\"MayGoddamnyoursoultohell，WolfLarsen，onlyhell’stoogoodforyou，youcoward，youmurderer，youpig！\"washisopeningsalutation。
Iwasthunderstruck。Ilookedforhisinstantannihilation。ButitwasnotWolfLarsen’swhimtoannihilatehim。Hesaunteredslowlyforwardtothebreakofthepoop，and，leaninghiselbowonthecornerofthecabin，gazeddownthoughtfullyandcuriouslyattheexcitedboy。
AndtheboyindictedWolfLarsenashehadneverbeenindictedbefore。
Thesailorsassembledinafearfulgroupjustoutsidetheforecastlescuttleandwatchedandlistened。Thehunterspiledpell—melloutofthesteerage，butasLeach’stiradecontinuedIsawthattherewasnolevityintheirfaces。Eventheywerefrightened，notattheboy’sterriblewords，butathisterribleaudacity。ItdidnotseempossiblethatanylivingcreaturecouldthusbeardWolfLarseninhisteeth。IknowformyselfthatIwasshockedintoadmirationoftheboy，andIsawinhimthesplendidinvinciblenessofimmortalityrisingabovethefleshandthefearsoftheflesh，asintheprophetsofold，tocondemnunrighteousness。
Andsuchcondemnation！HehaledforthWolfLarsen’ssoulnakedtothescornofmen。HeraineduponitcursesfromGodandHighHeaven，andwithereditwithaheatofinvectivethatsavoredofamediaevalexcommunicationoftheCatholicChurch。Heranthegamutofdenunciation，risingtoheightsofwraththatweresublimeandalmostGodlike，andfromsheerexhaustionsinkingtothevilestandmostindecentabuse。
Hisragewasamadness。Hislipswerefleckedwithasoapyfroth，andsometimeshechokedandgurgledandbecameinarticulate。Andthroughitall，calmandimpassive，leaningonhiselbowandgazingdown，WolfLarsenseemedlostinagreatcuriosity。Thiswildstirringofyeastylife，thisterrificrevoltanddefianceofmatterthatmoved，perplexedandinterestedhim。
EachmomentIlooked，andeverybodylooked，forhimtoleapupontheboyanddestroyhim。Butitwasnothiswhim。Hiscigarwentout，andhecontinuedtogazesilentlyandcuriously。
Leachhadworkedhimselfintoanecstasyofimpotentrage。
\"Pig！Pig！Pig！\"hewasreiteratingatthetopofhislungs。\"Whydon’tyoucomedownandkillme，youmurderer？Youcandoit！ain’tafraid！There’snoonetostopyou！Damnsightbetterdeadandoutayourreachthanaliveandinyourclutches！Comeon，youcoward！Killme！Killme！Killme！\"
ItwasatthisstagethatThomasMugridge’serraticsoulbroughthimintothescene。Hehadbeenlisteningatthegalleydoor，buthenowcameout，ostensiblytoflingsomescrapsovertheside，butobviouslytoseethekillinghewascertainwouldtakeplace。HesmirkedgreasilyupintothefaceofWolfLarsen，whoseemednottoseehim。ButtheCockneywasunabashed，thoughmad，starkmad。HeturnedtoLeach，saying：
\"Suchlangwidge！Shockin’！\"
Leach’sragewasnolongerimpotent。Hereatlastwassomethingreadytohand。AndforthefirsttimesincethestabbingtheCockneyhadappearedoutsidethegalleywithouthisknife。ThewordshadbarelylefthismouthwhenhewasknockeddownbyLeach。Threetimeshestruggledtohisfeet，strivingtogainthegalley，andeachtimewasknockeddown。
\"Oh，Lord！\"hecried。\"’Elp！’Elp！Tyke’imaw’y，carn’tyer？Tyke’imaw’y！\"
Thehunterslaughedfromsheerrelief。Tragedyhaddwindled，thefarcehadbegun。Thesailorsnowcrowdedboldlyaft，grinningandshuffling，towatchthepummellingofthehatedCockney。AndevenIfeltagreatjoysurgeupwithinme。IconfessthatIdelightedinthisbeatingLeachwasgivingtoThomasMugridge，thoughitwasasterrible，almost，astheoneMugridgehadcausedtobegiventoJohnson。ButtheexpressionofWolfLarsen’sfaceneverchanged。Hedidnotchangehispositioneither，butcontinuedtogazedownwithagreatcuriosity。Forallhispragmaticcertitude，itseemedasifhewatchedtheplayandmovementoflifeinthehopeofdiscoveringsomethingmoreaboutit，ofdiscerninginitsmaddestwrithingsasomethingwhichhadhithertoescapedhim，——thekeytoitsmystery，asitwere，whichwouldmakeallclearandplain。
Butthebeating！ItwasquitesimilartotheoneIhadwitnessedinthecabin。TheCockneystroveinvaintoprotecthimselffromtheinfuriatedboy。Andinvainhestrovetogaintheshelterofthecabin。Herolledtowardit，grovelledtowardit，felltowarditwhenhewasknockeddown。
Butblowfollowedblowwithbewilderingrapidity。Hewasknockedaboutlikeashuttlecock，until，finally，likeJohnson，hewasbeatenandkickedashelayhelplessonthedeck。Andnooneinterfered。Leachcouldhavekilledhim，but，havingevidentlyfilledthemeasureofhisvengeance，hedrewawayfromhisprostratefoe，whowaswhimperingandwailinginapuppyishsortofway，andwalkedforward。
Butthesetwoaffairswereonlytheopeningeventsoftheday’sprogramme。
IntheafternoonSmokeandHendersonfellfoulofeachother，andafusilladeofshotscameupfromthesteerage，followedbyastampedeoftheotherfourhuntersforthedeck。Acolumnofthick，acridsmoke——thekindalwaysmadebyblackpowder——wasarisingthroughtheopencompanionway，anddownthroughitleapedWolfLarsen。Thesoundofblowsandscufflingcametoourears。Bothmenwerewounded，andhewasthrashingthembothforhavingdisobeyedhisordersandcrippledthemselvesinadvanceofthehuntingseason。Infact，theywerebadlywounded，and，havingthrashedthem，heproceededtooperateupontheminaroughsurgicalfashionandtodresstheirwounds。servedasassistantwhileheprobedandcleansedthepassagesmadebythebullets，andIsawthetwomenendurehiscrudesurgerywithoutanaestheticsandwithnomoretoupholdthemthanastifftumblerofwhiskey。
Then，inthefirstdog—watch，troublecametoaheadintheforecastle。
Ittookitsriseoutofthetittle—tattleandtale—bearingwhichhadbeenthecauseofJohnson’sbeating，andfromthenoiseweheard，andfromthesightofthebruisedmennextday，itwaspatentthathalftheforecastlehadsoundlydrubbedtheotherhalf。
Theseconddog—watchandthedaywerewoundupbyafightbetweenJohansenandthelean，Yankee—lookinghunter，Latimer。ItwascausedbyremarksofLatimer’sconcerningthenoisesmadebythemateinhissleep，andthoughJohansenwaswhipped，hekeptthesteerageawakefortherestofthenightwhileheblissfullyslumberedandfoughtthefightoverandoveragain。TheSeaWolf：Chapter13CHAPTER13
ForthreedaysIdidmyownworkandThomasMugridge’stoo；andIflattermyselfthatIdidhisworkwell。IknowthatitwonWolfLarsen’sapproval，whilethesailorsbeamedwithsatisfactionduringthebrieftimemyrgimelasted。
\"ThefirstcleanbitesinceIcomeaboard，\"Harrisonsaidtomeatthegalleydoor，ashereturnedthedinnerpotsandpansfromtheforecastle。
\"SomehowTommy’sgrubalwaystastesofgrease，stalegrease，andIreckonheain’tchangedhisshirtsinceheleft’Frisco。\"
\"Iknowhehasn’t，\"Ianswered。
\"AndI’llbethesleepsinit，\"Harrisonadded。
\"Andyouwon’tlose，\"Iagreed。\"Thesameshirt，andhehasn’thaditoffonceinallthistime。\"
ButthreedayswasallWolfLarsenallowedhiminwhichtorecoverfromtheeffectsofthebeating。Onthefourthday，lameandsore，scarcelyabletosee，soclosedwerehiseyes，hewashaledfromhisbunkbythenapeoftheneckandsettohisduty。Hesniffledandwept，butWolfLarsenwaspitiless。
\"Andseethatyouservenomoreslops，\"washispartinginjunction。
\"Nomoregreaseanddirt，mind，andacleanshirtoccasionally，oryou’llgetatowovertheside。Understand？\"
ThomasMugridgecrawledweaklyacrossthegalleyfloor，andashortlurchoftheGhostsenthimstaggering。Inattemptingtorecoverhimself，hereachedfortheironrailingwhichsurroundedthestoveandkeptthepotsfromslidingoff；buthemissedtherailing，andhishand，withhisweightbehindit，landedsquarelyonthehotsurface。Therewasasizzleandodorofburningflesh，andasharpcryofpain。
\"Oh，Gawd，Gawd，wot’aveIdone？\"hewailed，sittingdowninthecoal—boxandnursinghisnewhurtbyrockingbackandforth。\"W’y’asallthiscomeonme？Itmykesmefairsick，itdoes，an’Itryso’ardtogothroughlife’armlessan’’urtin’nobody。\"
Thetearswererunningdownhispuffedanddiscoloredcheeks，andhisfacewasdrawnwithpain。Asavageexpressionflittedacrossit。
\"Oh，’owI’ate’im！’OwI’ate’im！\"hegrittedout。
\"Whom？\"Iasked；butthepoorwretchwasweepingagainoverhismisfortunes。
Lessdifficultitwastoguesswhomhehatedthanwhomhedidnothate。
ForIhadcometoseeamalignantdevilinhimwhichimpelledhimtohatealltheworld。Isometimesthoughtthathehatedevenhimself，sogrotesquelyhadlifedealtwithhim，andsomonstrously。Atsuchmomentsagreatsympathywelledupwithinme，andIfeltshamethatIhadeverjoyedinhisdiscomfitureorpain。Lifehadbeenunfairtohim。Ithadplayedhimascurvytrickwhenitfashionedhimintothethinghewas，andithadplayedhimscurvytrickseversince。Whatchancehadhetobeanythingelsethanhewas？
Andasthoughansweringmyunspokenthought，hewailed：
\"Inever’adnochance，nor’arfachance！’Oowastheretosendmetoschool，orputtommyinmy’ungrybelly，orwipemybloodynoseforme，w’enIwasakiddy？’Ooeverdidanythingforme，heh？’Oo，Is’y？\"
\"Nevermind，Tommy，\"Isaid，placingasoothinghandonhisshoulder。
\"Cheerup。It’llallcomerightintheend。You’velongyearsbeforeyou，andyoucanmakeanythingyoupleaseofyourself。\"
\"It’salie！abloodylie！\"heshoutedinmyface，flingingoffthehand。\"It’salie，andyouknowit。I’malreadymyde，an’mydeoutofleavin’san’scraps。It’sallrightforyou，’Ump。Youwasbornagentleman。Youneverknewwotitwastogo’ungry，tocryyerselfasleepwithyerlittlebellygnawin’an’gnawin’，likearatinsideyer。Itcarn’tcomeright。
IfIwasPresidentoftheUnitedStytesto—morrer，’owwoulditfillmybellyforonetimew’enIwasakiddyanditwentempty？
\"’Owcouldit，Is’y？Iwasborntosufferin’andsorrer。I’ve’admorecruelsufferin’thananytenmen，I’ave。I’vebeeninorspitalarfmybleedin’life。I’ve’adthefeverinAspinwall，in’Avana，inNewOrleans。
IneardiedofthescurvyandwasrottenwithitsixmonthsinBarbadoes。
Smallpoxin’Onolulu，twobrokenlegsinShanghai，pneumoniainUnalaska，threebustedribsan’myinsidesalltwistedin’Frisco。An’’ereIamnow。Lookatme！Lookatme！Myribskickedloosefrommybackagain。I’llbecoughin’bloodbeforeeyghtbells。’Owcanitbemydeuptome，Iarsk？
’Oo’sgoin’todoit？Gawd？’OwGawdmust’ave’atedmew’en’esignedmeonforavoyageinthisbloomin’worldof’is！\"
Thistiradeagainstdestinywentonforanhourormore，andthenhebuckledtohiswork，limpingandgroaning，andinhiseyesagreathatredforallcreatedthings。Hisdiagnosiswascorrect，however，forhewasseizedwithoccasionalsicknesses，duringwhichhevomitedbloodandsufferedgreatpain。Andashesaid，itseemedGodhatedhimtoomuchtolethimdie，forheultimatelygrewbetterandwaxedmoremalignantthanever。
SeveraldaysmorepassedbeforeJohnsoncrawledondeckandwentabouthisworkinahalf—heartedway。Hewasstillasickman，andImorethanonceobservedhimcreepingpainfullyalofttoatopsail，ordroopingwearilyashestoodatthewheel。But，stillworse，itseemedthathisspiritwasbroken。HewasabjectbeforeWolfLarsenandalmostgrovelledtoJohansen。
NotsowastheconductofLeach。Hewentaboutthedecklikeatigercub，glaringhishatredopenlyatWolfLarsenandJohansen。
\"I’lldoforyouyet，youslab—footedSwede，\"IheardhimsaytoJohansenonenightondeck。
Thematecursedhiminthedarkness，andthenextmomentsomemissilestruckthegalleyasharprap。Therewasmorecursing，andamockinglaugh，andwhenallwasquietIstoleoutsideandfoundaheavyknifeimbeddedoveraninchinthesolidwood。Afewminuteslaterthematecamefumblingaboutinsearchofit，butIreturneditprivilytoLeachnextday。HegrinnedwhenIhandeditover，yetitwasagrinthatcontainedmoresincerethanksthanamultitudeoftheverbositiesofspeechcommontothemembersofmyownclass。
Unlikeanyoneelseintheship’scompany，Inowfoundmyselfwithnoquarrelsonmyhandsandinthegoodgracesofall。Thehunterspossiblynomorethantoleratedme，thoughnoneofthemdislikedme；whileSmokeandHenderson，convalescentunderadeckawningandswingingdayandnightintheirhammocks，assuredmethatIwasbetterthananyhospitalnurseandthattheywouldnotforgetmeattheendofthevoyagewhentheywerepaidoff。（AsthoughIstoodinneedoftheirmoney！I，whocouldhaveboughtthemout，bagandbaggage，andtheschooneranditsequipment，ascoreoftimesover！）Butuponmehaddevolvedthetaskoftendingtheirwounds，andpullingthemthrough，andIdidmybestbythem。
WolfLarsenunderwentanotherbadattackofheadachewhichlastedtwodays。Hemusthavesufferedseverely，forhecalledmein，andobeyedmycommandslikeasickchild。ButnothingIcoulddoseemedtorelievehim。
Atmysuggestion，however，hegaveupsmokinganddrinking；thoughwhysuchamagnificentanimalasheshouldhaveheadachesatallpuzzlesme。
\"’TisthehandofGod，I’mtellin’you，\"isthewayLouisseesit。\"’Tisavisitationforhisblack—hearteddeeds，andthere’smorebehindandcomin’，orelse——\"
\"Orelse，\"Iprompted。
\"Godisnoddin’andnotdoin’hisduty，thoughit’smeasshouldn’tsayit。\"
IwasmistakenwhenIsaidthatIwasinthegoodgracesofall。NotonlydoesThomasMugridgecontinuetohateme，buthehasdiscoveredanewreasonforhatingme。Ittookmenolittlewhiletopuzzleitout，butIfinallydiscoveredthatitwasbecauseIwasmoreluckilybornthanhe——\"gentlemanborn，\"heputit。
\"Andstillnomoredeadmen，\"ItwittedLouis，whenSmokeandHenderson，sidebyside，infriendlyconversation，tooktheirfirstexerciseondeck。
Louissurveyedmewithhisshrewdgrayeyesandshookhisheadportentously。
\"She’sa—comin’，Itellyou，andit’llbesheetsandhalyards，standbyallhands，whenshebeginstohowl。I’vehadthefeelivitthislongtime，andIcanfeelitnowasplainlyasIfeeltheriggingivadarknight。
She’sclose，she’sclose。\"
\"Whogoesfirst？\"Iqueried。
\"NotoldfatLouis，Ipromiseyou，\"helaughed。\"For’tisinthebonesivmeIknowthatcomethistimenextyearI’llbegazin’intheoldmother’seyes，wearywithwatchin’ivtheseaforthefivesonsshegavetoit。\"
\"Wot’s’ebeens’yin’toyer？\"ThomasMugridgedemandedamomentlater。
\"Thathe’sgoinghomesomedaytoseehismother，\"Ianswereddiplomatically。
\"Inever’adnone，\"wastheCockney’scomment，ashegazedwithlustreless，hopelesseyesintomine。TheSeaWolf：Chapter14CHAPTER14
IthasdawneduponmethatIhaveneverplacedapropervaluationuponwomankind。Forthatmatter，thoughnotamativetoanyconsiderabledegreesofarasIhavediscovered，Iwasneveroutsidetheatmosphereofwomenuntilnow。Mymotherandsisterswerealwaysaboutme，andIwasalwaystryingtoescapethem；fortheyworriedmetodistractionwiththeirsolicitudeformyhealthandwiththeirperiodicinroadsonmyden，whenmyorderlyconfusion，uponwhichIpridedmyself，wasturnedintoworseconfusionandlessorder，thoughitlookedneatenoughtotheeye。Inevercouldfindanythingwhentheyhaddeparted。Butnow，alas，howwelcomewouldhavebeenthefeeloftheirpresence，thefrou—frouandswish—swishoftheirskirtswhichIhadsocordiallydetested！Iamsure，ifIevergethome，thatIshallneverbeirritablewiththemagain。Theymaydosemeanddoctormemorning，noon，andnight，anddustandsweepandputmydentorightseveryminuteoftheday，andIshallonlyleanbackandsurveyitallandbethankfulinthatIampossessedofamotherandsomeseveralsisters。
Allofwhichhassetmewondering。WherearethemothersofthesetwentyandoddmenontheGhost？Itstrikesmeasunnaturalandunhealthfulthatmenshouldbetotallyseparatedfromwomenandherdthroughtheworldbythemselves。Coarsenessandsavageryaretheinevitableresults。Thesemenaboutmeshouldhavewives，andsisters，anddaughters；thenwouldtheybecapableofsoftness，andtenderness，andsympathy。Asitis，notoneofthemismarried。Inyearsandyearsnotoneofthemhasbeenincontactwithagoodwoman，orwithintheinfluence，orredemption，whichirresistiblyradiatesfromsuchacreature。Thereisnobalanceintheirlives。Theirmasculinity，whichinitselfisofthebrute，hasbeenoverdeveloped。
Theotherandspiritualsideoftheirnatureshasbeendwarfed——atrophied，infact。
Theyareacompanyofcelibates，grindingharshlyagainstoneanotherandgrowingdailymorecallousedfromthegrinding。Itseemstomeimpossiblesometimesthattheyeverhadmothers。Itwouldappearthattheyareahalf—brute，half—humanspecies，araceapart，whereinthereisnosuchthingassex；
thattheyarehatchedoutbythesunliketurtleeggs，orreceivelifeinsomesimilarandsordidfashion；andthatalltheirdaystheyfesterinbrutalityandviciousnessandintheenddieasunlovelyastheyhavelived。
Renderedcuriousbythisnewdirectionofideas，ItalkedwithJohansenlastnight——thefirstsuperfluouswordswithwhichhehasfavoredmesincethevoyagebegan。HeleftSwedenwhenhewaseighteen，isnowthirty—eight，andinalltheinterveningtimehasnotbeenhomeonce。Hehadmetatownsman，acoupleofyearsbefore，insomesailorboarding—houseinChile，sothatheknewhismothertobestillalive。
\"Shemustbeaprettyoldwoman，now，\"hesaid，staringmeditativelyintothebinnacleandthenjerkingasharpglanceatHarrison，whowassteeringapointoffthecourse。
\"Whendidyoulastwritetoher？\"
Heperformedhismentalarithmeticaloud。\"Eighty—one；no——eighty—two，eh？no——eighty—three？Yes，eighty—three。Tenyearsago。FromsomelittleportinMadagascar。Iwastrading。
\"Yousee，\"hewenton，asthoughaddressinghisneglectedmotheracrosshalfthegirthoftheearth，\"eachyearIwasgoinghome。Sowhatwasthegoodtowrite？Itwasonlyayear。Andeachyearsomethinghappened，andIdidnotgo。ButIammate，now，andwhenpayoffat’Frisco，maybewithfivehundreddollars，Iwillshipmyselfonawind—jammerroundtheHorntoLiverpool，whichwillgivememoremoney；andthenIwillpaymypassagefromtherehome。Thenshewillnotdoanymorework。\"
\"Butdoesshework？now？Howoldisshe？\"
\"Aboutseventy，\"heanswered。Andthen，boastingly，\"Weworkfromthetimewearebornuntilwedie，inmycountry。That’swhywelivesolong。
Iwilllivetoahundred。\"
Ishallneverforgetthisconversation。ThewordswerethelastIeverheardhimutter。Perhapstheywerethelasthedidutter，too。For，goingdownintothecabintoturnin，Idecidedthatitwastoostuffytosleepbelow。Itwasacalmnight。WewereoutoftheTrades，andtheGhostwasforgingaheadbarelyaknotanhour。SoItuckedablanketandpillowundermyarmandwentupondeck。
AsIpassedbetweenHarrisonandthebinnacle，whichwasbuiltintothetopofthecabin，Inoticedthathewasthistimefullythreepointsoff。Thinkingthathewasasleep，andwishinghimtoescapereprimandorworse，Ispoketohim。Buthewasnotasleep。Hiseyeswerewideandstaring。
Heseemedgreatlyperturbed，unabletoreplytome。
\"What’sthematter？\"Iasked。\"Areyousick？\"
Heshookhishead，andwithadeepsigh，asofawakening，caughthisbreath。
\"You’dbettergetonyourcourse，then，\"Ichided。
Heputafewspokesover，andIwatchedthecompass—cardswingslowlytoNNWandsteadyitselfwithslightoscillations。
Itookafreshholdonmybedclothesandwaspreparingtostarton，whensomemovementcaughtmyeyeandIlookedasterntotherail。Asinewyhand，drippingwithwater，wasclutchingtherail。Asecondhandtookforminthedarknessbesideit。Iwatched，fascinated。WhatvisitantfromthegloomofthedeepwasItobehold？Whateveritwas，knewthatitwasclimbingaboardbythelog—line。Isawahead，thehairwetandstraight，shapeitself，andthentheunmistakableeyesandfaceofWolfLarsen。Hisrightcheekwasredwithblood，whichflowedfromsomewoundinthehead。
Hedrewhimselfinboardwithaquickeffort，andarosetohisfeet，glancingswiftly，ashedidso，atthemanatthewheel，asthoughtoassurehimselfofhisidentityandthattherewasnothingtofearfromhim。Thesea—waterwasstreamingfromhim。Itmadelittleaudiblegurgleswhichdistractedme。AshesteppedtowardmeIshrankbackinstinctively，forIsawthatinhiseyeswhichspelleddeath。
\"Allright，Hump，\"hesaidinalowvoice。\"Where’sthemate？\"
Ishookmyhead。
\"Johansen！\"hecalledsoftly。\"Johansen！\"
\"Whereishe？\"hedemandedofHarrison。
Theyoungfellowseemedtohaverecoveredhiscomposure，forheansweredsteadilyenough，\"Idon’tknow，sir。Isawhimgofor’ardalittlewhileago。\"
\"SodidIgofor’ard。ButyouwillobservethatIdidn’tcomebackthewayIwent。Canyouexplainit？\"
\"Youmusthavebeenoverboard，sir。\"
\"ShallIlookforhiminthesteerage，sir？\"Iasked。
WolfLarsenshookhishead。\"Youwouldn’tfindhim，Hump。Butyou’lldo。Comeon。Nevermindyourbedding。Leaveitwhereitis。\"
Ifollowedathisheels。Therewasnothingstirringamidships。
\"Thosecursedhunters，\"washiscomment。\"Toodamnedfatandlazytostandafour—hourwatch。\"
Butontheforecastle—headwefoundthreesailorsasleep。Heturnedthemoverandlookedattheirfaces。Theycomposedthewatchondeck，anditwastheship’scustom，ingoodweather，toletthewatchsleepwiththeexceptionoftheofficer，thehelmsman，andthelook—out。
\"Who’slook—out？\"hedemanded。
\"Me，sir，\"answeredHolyoak，oneofthedeep—watersailors，aslighttremorinhisvoice。\"Iwinkedoffjustthisveryminute，sir。I’msorry，sir。Itwon’thappenagain。\"
\"Didyouhearorseeanythingondeck？\"
\"No，sir，I——\"
ButWolfLarsenhadturnedawaywithasnortofdisgust，leavingthesailorrubbinghiseyeswithsurpriseathavingbeenletoffsoeasily。
\"Softly，now，\"WolfLarsenwarnedmeinawhisper，ashedoubledhisbodyintotheforecastlescuttleandpreparedtodescend。
Ifollowedwithaquakingheart。WhatwastohappenIknewnomorethandidIknowwhathadhappened。Butbloodhadbeenshed，anditwasthroughnowhimofWolfLarsenthathehadgoneoverthesidewithhisscalplaidopen。Besides，Johansenwasmissing。
Itwasmyfirstdescentintotheforecastle，andIshallnotsoonforgetmyimpressionofit，caughtasIstoodonmyfeetatthebottomoftheladder。Builtdirectlyintheeyesoftheschooner，itwasoftheshapeofatriangle，alongthethreesidesofwhichstoodthebunks，indouble—tier，twelveofthem。ItwasnolargerthanahallbedroominGrubStreet，andyettwelvemenwereherdedintoittoeatandsleepandcarryonallthefunctionsofliving。Mybedroomathomewasnotlarge，yetitcouldhavecontainedadozensimilarforecastles，andtakingintoconsiderationtheheightoftheceiling，ascoreatleast。
Itsmelledsourandmusty，andbythedimlightoftheswingingsea—lampIsaweverybitofavailablewall—spacehungdeepwithsea—boots，oilskins，andgarments，cleananddirty，ofvarioussorts。Theseswungbackandforthwitheveryrollofthevessel，givingrisetoabrushingsound，asoftreesagainstarooforwall。Somewhereabootthumpedloudlyandatirregularintervalsagainstthewall；and，thoughitwasamildnightonthesea，therewasacontinualchorusofthecreakingtimbersandbulkheadsandofabysmalnoisesbeneaththeflooring。
Thesleepersdidnotmind。Therewereeightofthem，——thetwowatchesbelow，——andtheairwasthickwiththewarmthandodoroftheirbreathing，andtheearwasfilledwiththenoiseoftheirsnoringandoftheirsighsandhalf—groans，tokensplainoftherestoftheanimal—man。Butweretheysleeping？allofthem？Orhadtheybeensleeping？ThiswasevidentlyWolfLarsen’squest——tofindthemenwhoappearedtobeasleepandwhowerenotasleeporwhohadnotbeenasleepveryrecently。AndhewentaboutitinawaythatremindedmeofastoryoutofBoccaccio。
Hetookthesea—lampfromitsswingingframeandhandedittome。Hebeganatthefirstbunksforwardonthestarboardside。InthetoponelayOofty—Oofty，aKanakaandsplendidseaman，sonamedbyhismates。Hewasasleeponhisbackandbreathingasplacidlyasawoman。Onearmwasunderhishead，theotherlayontopoftheblankets。WolfLarsenputthumbandforefingertothewristandcountedthepulse。InthemidstofittheKanakaroused。Heawokeasgentlyasheslept。Therewasnomovementofthebodywhatever。Theeyes，only，moved。Theyflashedwideopen，bigandblack，andstared，unblinking，intoourfaces。WolfLarsenputhisfingertohislipsasasignforsilence，andtheeyesclosedagain。
