltheforceofhimiscalledintoplay。
Whileonthequestionofvagaries，IshalltellwhatbefellThomasMugridgeinthecabin，andatthesametimecompleteanincidentuponwhichIhavealreadytouchedonceortwice。Thetwelveo’clockdinnerwasover，oneday，andIhadjustfinishedputtingthecabininorder，whenWolfLarsenandThomasMugridgedescendedthecompanionstairs。Thoughthecookhadacubby—holeofastateroomopeningofffromthecabin，inthecabinitselfhehadneverdaredtolingerortobeseen，andheflittedtoandfro，onceortwiceaday，likeatimidspectre。
\"Soyouknowhowtoplay`Nap，’\"WolfLarsenwassayinginapleasedsortofvoice。\"ImighthaveguessedanEnglishmanwouldknow。IlearneditmyselfinEnglishships。\"
ThomasMugridgewasbesidehimself，ablitheringimbecile，sopleasedwasheatchummingthuswiththecaptain。Thelittleairsheputonandthepainfulstrivingtoassumetheeasycarriageofamanborntoadignifiedplaceinlifewouldhavebeensickeninghadtheynotbeenludicrous。Hequiteignoredmypresence，thoughIcreditedhimwithbeingsimplyunabletoseeme。Hispale，wishy—washyeyeswereswimminglikelazysummerseas，thoughwhatblissfulvisionstheybeheldwerebeyondmyimagination。
\"Getthecards，Hump，\"WolfLarsenordered，astheytookseatsatthetable。\"Andbringoutthecigarsandthewhiskeyyou’llfindinmyberth。\"
IreturnedwiththearticlesintimetoheartheCockneyhintingbroadlythattherewasamysteryabouthim，thathemightbeagentleman’ssongonewrongorsomethingorother；also，thathewasaremittancemanandwaspaidtokeepawayfromEngland——\"p’yed’ansomely，sir，\"wasthewayheputit；\"p’yed’ansomelytoslingmy’ookan’keepslingin’it。\"
Ihadbroughtthecustomaryliquorglasses，butWolfLarsenfrowned，shookhishead，andsignalledwithhishandsformetobringthetumblers。
Thesehefilledtwo—thirdsfullwithundilutedwhiskey——\"agentleman’sdrink，\"quothThomasMugridge，——andtheyclinkedtheirglassestothegloriousgameof\"Nap，\"lightedcigars，andfelltoshufflinganddealingthecards。
Theyplayedformoney。Theyincreasedtheamountsofthebets。Theydrankwhiskey，theydrankitneat，andIfetchedmore。IdonotknowwhetherWolfLarsencheatedornot，——athinghewasthoroughlycapableofdoing，——buthewonsteadily。Thecookmaderepeatedjourneystohisbunkformoney。Eachtimeheperformedthejourneywithgreaterswagger，butheneverbroughtmorethanafewdollarsatatime。Hegrewmaudlin，familiar，couldhardlyseethecardsorsitupright。Asapreliminarytoanotherjourneytohisbunk，hehookedWolfLarsen’sbuttonholewithagreasyforefingerandvacuouslyproclaimedandreiterated，\"Igotmoney。Igotmoney，Itellyer，an’I’magentleman’sson。\"
WolfLarsenwasunaffectedbythedrink，yethedrankglassforglass，andifanythinghisglasseswerefuller。Therewasnochangeinhim。Hedidnotappearevenamusedattheother’santics。
Intheend，withloudprotestationsthathecouldloselikeagentleman，thecook’slastmoneywasstakedonthegameandlost。Whereuponheleanedhisheadonhishandsandwept。WolfLarsenlookedcuriouslyathim，asthoughabouttoprobeandvivisecthim，thenchangedhismind，asfromtheforegoneconclusionthattherewasnothingtheretoprobe。
\"Hump，\"hesaidtome，elaboratelypolite，\"kindlytakeMr。Mugridge’sarmandhelphimupondeck。Heisnotfeelingverywell。\"
\"AndtellJohnsontodousehimwithafewbucketsofsaltwater，\"headded，inalowertoneformyearalone。
IleftMr。Mugridgeondeck，inthehandsofacoupleofgrinningsailorswhohadbeentoldoffforthepurpose。Mr。Mugridgewassleepilysplutteringthathewasagentleman’sson。ButasdescendedthecompanionstairstoclearthetableIheardhimshriekasthefirstbucketofwaterstruckhim。
WolfLarsenwascountinghiswinnings。
\"Onehundredandeighty—fivedollarseven，\"hesaidaloud。\"JustasIthought。Thebeggarcameaboardwithoutacent。\"
\"Andwhatyouhavewonismine，sir，\"Isaidboldly。
Hefavoredmewithaquizzicalsmile。\"Hump，Ihavestudiedsomegrammarinmytime，andIthinkyourtensesaretangled。`Wasmine，’youshouldhavesaid，not`ismine。’\"
\"Itisaquestion，notofgrammar，butofethics，\"Ianswered。
Itwaspossiblyaminutebeforehespoke。
\"D’yeknow，Hump，\"hesaid，withaslowseriousnesswhichhadinitanindefinablestrainofsadness，\"thatthisisthefirsttimehaveheardtheword`ethics’inthemouthofaman。YouandIaretheonlymenonthisshipwhoknowitsmeaning。\"
\"Atonetimeinmylife，\"hecontinued，afteranotherpause，\"dreamedthatImightsomedaytalkwithmenwhousedsuchlanguage，thatImightliftmyselfoutoftheplaceinlifeinwhichIhadbeenborn，andholdconversationandminglewithmenwhotalkedaboutjustsuchthingsasethics。
AndthisisthefirsttimeIhaveeverheardthewordpronounced。Whichisallbytheway，foryouarewrong。Itisaquestion，neitherofgrammarnorethics，butoffact。\"
\"Iunderstand，\"Isaid。\"Thefactisthatyouhavethemoney。\"
Hisfacebrightened。Heseemedpleasedatmyperspicacity。
\"Butitisavoidingtherealquestion，\"Icontinued，\"whichisoneofright。\"
\"Ah，\"heremarked，withawrypuckerofhismouth，\"Iseeyoustillbelieveinsuchthingsasrightandwrong。\"
\"Butdon’tyou？——atall？\"Idemanded。
\"Nottheleastbit。Mightisright，andthatisallthereistoit。
Weaknessiswrong。Whichisaverypoorwayofsayingthatitisgoodforoneselftobestrong，andevilforoneselftobeweak——orbetteryet，itispleasurabletobestrong，becauseoftheprofits；painfultobeweak，becauseofthepenalties。Justnowthepossessionofthismoneyisapleasurablething。Itisgoodforonetopossessit。Beingabletopossessit，Iwrongmyselfandthelifethatisinmeifgiveittoyouandforegothepleasureofpossessingit。\"
\"Butyouwrongmebywithholdingit，\"Iobjected。
\"Notatall。Onemancannotwronganotherman。Hecanonlywronghimself。
AsIseeit，IdowrongalwayswhenIconsidertheinterestsofothers。
Don’tyousee？Howcantwoparticlesoftheyeastwrongeachotherbystrivingtodevoureachother？Itistheirinbornheritagetostrivetodevour，andtostrivenottobedevoured。Whentheydepartfromthistheysin。\"
\"Thenyoudon’tbelieveinaltruism？\"Iasked。
Hereceivedthewordasifithadafamiliarring，thoughhepondereditthoughtfully。\"Letmesee，itmeanssomethingaboutco[[Yacute]]peration，doesn’tit？\"
\"Well，inawaytherehascometobeasortofconnection，\"answered，unsurprisedbythistimeatsuchgapsinhisvocabulary，which，likehisknowledge，wastheacquirementofaself—read，self—educatedman，whomnoonehaddirectedinhisstudies，andwhohadthoughtmuchandtalkedlittleornotatall。\"Analtruisticactisanactperformedforthewelfareofothers。Itisunselfish，asopposedtoanactperformedforself，whichisselfish。\"
Henoddedhishead。\"Oh，yes，Irememberitnow。IranacrossitinSpencer。\"
\"Spencer！\"Icried。\"Haveyoureadhim？\"
\"Notverymuch，\"washisconfession。\"Iunderstoodquiteagooddealof`FirstPrinciples，’buthis`Biology’tookthewindoutofmysails，andhis`Psychology’leftmebuttingaroundinthedoldrumsformanyaday。Ihonestlycouldnotunderstandwhathewasdrivingat。Iputitdowntomentaldeficiencyonmypart，butsincethenIhavedecidedthatitwasforwantofpreparation。Ihadnoproperbasis。OnlySpencerandmyselfknowhowhardIhammered。ButIdidgetsomethingoutofhis`DataofEthics。’
There’swhereIranacross`altruism，’andIremembernowhowitwasused。\"
Iwonderedwhatthismancouldhavegotfromsuchawork。SpencerI
rememberedenoughtoknowthataltruismwasimperativetohisidealofhighestconduct。WolfLarsen，evidently，hadsiftedthegreatphilosopher’steachings，rejectingandselectingaccordingtohisneedsanddesires。
\"Whatelsedidyourunacross？\"Iasked。
Hisbrowsdrewinslightlywiththementaleffortofsuitablyphrasingthoughtswhichhehadneverbeforeputintospeech。Ifeltanelationofspirit。Iwasgropingintohissoul—stuffashemadeapracticeofgropinginthesoul—stuffofothers。Iwasexploringvirginterritory。Astrange，aterriblystrange，regionwasunrollingitselfbeforemyeyes。
\"Inasfewwordsaspossible，\"hebegan，\"Spencerputsitsomethinglikethis：First，amanmustactforhisownbenefit——todothisistobemoralandgood。Next，hemustactforthebenefitofhischildren。Andthird，hemustactforthebenefitofhisrace。\"
\"Andthehighest，finest，rightconduct，\"Iinterjected，\"isthatactwhichbenefitsatthesametimetheman，hischildren，andhisrace。\"
\"Iwouldn’tstandforthat，\"hereplied。\"Couldn’tseethenecessityforit，northecommonsense。Icutouttheraceandthechildren。Iwouldsacrificenothingforthem。It’sjustsomuchslushandsentiment，andyoumustseeityourself，atleastforonewhodoesnotbelieveineternallife。Withimmortalitybeforeme，altruismwouldbeapayingbusinessproposition。
Imightelevatemysoultoallkindsofaltitudes。Butwithnothingeternalbeforemebutdeath，givenforabriefspellthisyeastycrawlingandsquirmingwhichiscalledlife，why，itwouldbeimmoralformetoperformanyactthatwasasacrifice。Anysacrificethatmakesmeloseonecrawlorsquirmisfoolish，——andnotonlyfoolish，foritisawrongagainstmyselfandawickedthing。ImustnotloseonecrawlorsquirmifIamtogetthemostoutoftheferment。NorwilltheeternalmovelessnessthatiscomingtomebemadeeasierorharderbythesacrificesorselfishnessesofthetimewhenIwasyeastyandacrawl。\"
\"Thenyouareanindividualist，amaterialist，and，logically，ahedonist。\"
\"Bigwords，\"hesmiled。\"Butwhatisahedonist？\"
HenoddedagreementwhenIhadgiventhedefinition。
\"Andyouarealso，\"Icontinued，\"amanonecouldnottrustintheleastthingwhereitwaspossibleforaselfishinteresttointervene？\"
\"Nowyou’rebeginningtounderstand，\"hesaid，brightening。
\"Youareamanutterlywithoutwhattheworldcallsmorals？\"
\"That’sit。\"
\"Amanofwhomtobealwaysafraid——\"
\"That’sthewaytoputit。\"
\"Asoneisafraidofasnake，oratiger，orashark？\"
\"Nowyouknowme，\"hesaid。\"AndyouknowmeasIamgenerallyknown。
Othermencallme`Wolf。’\"
\"Youareasortofmonster，\"Iaddedaudaciously，\"aCalibanwhohasponderedSetebos，andwhoactsasyouact，inidlemoments，bywhimandfancy。\"
Hisbrowcloudedattheallusion。Hedidnotunderstand，andquicklylearnedthathedidnotknowthepoem。
