InthelowerbunklayLouis，grosslyfatandwarmandsweaty，asleepunfeignedlyandsleepinglaboriously。WhileWolfLarsenheldhiswristhestirreduneasily，bowinghisbodysothatforamomentitrestedonshouldersandheels。Hislipsmoved，andhegavevoicetothisenigmaticutterance：
\"Ashilling’sworthaquarter；butkeepyourlampsoutforthruppennybits，orthepublicans’llshove’emonyouforsixpence。\"
Thenherolledoveronhissidewithaheavy，sobbingsigh，saying：
\"Asixpenceisatanner，andashillingabob；butwhataponyisI
don’tknow。\"
SatisfiedwiththehonestyofhisandtheKanaka’ssleep，WolfLarsenpassedontothenexttwobunksonthestarboardside，occupiedtopandbottom，aswesawinthelightofthesea—lamp，byLeachandJohnson。
AsWolfLarsenbentdowntothelowerbunktotakeJohnson’spulse，I，standingerectandholdingthelamp，sawLeach’sheadraisestealthilyashepeeredoverthesideofhisbunktoseewhatwasgoingon。HemusthavedivinedWolfLarsen’strickandthesurenessofdetection，forthelightwasatoncedashedfrommyhandandtheforecastleleftindarkness。
Hemusthaveleaped，also，atthesameinstant，straightdownonWolfLarsen。
Thefirstsoundswerethoseofaconflictbetweenabullandawolf。
IheardagreatinfuriatedbellowgoupfromWolfLarsen，andfromLeachasnarlingthatwasdesperateandblood—curdling。Johnsonmusthavejoinedhimimmediately，sothathisabjectandgrovellingconductondeckforthepastfewdayshadbeennomorethanplanneddeception。
Iwassoterror—strickenbythisfightinthedarkthatleanedagainsttheladder，tremblingandunabletoascend。Anduponmewasthatoldsicknessatthepitofthestomach，causedalwaysbythespectacleofphysicalviolence。
InthisinstanceIcouldnotsee，butcouldheartheimpactoftheblows——thesoftcrushingsoundmadebyfleshstrikingforciblyagainstflesh。
Thentherewasthecrashingaboutoftheentwinedbodies，thelaboredbreathing，theshort，quickgaspsofsuddenpain。
Theremusthavebeenmoremenintheconspiracytomurderthecaptainandmate，forbythesoundsIknewthatLeachandJohnsonhadbeenquicklyreinforcedbysomeoftheirmates。
\"Getaknife，somebody！\"Leachwasshouting。
\"Poundhimonthehead！Mashhisbrainsout！\"wasJohnson’scry。
Butafterhisfirstbellow，WolfLarsenmadenonoise。Hewasfightinggrimlyandsilentlyforlife。Hewassorebeset。Downattheveryfirst，hehadbeenunabletogainhisfeet，andforallofhistremendousstrengthIfeltthattherewasnohopeforhim。
Theforcewithwhichtheystruggledwasvividlyimpressedonme；forIwasknockeddownbytheirsurgingbodiesandbadlybruised。ButintheconfusionImanagedtocrawlintoanemptylowerbunkoutoftheway。
\"Allhands！We’vegothim！We’vegothim！\"IcouldhearLeachcrying。
\"Who？\"demandedthosewhohadbeenreallyasleep，andwhohadwakenedtotheyknewnotwhat。
\"It’sthebloodymate！\"wasLeach’scraftyanswer，strainedfromhiminasmotheredsortofway。
Thiswasgreetedwithwhoopsofjoy，andfromthenonWolfLarsenhadsevenstrongmenontopofhim，Louis，Ibelieve，takingnopartinit。
Theforecastlewaslikeanangryhiveofbeesarousedbysomemarauder。
\"Whatho！belowthere！\"IheardLatimershoutdownthescuttle，toocautioustodescendintotheinfernoofpassionhecouldhearragingbeneathhiminthedarkness。
\"Won’tsomebodygetaknife？Oh，won’tsomebodygetaknife？\"Leachpleadedinthefirstintervalofcomparativesilence。
Thenumberoftheassailantswasacauseofconfusion。Theyblockedtheirownefforts，whileWolfLarsen，withbutasinglepurpose，achievedhis。Thiswastofighthiswayacrossthefloortotheladder。Thoughintotaldarkness，Ifollowedhisprogressbyitssound。Nomanlessthanagiantcouldhavedonewhathedid，oncehehadgainedthefootoftheladder。Stepbystep，bythemightofhisarms，thewholepackofmenstrivingtodraghimbackanddown，hedrewhisbodyupfromthefloortillhestooderect。Andthen，stepbystep，handandfoot，heslowlystruggleduptheladder。
Theverylastofall，Isaw。ForLatimer，havingfinallygoneforalantern，helditsothatitslightshonedownthescuttle。WolfLarsenwasnearlytothetop，thoughIcouldnotseehim。Allthatwasvisiblewasthemassofmenfasteneduponhim。Itsquirmedabout，likesomehugemany—leggedspider，andswayedbackandforthtotheregularrollofthevessel。Andstill，stepbystep，withlongintervalsbetween，themassascended。Onceittottered，abouttofallback，butthebrokenholdwasregainedanditstillwentup。
\"Whoisit？\"Latimercried。
IntheraysofthelanternIcouldseehisperplexedfacepeeringdown。
\"Larsen，\"Iheardamuffledvoicefromwithinthemass。
Latimerreacheddownwithhisfreehand。Isawahandshootuptoclasphis。Latimerpulled，andthenextcoupleofstepsweremadewitharush。
ThenWolfLarsen’sotherhandreachedupandclutchedtheedgeofthescuttle。
Themassswungclearoftheladder，themenstillclingingtotheirescapingfoe。Theybegantodropoff，tobebrushedoffagainstthesharpedgeofthescuttle，tobeknockedoffbythelegswhichwerenowkickingpowerfully。
Leachwasthelasttogo，fallingsheerbackfromthetopofthescuttleandstrikingonheadandshouldersuponhissprawlingmatesbeneath。WolfLarsenandthelanterndisappeared，andwewereleftindarkness。TheSeaWolf：Chapter15CHAPTER15
Therewasadealofcursingandgroaningasthemenatthebottomoftheladdercrawledtotheirfeet。
\"Somebodystrikealight，mythumb’soutofjoint，\"saidoneofthemen，Parsons，aswarthy，saturnineman，boat—steererinStandish’sboat，inwhichHarrisonwaspuller。
\"You’llfinditknockin’aboutbythebitts，\"Leachsaid，sittingdownontheedgeofthebunkinwhichIwasconcealed。
Therewasafumblingandascratchingofmatches，andthesea—lampflaredup，dimandsmoky，andinitsweirdlightbare—leggedmenmovedabout，nursingtheirbruisesandcaringfortheirhurts。Oofty—OoftylaidholdofParsons’sthumb，pullingitoutstoutlyandsnappingitbackintoplace。InoticedatthesametimethattheKanaka’sknuckleswerelaidopenclearacrossandtothebone。Heexhibitedthem，exposingbeautifulwhiteteethinagrinashedidsoandexplainingthatthewoundshadcomefromstrikingWolfLarseninthemouth。
\"Soitwasyou，wasit，youblackbeggar？\"belligerentlydemandedone，Kelly，anIrish—Americanandalongshoreman，makinghisfirsttriptosea，andboat—pullerforKerfoot。
AshemadethedemandhespatoutamouthfulofbloodandteethandshovedhispugnaciousfaceclosetoOofty—Oofty。TheKanakaleapedbackwardtohisbunk，toreturnwithasecondleap，flourishingalongknife。
\"Aw，golaydown，youmakemetired，\"Leachinterfered。Hewasevidently，forallofhisyouthandinexperience，cockoftheforecastle。\"G’wan，youKelly。YouleaveOoftyalone。Howinhelldidheknowitwasyouinthedark？\"
Kellysubsidedwithsomemuttering，andtheKanakaflashedhiswhiteteethinagratefulsmile。Hewasabeautifulcreature，almostfeminineinthepleasinglinesofhisfigure，andtherewasasoftnessanddreaminessinhislargeeyeswhichseemedtocontradicthiswell—earnedreputationforstrifeandaction。
\"Howdidhegetaway？\"Johnsonasked。
Hewassittingonthesideofhisbunk，thewholeposeofhisfigureindicatingutterdejectionandhopelessness。Hewasstillbreathingheavilyfromtheexertionhehadmade。Hisshirthadbeenrippedentirelyfromhiminthestruggle，andbloodfromagashinthecheekwasflowingdownhisnakedchest，markingaredpathacrosshiswhitethighanddrippingtothefloor。
\"Becauseheisthedevil，asItoldyoubefore，\"wasLeach’sanswer；
andthereathewasonhisfeetandraginghisdisappointmentwithtearsinhiseyes。
\"Andnotoneofyoutogetaknife！\"washisunceasinglament。
Buttherestofthehandshadalivelyfearofconsequencestocomeandgavenoheedtohim。
\"How’llheknowwhichwaswhich？\"Kellyasked，andashewentonhelookedmurderouslyabouthim——\"unlessoneofuspeaches。\"
\"He’llknowassoonaseverheclapseyesonus，\"Parsonsreplied。\"Onelookatyou’dbeenough。\"
\"Tellhimthedeckfloppedupandgougedyerteethoutivyerjaw，\"
Louisgrinned。Hewastheonlymanwhowasnotoutofhisbunk，andhewasjubilantinthathepossessednobruisestoadvertisethathehadhadahandinthenight’swork。\"Justwaittillhegetsaglimpseivyermugsto—morrow，thegangivye，\"hechuckled。
\"We’llsaywethoughtitwasthemate，\"saidone。Andanother，\"IknowwhatI’llsay——thatIheeredarow，jumpedoutofmybunk，gotajollygoodcrackonthejawformypainsandsailedinmyself。Couldn’ttellwhoorwhatitwasinthedarkandjusthitout。\"
\"An’’twasmeyouhit，ofcourse，\"Kellyseconded，hisfacebrighteningforthemoment。
LeachandJohnsontooknopartinthediscussion，anditwasplaintoseethattheirmateslookeduponthemasmenforwhomtheworstwasinevitable，whowerebeyondhopeandalreadydead。Leachstoodtheirfearsandreproachesforsometime。Thenhebrokeout：
\"Youmakemetired！Anicelotofgazabasyouare！Ifyoutalkedlesswithyermouthanddidsomethingwithyerhands，he’da—bendonewithbynow。Whycouldn’toneofyou，justoneofyou，getmeaknifewhenIsungout？Youmakemesick！A—beefin’andbellerin’’round，asthoughhe’dkillyouwhenhegetsyou！Youknowdamnwellhewon’t。Can’taffordto。Noshippingmastersorbeachcombersoverhere，andhewantsyerinhisbusiness，andhewantsyerbad。Who’stopullorsteerorsailshipifhelosesyer？
It’smeandJohnsonhavetofacethemusic。Getintoyerbunks，now，andshutyerfaces；Iwanttogetsomesleep。\"
\"That’sallrightallright，\"Parsonsspokeup。\"Mebbehewon’tdoforus，butmarkmywords，hell’llbeaniceboxtothisshipfromnowon。\"
AllthewhileIhadbeenapprehensiveconcerningmyownpredicament。
Whatwouldhappentomewhenthesemendiscoveredmypresence？IcouldneverfightmywayoutasWolfLarsenhaddone。AndatthismomentLatimercalleddownthescuttles：
\"Hump！Theoldmanwantsyou！\"
\"Heain’tdownhere！\"Parsonscalledback。
\"Yesheis，\"Isaid，slidingoutofthebunkandstrivingmyhardesttokeepmyvoicesteadyandbold。
Thesailorslookedatmeinconsternation。Fearwasstrongintheirfaces，andthedevilishnesswhichcomesoffear。
\"I’mcoming！\"IshouteduptoLatimer。
\"Noyoudon’t！\"Kellycried，steppingbetweenmeandtheladder，hisrighthandshapedintoaveritablestrangler’sclutch。\"Youdamnlittlesneak！I’llshutyermouth！\"
\"Lethimgo，\"Leachcommanded。
\"Notonyerlife，\"wastheangryretort。
Leachneverchangedhispositionontheedgeofthebunk。\"Lethimgo，Isay，\"herepeated；butthistimehisvoicewasgrittyandmetallic。
TheIrishmanwavered。Imadetostepbyhim，andhestoodaside。WhenIhadgainedtheladder，Iturnedtothecircleofbrutalandmalignantfacespeeringatmethroughthesemi—darkness。Asuddenanddeepsympathywelledupinme。IrememberedtheCockney’swayofputtingit。HowGodmusthavehatedthemthattheyshouldbetorturedso！
\"Ihaveseenandheardnothing，believeme，\"Isaidquietly。
\"Itellyer，he’sallright，\"IcouldhearLeachsayingaswentuptheladder。\"Hedon’tliketheoldmannomorenoryouorme。\"
IfoundWolfLarseninthecabin，strippedandbloody，waitingforme。
Hegreetedmewithoneofhiswhimsicalsmiles。
\"Come，gettowork，Doctor。Thesignsarefavorableforanextensivepracticethisvoyage。Idon’tknowwhattheGhostwouldhavebeenwithoutyou，andifIcouldonlycherishsuchnoblesentimentsIwouldtellyouhermasterisdeeplygrateful。\"
Iknewtherunofthesimplemedicine—chesttheGhostcarried，andwhileIwasheatingwateronthecabinstoveandgettingthethingsreadyfordressinghiswounds，hemovedabout，laughingandchatting，andexamininghishurtswithacalculatingeye。Ihadneverbeforeseenhimstripped，andthesightofhisbodyquitetookmybreathaway。Ithasneverbeenmyweaknesstoexalttheflesh——farfromit；butthereisenoughoftheartistinmetoappreciateitswonder。
ImustsaythatIwasfascinatedbytheperfectlinesofWolfLarsen’sfigure，andbywhatImaytermtheterriblebeautyofit。hadnotedthemenintheforecastle。Powerfullymuscledthoughsomeofthemwere，therehadbeensomethingwrongwithallofthem，aninsufficientdevelopmenthere，anunduedevelopmentthere，atwistoracrookthatdestroyedsymmetry，legstooshortortoolong，ortoomuchsineworboneexposed，ortoolittle。
Oofty—Ooftyhadbeentheonlyonewhoselineswereatallpleasing，while，insofarastheypleased，thatfarhadtheybeenwhatIshouldcallfeminine。
ButWolfLarsenwastheman—type，themasculine，andalmostagodinhisperfectness。Ashemovedaboutorraisedhisarmsthegreatmusclesleaptandmovedunderthesatinyskin。Ihaveforgottentosaythatthebronzeendedwithhisface。Hisbody，thankstohisScandinavianstock，wasfairasthefairestwoman’s。Irememberhisputtinghishanduptofeelofthewoundonhishead，andmywatchingthebicepsmovelikealivingthingunderitswhitesheath。Itwasthebicepsthathadnearlycrushedoutmylifeonce，thatIhadseenstrikesomanykillingblows。Icouldnottakemyeyesfromhim。stoodmotionless，arollofantisepticcottoninmyhandunwindingandspillingitselfdowntothefloor。
Henoticedme，andIbecameconsciousthatIwasstaringathim。
\"Godmadeyouwell，\"Isaid。
\"Didhe？\"heanswered。\"Ihaveoftenthoughtsomyself，andwonderedwhy。\"
\"Purpose——\"Ibegan。
\"Utility，\"heinterrupted。\"Thisbodywasmadeforuse。Thesemusclesweremadetogrip，andtear，anddestroylivingthingsthatgetbetweenmeandlife。Buthaveyouthoughtoftheotherlivingthings？They，too，havemuscles，ofonekindandanother，madetogrip，andtear，anddestroy；
andwhentheycomebetweenmeandlife，Ioutgripthem，outtearthem，outdestroythem。Purposedoesnotexplainthat。Utilitydoes。\"
\"Itisnotbeautiful，\"Iprotested。
\"Lifeisn’t，youmean，\"hesmiled。\"YetyousayIwasmadewell。Doyouseethis？\"
Hebracedhislegsandfeet，pressingthecabinfloorwithhistoesinaclutchingsortofway。Knotsandridgesandmoundsofmuscleswrithedandbunchedundertheskin。
\"Feelthem，\"hecommanded。
Theywerehardasiron。AndIobserved，also，thathiswholebodyhadunconsciouslydrawnitselftogether，tenseandalert；thatmusclesweresoftlycrawlingandshapingaboutthehips，alongtheback，andacrosstheshoulders；thatthearmswereslightlylifted，theirmusclescontracting，thefingerscrookingtillthehandswereliketalons；andthateventheeyeshadchangedexpressionandintothemwerecomingwatchfulnessandmeasurementandalightnoneotherthanofbattle。
\"Stability，equilibrium，\"hesaid，relaxingontheinstantandsinkinghisbodybackintorepose。\"Feetwithwhichtoclutchtheground，legstostandonandtohelpwithstand，whilewitharmsandhands，teethandnails，Istruggletokillandtobenotkilled。Purpose？Utilityisthebetterword。\"
Ididnotargue。Ihadseenthemechanismoftheprimitivefightingbeast，andIwasasstronglyimpressedasifIhadseentheenginesofagreatbattleshiporAtlanticliner。
Iwassurprised，consideringthefiercestruggleintheforecastle，atthesuperficialityofhishurts，andIpridemyselfthatIdressedthemdexterously。Withtheexceptionofseveralbadwounds，therestweremerelyseverebruisesandlacerations。Theblowwhichhehadreceivedbeforegoingoverboardhadlaidhisscalpopenseveralinches。This，underhisdirection，Icleansedandsewedtogether，havingfirstshavedtheedgesofthewound。
Thenthecalfofhislegwasbadlylaceratedandlookedasthoughithadbeenmangledbyabulldog。Somesailor，hetoldme，hadlaidholdofitbyhisteeth，atthebeginningofthefight，andhungonandbeendraggedtothetopoftheforecastleladder，whenhewaskickedloose。
\"Bytheway，Hump，asIhaveremarked，youareahandyman，\"WolfLarsenbegan，whenmyworkwasdone。\"Asyouknow，we’reshortamate。Hereafteryoushallstandwatches，receiveseventy—fivedollarspermonth，andbeaddressedforeandaftasMr。VanWeyden。\"
\"I——Idon’tunderstandnavigation，youknow，\"Igasped。
\"Notnecessaryatall。\"
\"Ireallydonotcaretositinthehighplaces，\"Iobjected。\"Ifindlifeprecariousenoughinmypresenthumblesituation。Ihavenoexperience。
Mediocrity，yousee，hasitscompensations。\"
Hesmiledasthoughitwereallsettled。
\"Iwon’tbemateonthishell—ship！\"Icrieddefiantly。
Isawhisfacegrowhardandthemercilessglittercomeintohiseyes。
Hewalkedtothedoorofhisroom，saying：
\"Andnow，Mr。VanWeyden，goodnight。\"
\"Goodnight，Mr。Larsen，\"Iansweredweakly。TheSeaWolf：Chapter16CHAPTER16
Icannotsaythatthepositionofmatecarriedwithitanythingmorejoyfulthanthattherewerenomoredishestowash。Iwasignorantofthesimplestdutiesofmate，andwouldhavefaredbadlyindeedhadthesailorsnotsympathizedwithme。Iknewnothingoftheminutiaeofropesandrigging，ofthetrimmingandsettingofsails；butthesailorstookpainstoputmetorights，——Louisprovinganespeciallygoodteacher，——andIhadlittletroublewiththoseunderme。
Withthehuntersitwasotherwise。Familiarinvaryingdegreewiththesea，theytookmeasasortofjoke。Intruth，itwasajoketome，thatI，theveriestlandsman，shouldbefillingtheofficeofmate；buttobetakenasajokebyotherswasadifferentmatter。madenocomplaint，butWolfLarsendemandedthemostpunctiliousseaetiquetteinmycase，——
farmorethanpoorJohansenhadeverreceived；andattheexpenseofseveralrows，threats，andmuchgrumbling，hebroughtthehunterstotime。Iwas\"Mr。VanWeyden\"foreandaft，anditwasonlyunofficiallythatWolfLarsenhimselfeveraddressedmeas\"Hump。\"
Itwasamusing。Perhapsthewindwouldhaulafewpointswhilewewereatdinner，andasIleftthetablehewouldsay，\"Mr。VanWeyden，willyoukindlyputaboutontheporttack。\"AndIwouldgoondeck，beckonLouistome，andlearnfromhimwhatwastobedone。Then，afewminuteslater，havingdigestedhisinstructionsandthoroughlymasteredtheman渦vre，Iwouldproceedtoissuemyorders。Irememberanearlyinstanceofthiskind，whenWolfLarsenappearedonthescenejustasIhadbeguntogiveorders。Hesmokedhiscigarandlookedonquietlytillthethingwasaccomplished，andthenpacedaftbymysidealongtheweatherpoop。
\"Hump，\"hesaid，\"Ibegpardon，Mr。VanWeyden，Icongratulateyou。
Ithinkyoucannowfireyourfather’slegsbackintothegravetohim。
You’vediscoveredyourownandlearnedtostandonthem。Alittlerope—work，sail—making，andexperiencewithstormsandsuchthings，andbytheendofthevoyageyoucouldshiponanycoastingschooner。\"
Itwasduringthisperiod，betweenthedeathofJohansenandthearrivalonthesealinggrounds，thatIpassedmypleasantesthoursontheGhost。
WolfLarsenwasquiteconsiderate，thesailorshelpedme，andIwasnolongerinirritatingcontactwithThomasMugridge。AndImadefreetosay，asthedayswentby，thatIfoundIwastakingacertainsecretprideinmyself。Fantasticasthesituationwas，——alandlubbersecondincommand，——Iwas，nevertheless，carryingitoffwell；andduringthatbrieftimeIwasproudofmyself，andIgrewtolovetheheaveandrolloftheGhostundermyfeetasshewallowednorthandwestthroughthetropicseatotheisletwherewefilledourwater—casks。
Butmyhappinesswasnotunalloyed。Itwascomparative，aperiodoflessmiseryslippedinbetweenapastofgreatmiseriesandafutureofgreatmiseries。FortheGhost，sofarastheseamenwereconcerned，wasahell—shipoftheworsedescription。Theyneverhadamoment’srestorpeace。WolfLarsentreasuredagainstthemtheattemptonhislifeandthedrubbinghehadreceivedintheforecastle；andmorning，noon，andnight，andallnightaswell，hedevotedhimselftomakinglifeunlivableforthem。
Heknewwellthepsychologyofthelittlething，anditwasthelittlethingsbywhichhekeptthecrewworkeduptothevergeofmadness。IhaveseenHarrisoncalledfromhisbunktoputproperlyawayamisplacedpaint—brush，andthetwowatchesbelowhaledfromtheirtiredsleeptoaccompanyhimandseehimdoit。Alittlething，truly，butwhenmultipliedbythethousandingeniousdevicesofsuchamind，thementalstateofthemenintheforecastlemaybeslightlycomprehended。
Ofcoursemuchgrumblingwenton，andlittleoutburstswerecontinuallyoccurring。Blowswerestruck，andtherewerealwaystwoorthreemennursinginjuriesatthehandsofthehumanbeastwhowastheirmaster。Concertedactionwasimpossibleinfaceoftheheavyarsenalofweaponscarriedinthesteerageandcabin。LeachandJohnsonwerethetwoparticularvictimsofWolfLarsen’sdiabolictemper，andthelookofprofoundmelancholywhichhadsettledonJohnson’sfaceandinhiseyesmademyheartbleed。
WithLeachitwasdifferent。Therewastoomuchofthefightingbeastinhim。Heseemedpossessedbyaninsatiablefurywhichgavenotimeforgrief。Hislipshadbecomedistortedintoapermanentsnarl，which，atmeresightofWolfLarsen，brokeoutinsound，horribleandmenacing，and，Idobelieve，unconsciously。IhaveseenhimfollowWolfLarsenaboutwithhiseyes，likeananimalitskeeper，thewhiletheanimal—likesnarlsoundeddeepinhisthroatandvibratedforthbetweenhisteeth。
Irememberonce，ondeck，inbrightday，touchinghimontheshoulderaspreliminarytogivinganorder。Hisbackwastowardme，andatthefirstfeelofmyhandheleapeduprightintheairandawayfromme，snarlingandturninghisheadasheleaped。Hehadforthemomentmistakenmeforthemanhehated。
BothheandJohnsonwouldhavekilledWolfLarsenattheslightestopportunity，buttheopportunitynevercame。WolfLarsenwastoowiseforthat，and，besides，theyhadnoadequateweapons。Withtheirfistsalonetheyhadnochancewhatever。TimeandagainhefoughtitoutwithLeach，whofoughtback，always，likeawildcat，toothandnailandfist，untilstretched，exhaustedorunconscious，onthedeck。Andhewasneveraversetoanotherencounter。AllthedevilthatwasinhimchallengedthedevilinWolfLarsen。
Theyhadbuttoappearondeckatthesametime，whentheywouldbeatit，cursing，snarling，striking；andIhaveseenLeachflinghimselfuponWolfLarsenwithoutwarningorprovocation。Oncehethrewhisheavysheath—knife，missingWolfLarsen’sthroatbyaninch。Anothertimehedroppedasteelmarlinspikefromthemizzencrosstree。Itwasadifficultcasttomakeonarollingship，butthesharppointofthespike，whistlingseventy—fivefeetthroughtheair，barelymissedWolfLarsen’sheadasheemergedfromthecabincompanionwayanddroveitslengthtwoinchesandoverintothesoliddeck—planking。Stillanothertime，hestoleintothesteerage，possessedhimselfofaloadedshot—gun，andwasmakingarushforthedeckwithitwhencaughtbyKerfootanddisarmed。
IoftenwonderedwhyWolfLarsendidnotkillhimandmakeanendofit。Butheonlylaughedandseemedtoenjoyit。Thereseemedacertainspiceaboutit，suchasmenmustfeelwhotakedelightinmakingpetsofferociousanimals。
\"Itgivesathrilltolife，\"heexplainedtome，\"whenlifeiscarriedinone’shand。Manisanaturalgambler，andlifeisthebiggeststakehecanlay。Thegreatertheodds，thegreaterthethrill。WhyshouldI
denymyselfthejoyofexcitingLeach’ssoultofever—pitch？Forthatmatter，Idohimakindness。Thegreatnessofsensationismutual。Heislivingmoreroyallythananymanfor’ard，thoughhedoesnotknowit。Forhehaswhattheyhavenot——purpose，somethingtodoandbedone，anall—absorbingendtostrivetoattain，thedesiretokillme，thehopethathemaykillme。Really，Hump，heislivingdeepandhigh。Idoubtthathehaseverlivedsoswiftlyandkeenlybefore，andIhonestlyenvyhim，sometimes，whenIseehimragingatthesummitofpassionandsensibility。\"
\"Ah，butitiscowardly，cowardly！\"Icried。\"Youhavealltheadvantage。\"
\"Ofthetwoofus，youandI，whoisthegreatercoward？\"heaskedseriously。
\"Ifthesituationisunpleasing，youcompromisewithyourconsciencewhenyoumakeyourselfapartytoit。Ifyouwerereallygreat，reallytruetoyourself，youwouldjoinforceswithLeachandJohnson。Butyouareafraid，youareafraid。Youwanttolive。Thelifethatisinyoucriesoutthatitmustlive，nomatterwhatthecost；soyouliveignominiously，untruetothebestyoudreamof，sinningagainstyourwholepitifullittlecode，and，iftherewereahell，headingyoursoulstraightforit。Bah！
Iplaythebraverpart。Idonosin，forIamtruetothepromptingsofthelifethatisinme。Iamsincerewithmysoulatleast，andthatiswhatyouarenot。\"
