\"I’mjustreadingBrowning，\"heconfessed，\"andit’sprettytough。I
haven’tgotveryfaralong，andasitisI’veaboutlostmybearings。\"
Nottobetiresome，IshallsaythatIfetchedthebookfromhisstate—roomandread\"Caliban\"aloud。Hewasdelighted。Itwasaprimitivemodeofreasoningandoflookingatthingsthatheunderstoodthoroughly。Heinterruptedagainandagainwithcommentandcriticism。WhenIfinished，hehadmereaditoverasecondtime，andathird。Wefellintodiscussion——philosophy，science，evolution，religion。Hebetrayedtheinaccuraciesoftheself—readman，and，itmustbegranted，thesurenessanddirectnessoftheprimitivemind。Theverysimplicityofhisreasoningwasitsstrength，andhismaterialismwasfarmorecompellingthanthesubtlycomplexmaterialismofCharleyFuruseth。NotthatI，——aconfirmedand，asFurusethphrasedit，atemperamentalidealist，——wastobecompelled；butthatWolfLarsenstormedthelaststrongholdsofmyfaithwithavigorthatreceivedrespect，whilenotaccordedconviction。
Timepassed。Supperwasathandandthetablenotlaid。becamerestlessandanxious，andwhenThomasMugridgeglareddownthecompanionway，sickandangryofcountenance，Ipreparedtogoaboutmyduties。ButWolfLarsencriedouttohim：——
\"Cooky，you’vegottohustleto—night。I’mbusywithHump，andyou’lldothebestyoucanwithouthim。\"
Andagaintheunprecedentedwasestablished。ThatnightIsatattablewiththecaptainandthehunters，whileThomasMugridgewaitedonusandwashedthedishesafterward——awhim，aCaliban—moodofWolfLarsen’s，andoneIforesawwouldbringmetrouble。Inthemeantimewetalkedandtalked，muchtothedisgustofthehunters，whocouldnotunderstandaword。TheSeaWolf：Chapter9CHAPTER9
Threedaysofrest，threeblesseddaysofrest，arewhatIhadwithWolfLarsen，eatingatthecabintableanddoingnothingbutdiscusslife，literature，andtheuniverse，thewhileThomasMugridgefumedandragedanddidmyworkaswellashisown。
\"Watchoutforsqualls，isallIcansaytoyou，\"wasLouis’swarning，givenduringasparehalf—hourondeckwhileWolfLarsenwasengagedinstraighteningoutarowamongthehunters。
\"Yecan’ttellwhat’llbehappenin’，\"Louiswenton，inresponsetomyqueryformoredefiniteinformation。\"Theman’sascontraryasaircurrentsorwatercurrents。Youcanneverguessthewaysivhim。’Tisjustasyou’rethinkin’youknowhimandaremakin’afavorableslantalonghim，thathewhirlsaround，deadahead，andcomeshowlin’downuponyouanda—rippin’
allivyourfine—weathersailstorags。\"
SoIwasnotaltogethersurprisedwhenthesquallforetoldbyLouissmoteme。Wehadbeenhavingaheateddiscussion，——uponlife，ofcourse，——and，grownoverbold，IwaspassingstiffstricturesuponWolfLarsenandthelifeofWolfLarsen。Infact，Iwasvivisectinghimandturningoverhissoul—stuffaskeenlyandthoroughlyasitwashiscustomtodoittoothers。ItmaybeaweaknessofminethatIhaveanincisivewayofspeech；butIthrewallrestrainttothewindsandcutandslasheduntilthewholemanofhimwassnarling。Thedarksun—bronzeofhisfacewentblackwithwrath，hiseyeswereablaze。Therewasnoclearnessorsanityinthem——nothingbuttheterrificrageofamadman。ItwasthewolfinhimthatIsaw，andamadwolfatthat。
Hesprangformewithahalf—roar，grippingmyarm。Ihadsteeledmyselftobrazenitout，thoughIwastremblinginwardly；buttheenormousstrengthofthemanwastoomuchformyfortitude。Hehadgrippedmebythebicepswithhissinglehand，andwhenthatgriptightenedIwiltedandshriekedaloud。Myfeetwentoutfromunderme。Isimplycouldnotstanduprightandenduretheagony。Themusclesrefusedtheirduty。Thepainwastoogreat。Mybicepswasbeingcrushedtoapulp。
Heseemedtorecoverhimself，foralucidgleamcameintohiseyes，andherelaxedhisholdwithashortlaughthatwasmorelikeagrowl。
Ifelltothefloor，feelingveryfaint，whilehesatdown，lightedacigar，andwatchedmeasacatwatchesamouse。AsIwrithedaboutIcouldseeinhiseyesthatcuriosityIhadsooftennoted，thatwonderandperplexity，thatquesting，thateverlastingqueryofhisastowhatitwasallabout。
Ifinallycrawledtomyfeetandascendedthecompanionstairs。Fairweatherwasover，andtherewasnothingleftbuttoreturntothegalley。
Myleftarmwasnumb，asthoughparalyzed，anddayspassedbeforeIcoulduseit，whileweekswentbybeforethelaststiffnessandpainwentoutofit。Andhehaddonenothingbutputhishanduponmyarmandsqueeze。
Therehadbeennowrenchingorjerking。Hehadjustclosedhishandwithasteadypressure。WhathemighthavedoneIdidnotfullyrealizetillnextday，whenheputhisheadintothegalley，and，asasignofrenewedfriendliness，askedmehowmyarmwasgettingon。
\"Itmighthavebeenworse，\"hesmiled。
Iwaspeelingpotatoes。Hepickedoneupfromthepan。Itwasfair—sized，firm，andunpeeled。Heclosedhishanduponit，squeezed，andthepotatosquirtedoutbetweenhisfingersinmushystreams。Thepulpyremnanthedroppedbackintothepanandturnedaway，andIhadasharpvisionofhowitmighthavefaredwithmehadthemonsterputhisrealstrengthuponme。
Butthethreedays’restwasgoodinspiteofitall，forithadgivenmykneetheverychanceitneeded。Itfeltmuchbetter，theswellinghadmateriallydecreased，andthecapseemeddescendingintoitsproperplace。
Also，thethreedays’restbroughtthetroubleIhadforeseen。ItwasplainlyThomasMugridge’sintentiontomakemepayforthosethreedays。Hetreatedmevilely，cursedmecontinually，andheapedhisownworkuponme。Heevenventuredtoraisehisfisttome，butIwasbecominganimal—likemyself，andIsnarledinhisfacesoterriblythatitmusthavefrightenedhimback。ItisnopleasantpictureIcanconjureupofmyself，HumphreyVanWeyden，inthatnoisomeship’sgalley，crouchedinacornerovermytask，myfaceraisedtothefaceofthecreatureabouttostrikeme，mylipsliftedandsnarlinglikeadog’s，myeyesgleamingwithfearandhelplessnessandthecouragethatcomesoffearandhelplessness。Idonotlikethepicture。Itremindsmetoostronglyofaratinatrap。Idonotcaretothinkofit；butitwaseffective，forthethreatenedblowdidnotdescend。
ThomasMugridgebackedaway，glaringashatefullyandviciouslyasI
glared。Apairofbeastsiswhatwewere，pennedtogetherandshowingourteeth。Hewasacoward，afraidtostrikemebecauseIhadnotquailedsufficientlyinadvance；sohechoseanewwaytointimidateme。Therewasonlyonegalleyknifethat，asaknife，amountedtoanything。This，throughmanyyearsofserviceandwear，hadacquiredalong，leanblade。Itwasunusuallycruel—looking，andatfirstIhadshudderedeverytimeIusedit。ThecookborrowedastonefromJohansenandproceededtosharpentheknife。Hediditwithgreatostentation，glancingsignificantlyatmethewhile。Hewhetteditupanddownalldaylong。Everyoddmomenthecouldfindhehadtheknifeandstoneoutandwaswhettingaway。Thesteelacquiredarazoredge。
Hetrieditwiththeballofhisthumboracrossthenail。Heshavedhairsfromthebackofhishand，glancedalongtheedgewithmicroscopicacuteness，andfound，orfeignedthathefound，always，aslightinequalityinitsedgesomewhere。Thenhewouldputitonthestoneagainandwhet，whet，whet，tillIcouldhavelaughedaloud，itwassoveryludicrous。
Itwasalsoserious，forIlearnedthathewascapableofusingit，thatunderallhiscowardicetherewasacourageofcowardice，likemine，thatwouldimpelhimtodotheverythinghiswholenatureprotestedagainstdoingandwasafraidofdoing。\"Cooky’ssharpeninghisknifeforHump，\"
wasbeingwhisperedaboutamongthesailors，andsomeofthemtwittedhimaboutit。Thishetookingoodpart，andwasreallypleased，noddinghisheadwithdirefulforeknowledgeandmystery，untilGeorgeLeach，theerstwhilecabin—boy，venturedsomeroughpleasantryonthesubject。
NowithappenedthatLeachwasoneofthesailorstoldofftodouseMugridgeafterhisgameofcardswiththecaptain。LeachhadevidentlydonehistaskwithathoroughnessthatMugridgehadnotforgiven，forwordsfollowedandevilnamesinvolvingsmirchedancestries。Mugridgemenacedwiththeknifehewassharpeningforme。LeachlaughedandhurledmoreofhisTelegraphHillbillingsgate，andbeforeeitherheorIknewwhathadhappened，hisrightarmhadbeenrippedopenfromelbowtowristbyaquickslashoftheknife。Thecookbackedaway，afiendishexpressiononhisface，theknifeheldbeforehiminapositionofdefence。ButLeachtookitquitecalmly，thoughbloodwasspoutinguponthedeckasgenerouslyaswaterfromafountain。
\"I’mgoin’togetyou，Cooky，\"hesaid，\"andI’llgetyouhard。AndIwon’tbeinnohurryaboutit。You’llbewithoutthatknifewhenIcomeforyou。\"
Sosaying，heturnedandwalkedquietlyforward。Mugridge’sfacewaslividwithfearatwhathehaddoneandatwhathemightexpectsoonerorlaterfromthemanhehadstabbed。Buthisdemeanortowardmewasmoreferociousthanever。Inspiteofhisfearatthereckoninghemustexpecttopayforwhathehaddone，hecouldseethatithadbeenanobject—lessontome，andhebecamemoredomineeringandexultant。Alsotherewasalustinhim，akintomadness，whichhadcomewithsightofthebloodhehaddrawn。Hewasbeginningtoseeredinwhateverdirectionhelooked。Thepsychologyofitissadlytangled，andyetcouldreadtheworkingsofhismindasclearlyasthoughitwereaprintedbook。
Severaldayswentby，theGhoststillfoamingdownthetrades，andIcouldswearIsawmadnessgrowinginThomasMugridge’seyes。AndIconfessthatIbecameafraid，verymuchafraid。Whet，whet，whet，itwentalldaylong。Thelookinhiseyesashefeltthekeenedgeandglaredatmewaspositivelycarnivorous。Iwasafraidtoturnmyshouldertohim，andwhenIleftthegalleyIwentoutbackwards——totheamusementofthesailorsandhunters，whomadeapointofgatheringingroupstowitnessmyexit。Thestrainwastoogreat。sometimesthoughtmymindwouldgivewayunderit——ameetthingonthisshipofmadmenandbrutes。Everyhour，everyminuteofmyexistencewasinjeopardy。Iwasahumansoulindistress，andyetnosoul，foreoraft，betrayedsufficientsympathytocometomyaid。AttimesIthoughtofthrowingmyselfonthemercyofWolfLarsen，butthevisionofthemockingdevilinhiseyesthatquestionedlifeandsneeredatitwouldcomestronguponmeandcompelmetorefrain。AtothertimesIseriouslycontemplatedsuicide，andthewholeforceofmyhopefulphilosophywasrequiredtokeepmefromgoingoverthesideinthedarknessofnight。
SeveraltimesWolfLarsentriedtoinveiglemeintodiscussion，butIgavehimshortanswersandeludedhim。Finally，hecommandedmetoresumemyseatatthecabintableforatimeandletthecookdomywork。ThenIspokefrankly，tellinghimwhatIwasenduringfromThomasMugridgebecauseofthethreedaysoffavoritismwhichhadbeenshownme。WolfLarsenregardedmewithsmilingeyes。
\"Soyou’reafraid，eh？\"hesneered。
\"Yes，\"Isaiddefiantlyandhonestly，\"Iamafraid。\"
\"That’sthewaywithyoufellows，\"hecried，halfangrily，\"sentimentalizingaboutyourimmortalsoulsandafraidtodie。AtsightofasharpknifeandacowardlyCockneytheclingingoflifetolifeovercomesallyourfondfoolishness。Why，mydearfellow，youwillliveforever。Youareagod，andGodcannotbekilled。Cookycannothurtyou。Youaresureofyourresurrection。What’stheretobeafraidof？
\"Youhaveeternallifebeforeyou。Youareamillionnaireinimmortality，andamillionnairewhosefortunecannotbelost，whosefortuneislessperishablethanthestarsandaslastingasspaceortime。Itisimpossibleforyoutodiminishyourprincipal。Immortalityisathingwithoutbeginningorend。Eternityiseternity，andthoughyoudiehereandnowyouwillgoonlivingsomewhereelseandhereafter。Anditisallverybeautiful，thisshakingoffofthefleshandsoaringoftheimprisonedspirit。Cookycannothurtyou。Hecanonlygiveyouaboostonthepathyoueternallymusttread。
\"Or，ifyoudonotwishtobeboostedjustyet，whynotboostCooky？
Accordingtoyourideas，he，too，mustbeanimmortalmillionnaire。Youcannotbankrupthim。Hispaperwillalwayscirculateatpar。Youcannotdiminishthelengthofhislivingbykillinghim，forheiswithoutbeginningorend。He’sboundtogoonliving，somewhere，somehow。Thenboosthim。
Stickaknifeinhimandlethisspiritfree。Asitis，it’sinanastyprison，andyou’lldohimonlyakindnessbybreakingdownthedoor。Andwhoknows？——itmaybeaverybeautifulspiritthatwillgosoaringupintothebluefromthatuglycarcass。Boosthimalong，andI’llpromoteyoutohisplace，andhe’sgettingforty—fivedollarsamonth。\"
ItwasplainthatIcouldlookfornohelpormercyfromWolfLarsen。
WhateverwastobedoneImustdoformyself；andoutofthecourageoffearIevolvedtheplanoffightingThomasMugridgewithhisownweapons。
IborrowedawhetstonefromJohansen。Louis，theboat—steerer，hadalreadybeggedmeforcondensedmilkandsugar。Thelazarette，wheresuchdelicacieswerestored，wassituatedbeneaththecabinfloor。Watchingmychance，Istolefivecansofthemilk，andthatnight，whenitwasLouis’swatchondeck，Itradedthemwithhimforadirkasleanandcruel—lookingasThomasMugridge’svegetableknife。Itwasrustyanddull，butIturnedthegrindstonewhileLouisgaveitanedge。Isleptmoresoundlythanusualthatnight。
Nextmorning，afterbreakfast，ThomasMugridgebeganhiswhet，whet，whet。Iglancedwarilyathim，forIwasonmykneestakingtheashesfromthestove。WhenIreturnedfromthrowingthemoverside，hewastalkingtoHarrison，whosehonestyokel’sfacewasfilledwithfascinationandwonder。
\"Yes，\"Mugridgewassaying，\"an’wotdoes’isworshipdobutgivemetwoyearsinReading。ButblimeyifIcared。Theothermugwasfixedplenty。
Should’aseen’im。Knifejustlikethis。Istuckitin，likeintosoftbutter，an’thew’y’esquealedwasbetter’natu—pennygaff。\"HeshotaglanceinmydirectiontoseeifIwastakingitin，andwenton。\"`I
didn’tmeanit，Tommy，’’ewassnifflin’；`so’elpmeGawd，Ididn’tmeanit！’`I’llfixyerbloodywellright，’Isez，an’keptrightafter’im。
Icut’iminribbons，that’swotIdid，an’’ea—squealin’allthetime。
Once’egot’is’andontheknifean’triedto’oldit。’Ad’isfingersaroundit，butIpulleditthrough，cuttin’tothebone。O，’ewasasight，Icantellyer。\"
Acallfromthemateinterruptedthegorynarrative，andHarrisonwentaft。Mugridgesatdownontheraisedthresholdtothegalleyandwentonwithhisknife—sharpening。Iputtheshovelawayandcalmlysatdownonthecoal—boxfacinghim。Hefavoredmewithaviciousstare。Stillcalmly，thoughmyheartwasgoingpitapat，pulledoutLouis’sdirkandbegantowhetitonthestone。IhadlookedforalmostanysortofexplosionontheCockney’spart，buttomysurprisehedidnotappearawareofwhatIwasdoing。Hewentonwhettinghisknife。SodidI。Andfortwohourswesatthere，facetoface，whet，whet，whet，tillthenewsofitspreadabroadandhalftheship’scompanywascrowdingthegalleydoorstoseethesight。
Encouragementandadvicewerefreelytendered，andJockHorner，thequiet，self—spokenhunterwholookedasthoughhewouldnotharmamouse，advisedmetoleavetheribsaloneandtothrustupwardfortheabdomen，atthesametimegivingwhathecalledthe\"Spanishtwist\"totheblade。
Leach，hisbandagedarmprominentlytothefore，beggedmetoleaveafewremnantsofthecookforhim；andWolfLarsenpausedonceortwiceatthebreakofthepooptoglancecuriouslyatwhatmusthavebeentohimastirringandcrawlingoftheyeastythingheknewaslife。
AndImakefreetosaythatforthetimebeinglifeassumedthesamesordidvaluestome。Therewasnothingprettyaboutit，nothingdivine——onlytwocowardlymovingthingsthatsatwhettingsteeluponstone，andagroupofothermovingthings，cowardlyandotherwise，thatlookedon。Halfofthem，Iamsure，wereanxioustoseeussheddingeachother’sblood。Itwouldhavebeenentertainment。AndIdonotthinktherewasonewhowouldhaveinterferedhadweclosedinadeath—struggle。
Ontheotherhand，thewholethingwaslaughableandchildish。Whet，whet，whet，——HumphreyVanWeydensharpeninghisknifeinaship’sgalleyandtryingitsedgewithhisthumb！Ofallsituationsthiswasthemostinconceivable。Iknowthatmyownkindcouldnothavebelieveditpossible。
Ihadnotbeencalled\"Sissy\"VanWeydenallmydayswithoutreason，andthat\"Sissy\"VanWeydenshouldbecapableofdoingthisthingwasarevelationtoHumphreyVanWeyden，whoknewnotwhethertobeexultantorashamed。
Butnothinghappened。AttheendoftwohoursThomasMugridgeputawayknifeandstoneandheldouthishand。
\"Wot’sthegoodofmykin’a’olyshowofourselvesforthemmugs？\"hedemanded。\"Theydon’tloveus，an’bloodywellgladthey’dbea—seein’
uscuttin’ourthroats。Yernot’arfbad，’Ump！You’vegotspunk，asyouYankss’y，an’Ilikeyerinaw’y。Socomeonan’shyke。\"
CowardthatImightbe，Iwaslessacowardthanhe。ItwasadistinctvictoryIhadgained，andIrefusedtoforegoanyofitbyshakinghisdetestablehand。
\"Allright，\"hesaidpridelessly，\"tykeitorleaveit，I’lllikeyernonethelessforit。\"Andtosavehisfaceheturnedfiercelyupontheonlookers。\"Getoutamygalley—doors，youbloomin’swabs！\"
Thiscommandwasreinforcedbyasteamingkettleofwater，andatsightofitthesailorsscrambledoutoftheway。ThiswasasortofvictoryforThomasMugridge，andenabledhimtoacceptmoregracefullythedefeatIhadgivenhim，though，ofcourse，hewastoodiscreettoattempttodrivethehuntersaway。
\"IseeCooky’sfinish，\"IheardSmokesaytoHorner。
\"Youbet，\"wasthereply。\"Humprunsthegalleyfromnowon，andCookypullsinhishorns。\"
Mugridgeheardandshotaswiftglanceatme，butIgavenosignthattheconversationhadreachedme。Ihadnotthoughtmyvictorywassofar—reachingandcomplete，butIresolvedtoletgonothingIhadgained。Asthedayswentby，Smoke’sprophecywasverified。TheCockneybecamemorehumbleandslavishtomethaneventoWolfLarsen。Imisteredhimandsirredhimnolonger，washednomoregreasypots，andpeelednomorepotatoes。Ididmyownwork，andmyownworkonly，andwhenandinwhatfashionIsawfit。
Also，Icarriedthedirkinasheathatmyhip，sailor—fashion，andmaintainedtowardThomasMugridgeaconstantattitudewhichwascomposedofequalpartsofdomineering，insult，andcontempt。TheSeaWolf：Chapter10CHAPTER10
MyintimacywithWolfLarsenincreases——ifbyintimacymaybedenotedthoserelationswhichexistbetweenmasterandman，or，betteryet，betweenkingandjester。Iamtohimnomorethanatoy，andhevaluesmenomorethanachildvaluesatoy。Myfunctionistoamuse，andsolongasIamuseallgoeswell；butlethimbecomebored，orlethimhaveoneofhisblackmoodscomeuponhim，andatonceIamrelegatedfromcabintabletogalley，while，atthesametime，Iamfortunatetoescapewithmylifeandawholebody。
Thelonelinessofthemanisslowlybeingborneinuponme。Thereisnotamanaboardbuthatesorfearshim，noristhereamanwhomhedoesnotdespise。Heseemsconsumingwiththetremendouspowerthatisinhimandthatseemsnevertohavefoundadequateexpressioninworks。HeisasLuciferwouldbe，werethatproudspiritbanishedtoasocietyofsoulless，Tomlinsonianghosts。
Thislonelinessisbadenoughinitself，but，tomakeitworse，heisoppressedbytheprimalmelancholyoftherace。Knowinghim，reviewtheoldScandinavianmythswithclearerunderstanding。Thewhite—skinned，fair—hairedsavageswhocreatedthatterriblepantheonwereofthesamefibreashe。
Thefrivolityofthelaughter—lovingLatinsisnopartofhim。Whenhelaughsitisfromahumorthatisnothingelsethanferocious。Buthelaughsrarely；heistoooftensad。Anditisasadnessasdeep—reachingastherootsoftherace。Itistheraceheritage，thesadnesswhichhasmadetheracesober—minded，clean—lived，andfanaticallymoral，andwhich，inthislatterconnection，hasculminatedamongtheEnglishintheReformedChurchandMrs。Grundy。
Inpointoffact，thechiefventtothisprimalmelancholyhasbeenreligioninitsmoreagonizingforms。ButthecompensationsofsuchreligionaredeniedWolfLarsen。Hisbrutalmaterialismwillnotpermitit。So，whenhisbluemoodscomeon，nothingremainsforhimbuttobedevilish。
Werehenotsoterribleaman，Icouldsometimesfeelsorryforhim，asinstancethreemorningsago，whenIwentintohisstate—roomtofillhiswater—bottleandcameunexpectedlyuponhim。Hedidnotseeme。Hisheadwasburiedinhishands，andhisshoulderswereheavingconvulsivelyaswithsobs。Heseemedtornbysomemightygrief。AsIsoftlywithdrewI
couldhearhimgroaning，\"God！God！God！\"NotthathewascallinguponGod；itwasamereexpletive，butitcamefromhissoul。
Atdinnerheaskedthehuntersforaremedyforheadache，andbyevening，strongmanthathewas，hewashalf—blindandreelingaboutthecabin。
\"I’veneverbeensickinmylife，Hump，\"hesaid，asIguidedhimtohisroom。\"NordidIeverhaveaheadacheexceptthetimemyheadwashealingafterhavingbeenlaidopenforsixinchesbyacapstan—bar。\"
Forthreedaysthisblindingheadachelasted，andhesufferedaswildanimalssuffer，asitseemedthewayonshiptosuffer，withoutplaint，withoutsympathy，utterlyalone。
Thismorning，however，onenteringhisstate—roomtomakethebedandputthingsinorder，Ifoundhimwellandhardatwork。Tableandbunkwerelitteredwithdesignsandcalculations。Onalargetransparentsheet，compassandsquareinhand，hewascopyingwhatappearedtobeascaleofsomesortorother。
\"Hello，Hump，\"hegreetedmegenially。\"I’mjustfinishingthefinishingtouches。Wanttoseeitwork？\"
\"Butwhatisit？\"Iasked。
\"Alabor—savingdeviceformariners，navigationreducedtokindergartensimplicity，\"heansweredgayly。\"Fromto—dayachildwillbeabletonavigateaship。Nomorelong—windedcalculations。Allyouneedisonestarintheskyonadirtynighttoknowinstantlywhereyouare。Look。Iplacethetransparentscaleonthisstar—map，revolvingthescaleontheNorthPole。
OnthescaleI’veworkedoutthecirclesofaltitudeandthelinesofbearing。
AllIdoistoputitonastar，revolvethescaletillitisoppositethosefiguresonthemapunderneath，andpresto！thereyouare，theship’spreciselocation！\"
Therewasaringoftriumphinhisvoice，andhiseyes，clearbluethismorningasthesea，weresparklingwithlight。
\"Youmustbewellupinmathematics，\"Isaid。\"Wheredidyougotoschool？\"
\"Neversawtheinsideofone，worseluck，\"wastheanswer。\"hadtodigitoutformyself。\"
\"AndwhydoyouthinkIhavemadethisthing？\"hedemanded，abruptly。
\"Dreamingtoleavefootprintsonthesandsoftime？\"Helaughedoneofhishorriblemockinglaughs。\"Notatall。Togetitpatented，tomakemoneyfromit，torevelinpiggishnesswithallnightinwhileothermendothework。That’smypurpose。Also，Ihaveenjoyedworkingitout。\"
\"Thecreativejoy，\"Imurmured。
\"Iguessthat’swhatitoughttobecalled。Whichisanotherwayofexpressingthejoyoflifeinthatitisalive，thetriumphofmovementovermatter，ofthequickoverthedead，theprideoftheyeastbecauseitisyeastandcrawls。\"
Ithrewupmyhandswithhelplessdisapprovalofhisinveteratematerialismandwentaboutmakingthebed。Hecontinuedcopyinglinesandfiguresuponthetransparentscale。Itwasataskrequiringtheutmostnicetyandprecision，andIcouldnotbutadmirethewayhetemperedhisstrengthtothefinenessanddelicacyoftheneed。
WhenIhadfinishedthebed，Icaughtmyselflookingathiminafascinatedsortofway。Hewascertainlyahandsomeman——beautifulinthemasculinesense。Andagain，withnever—failingwonder，remarkedthetotallackofviciousness，orwickedness，orsinfulness，inhisface。Itwastheface，Iamconvinced，ofamanwhodidnowrong。AndbythisIdonotwishtobemisunderstood。WhatImeanisthatitwasthefaceofamanwhoeitherdidnothingcontrarytothedictatesofhisconscience，orwhohadnoconscience。
Iaminclinedtothelatterwayofaccountingforit。Hewasamagnificentatavism，amansopurelyprimitivethathewasofthetypethatcameintotheworldbeforethedevelopmentofthemoralnature。Hewasnotimmoral，butmerelyunmoral。
AsIhavesaid，inthemasculinesensehiswasabeautifulface。Smooth—shaven，everylinewasdistinct，anditwascutasclearandsharpasacameo；
whileseaandsunhadtannedthenaturallyfairskintoadarkbronzewhichbespokestruggleandbattleandaddedbothtohissavageryandhisbeauty。
Thelipswerefull，yetpossessedofthefirmness，almostharshness，whichischaracteristicofthinlips。Thesetofhismouth，hischin，hisjaw，waslikewisefirmorharsh，withallthefiercenessandindomitablenessofthemale——thenosealso。Itwasthenoseofabeingborntoconquerandcommand。Itjusthintedoftheeaglebeak。ItmighthavebeenGrecian，itmighthavebeenRoman，onlyitwasashadetoomassivefortheone，ashadetoodelicatefortheother。Andwhilethewholefacewastheincarnationoffiercenessandstrength，theprimalmelancholyfromwhichhesufferedseemedtogreatenthelinesofmouthandeyeandbrow，seemedtogivealargenessandcompletenesswhichotherwisethefacewouldhavelacked。
