Commandfollowedcommand。Astheschoonerpaidoff，theforeandmainsheetswereslackedawayforfairwind。Andbeforethewindwewere，andleaping，whenJohnson，easinghissheetatimminentperil，cutacrossourwakeahundredfeetaway。AgainWolfLarsenlaughed，atthesametimebeckoningthemwithhisarmtofollow。Itwasevidentlyhisintentiontoplaywiththem，——alesson，Itookit，inlieuofabeating，thoughadangerouslesson，forthefrailcraftstoodinmomentarydangerofbeingoverwhelmed。
Johnsonsquaredawaypromptlyandranafterus。Therewasnothingelseforhimtodo。Deathstalkedeverywhere，anditwasonlyamatteroftimewhensomeoneofthosemanyhugeseaswouldfallupontheboat，rolloverit，andpasson。
\"’Tisthefearivdeathattheheartsivthem，\"Louismutteredinmyear，asIpassedforwardtoseetotakingintheflyingjibandstaysail。
\"Oh，he’llheavetoinalittlewhileandpickthemup，\"answeredcheerfully。
\"He’sbentupongivingthemalesson，that’sall。\"
Louislookedatmeshrewdly。\"Thinkso？\"heasked。
\"Surely，\"Ianswered。\"Don’tyou？\"
\"Ithinknothingbutivmyownskin，thesedays，\"washisanswer。\"An’
’tiswithwonderI’mfilledastotheworkin’outivthings。Aprettymessthat’Friscowhiskeygotmeinto，an’aprettiermessthatwoman’sgotyouintoaftthere。Ah，it’smyselfthatknowsyeforablitherin’fool。\"
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"Idemanded；for，havingspedhisshaft，hewasturningaway。
\"WhatdoImean？\"hecried。\"Andit’syouthatasksme！’TisnotwhatImean，butwhattheWolf’llmean。TheWolf，Isaid，theWolf！\"
\"Iftroublecomes，willyoustandby？\"Iaskedimpulsively，forhehadvoicedmyownfear。
\"Standby？’TisoldfatLouisIstandby，an’troubleenoughit’llbe。
We’reatthebeginnin’ivthings，I’mtellin’ye，thebarebeginnin’ivthings。\"
\"Ihadnotthoughtyousogreatacoward，\"Isneered。
Hefavoredmewithacontemptuousstare。\"IfIraisedneverahandforthatpoorfool，\"——pointingasterntothetinysail，——\"d’yethinkI’mhungerin’forabrokenheadforawomanIneverlaidmeeyesuponbeforethisday？\"
Iturnedscornfullyawayandwentaft。
\"Bettergetinthosetopsails，Mr。VanWeyden，\"WolfLarsensaid，asIcameonthepoop。
Ifeltrelief，atleastasfarasthetwomenwereconcerned。Itwasclearhedidnotwishtoruntoofarawayfromthem。Ipickeduphopeatthethoughtandputtheorderswiftlyintoexecution。Ihadscarcelyopenedmymouthtoissuethenecessarycommands，wheneagermenwerespringingtohalyardsanddownhauls，andotherswereracingaloft。ThiseagernessontheirpartwasnotedbyWolfLarsenwithagrimsmile。
Stillweincreasedourlead，andwhentheboathaddroppedasternseveralmileswehovetoandwaited。Alleyeswatcheditcoming，evenWolfLarsen’s；
buthewastheonlyunperturbedmanaboard。Louis，gazingfixedly，betrayedatroubleinhisfacehewasnotquiteabletohide。
Theboatdrewcloserandcloser，hurlingalongthroughtheseethinggreenlikeathingalive，liftingandsendinganduptossingacrossthehuge—backedbreakers，ordisappearingbehindthemonlytorushintosightagainandshootskyward。Itseemedimpossiblethatitcouldcontinuetolive，yetwitheachdizzyingsweepitdidachievetheimpossible。Arain—squalldrovepast，andoutoftheflyingwettheboatemerged，almostuponus。
\"Hardup，there！\"WolfLarsenshouted，himselfspringingtothewheelandwhirlingitover。
AgaintheGhostsprangawayandracedbeforethewind，andfortwohoursJohnsonandLeachpursuedus。Wehovetoandranaway，hovetoandranaway，andeverasternthestrugglingpatchofsailtossedskywardandfellintotherushingvalleys。Itwasaquarterofamileawaywhenathicksquallofrainveileditfromview。Itneveremerged。Thewindblewtheairclearagain，butnopatchofsailbrokethetroubledsurface。
IthoughtIsaw，foraninstant，theboat’sbottomshowblackinabreakingcrest。Atthebest，thatwasall。ForJohnsonandLeachthetravailofexistencehadceased。
Themenremainedgroupedamidships。Noonehadgonebelow，andnoonewasspeaking。Norwereanylooksbeingexchanged。Eachmanseemedstunned——deeplycontemplative，asitwere，and，notquitesure，tryingtorealizejustwhathadtakenplace。WolfLarsengavethemlittletimeforthought。
HeatonceputtheGhostuponhercourse——acoursewhichmeantthesealherdandnotYokohamaharbor。Butthemenwerenolongereagerastheypulledandhauled，andIheardcursesamongstthem，whichlefttheirlipssmotheredandasheavyandlifelessaswerethey。Notsowasitwiththehunters。Smoketheirrepressiblerelatedastory，andtheydescendedintothesteerage，bellowingwithlaughter。
AsIpassedtoleewardofthegalleyonmywayaft，Iwasapproachedbytheengineerwehadrescued。Hisfacewaswhite，hislipsweretrembling。
\"GoodGod！sir，whatkindofacraftisthis？\"hecried。
\"Youhaveeyes，youhaveseen，\"Ianswered，almostbrutally，whatofthepainandfearatmyownheart。
\"Yourpromise？\"IsaidtoWolfLarsen。
\"IwasnotthinkingoftakingthemaboardwhenImadethatpromise，\"
heanswered。\"Andanyway，you’llagreeI’venotlaidmyhandsuponthem。\"
\"Farfromit，farfromit，\"helaughedamomentlater。
Imadenoreply。Iwasincapableofspeaking，mymindwastooconfused。
Imusthavetimetothink，Iknew。Thiswoman，sleepingevennowinthesparecabin，wasaresponsibilitywhichImustconsider，andtheonlyrationalthoughtthatflickeredthroughmymindwasthatImustdonothinghastilyifIweretobeanyhelptoheratall。TheSeaWolf：Chapter20CHAPTER20
Theremainderofthedaypasseduneventfully。Theyoungslipofagale，havingwettedourgills，proceededtomoderate。Thefourthengineerandthethreeoilers，afterawarminterviewwithWolfLarsen，werefurnishedwithoutfitsfromtheslop—chests，assignedplacesunderthehuntersinthevariousboatsandwatchesonthevessel，andbundledforwardintotheforecastle。Theywentprotestingly，buttheirvoiceswerenotloud。TheywereawedbywhattheyhadalreadyseenofWolfLarsen’scharacter，whilethetaleofwoetheyspeedilyheardintheforecastletookthelastbitofrebellionoutofthem。
MissBrewster，——wehadlearnedhernamefromtheengineer，——sleptonandon。AtsupperIrequestedthehunterstolowertheirvoices，soshewasnotdisturbed；anditwasnottillnextmorningthatshemadeherappearance。Ithadbeenmyintentiontohavehermealsservedapart，butWolfLarsenputdownhisfoot。Whowasshethatsheshouldbetoogoodforcabintableandcabinsociety？hadbeenhisdemand。
Buthercomingtothetablehadsomethingamusinginit。Thehuntersfellsilentasclams。JockHornerandSmokealonewereunabashed，stealingstealthyglancesathernowandagain，andeventakingpartintheconversation。
Theotherfourmengluedtheireyesontheirplatesandchewedsteadilyandwiththoughtfulprecision，theirearsmovingandwobbling，intimewiththeirjaws，liketheearsofsomanyanimals。
WolfLarsenhadlittletosayatfirst，doingnomorethanreplywhenhewasaddressed。Notthathewasabashed。Farfromit。Thiswomanwasanewtypetohim，adifferentbreedfromanyhehadeverknown，andhewascurious。Hestudiedher，hiseyesrarelyleavingherfaceunlesstofollowthemovementsofherhandsorshoulders。studiedhermyself，andthoughitwasIwhomaintainedtheconversation，IknowthatIwasabitshy，notquiteself—possessed。Hiswastheperfectpoise，thesupremeconfidenceinself，whichnothingcouldshake；andhewasnomoretimidofawomanthanhewasofstormandbattle。
\"AndwhenshallwearriveatYokohama？\"sheasked，turningtohimandlookinghimsquarelyintheeyes。
Thereitwas，thequestionflat。Thejawsstoppedworking，theearsceasedwobbling，andthougheyesremainedgluedonplates，eachmanlistenedgreedilyfortheanswer。
\"Infourmonths，possiblythreeiftheseasonclosesearly，\"WolfLarsensaid。
Shecaughtherbreath，andstammered，\"I——Ithought——IwasgiventounderstandthatYokohamawasonlyaday’ssailaway。It——\"Hereshepausedandlookedaboutthetableatthecircleofunsympatheticfacesstaringhardattheplates。\"Itisnotright，\"sheconcluded。
\"ThatisaquestionyoumustsettlewithMr。VanWeydenthere，\"hereplied，noddingtomewithamischievoustwinkle。\"Mr。VanWeydeniswhatyoumaycallanauthorityonsuchthingsasrights。NowI，whoamonlyasailor，wouldlookuponthesituationsomewhatdifferently。Itmaypossiblybeyourmisfortunethatyouhavetoremainwithus，butitiscertainlyourgoodfortune。\"
Heregardedhersmilingly。Hereyesfellbeforehisgaze，butsheliftedthemagain，anddefiantly，tomine。Ireadtheunspokenquestionthere：
wasitright？ButIhaddecidedthatthepartIwastoplaymustbeaneutralone，soIdidnotanswer。
\"Whatdoyouthink？\"shedemanded。
\"Thatitisunfortunate，especiallyifyouhaveanyengagementsfallingdueinthecourseofthenextseveralmonths。But，sinceyousaythatyouwerevoyagingtoJapanforyourhealth，IcanassureyouthatitwillimprovenobetteranywherethanaboardtheGhost。\"
Isawhereyesflashwithindignation，andthistimeitwaswhodroppedmine，whileIfeltmyfaceflushingunderhergaze。Itwascowardly，butwhatelsecouldIdo？
\"Mr。VanWeydenspeakswiththevoiceofauthority，\"WolfLarsenlaughed。
Inoddedmyhead，andshe，havingrecoveredherself，waitedexpectantly。
\"Notthatheismuchtospeakofnow，\"WolfLarsenwenton，\"buthehasimprovedwonderfully。Youshouldhaveseenhimwhenhecameonboard。
Amorescrawny，pitifulspecimenofhumanityonecouldhardlyconceive。
Isn’tthatso，Kerfoot？\"
Kerfoot，thusdirectlyaddressed，wasstartledintodroppinghisknifeonthefloor，thoughhemanagedtogruntaffirmation。
\"Developedhimselfbypeelingpotatoesandwashingdishes。Eh，Kerfoot？\"
Againthatworthygrunted。
\"Lookathimnow。True，heisnotwhatyouwouldtermmuscular，butstillhehasmuscles，whichismorethanhehadwhenhecameaboard。Also，hehaslegstostandon。Youwouldnotthinksotolookathim，buthewasquiteunabletostandaloneatfirst。\"
Thehuntersweresnickering，butshelookedatmewithasympathyinhereyeswhichmorethancompensatedforWolfLarsen’snastiness。Intruth，ithadbeensolongsinceIhadreceivedsympathythatIwassoftened，andIbecamethen，andgladly，herwillingslave。ButIwasangrywithWolfLarsen。Hewaschallengingmymanhoodwithhisslurs，challengingtheverylegsheclaimedtobeinstrumentalingettingforme。
\"Imayhavelearnedtostandonmyownlegs，\"Iretorted。\"ButIhaveyettostampuponotherswiththem。\"
Helookedatmeinsolently。\"Youreducationisonlyhalfcompleted，then，\"hesaiddryly，andturnedtoher。
\"WeareveryhospitableupontheGhost。Mr。VanWeydenhasdiscoveredthat。Wedoeverythingtomakeourguestsfeelathome，eh，Mr。VanWeyden？\"
\"Eventothepeelingofpotatoesandthewashingofdishes，\"answered，\"tosaynothingtowringingtheirnecksoutofveryfellowship。\"
\"IbegofyounottoreceivefalseimpressionsofusfromMr。VanWeyden，\"
heinterposedwithmockanxiety。\"Youwillobserve，MissBrewster，thathecarriesadirkinhisbelt，a——ahem——amostunusualthingforaship’sofficertodo。Whilereallyveryestimable，Mr。VanWeydenissometimes——howshallIsay？——er——quarrelsome，andharshmeasuresarenecessary。
Heisquitereasonableandfairinhiscalmmoments，andasheiscalmnowhewillnotdenythatonlyyesterdayhethreatenedmylife。\"
Iwaswell—nighchoking，andmyeyeswerecertainlyfiery。Hedrewattentiontome。
\"Lookathimnow。Hecanscarcelycontrolhimselfinyourpresence。
Heisnotaccustomedtothepresenceofladies，anyway。shallhavetoarmmyselfbeforeIdaregoondeckwithhim。\"
Heshookhisheadsadly，murmuring，\"Toobad，toobad，\"whilethehuntersburstintoguffawsoflaughter。
Thedeep—seavoicesofthesemen，rumblingandbellowingintheconfinedspace，producedawildeffect。Thewholesettingwaswild，andforthefirsttime，regardingthisstrangewomanandrealizinghowincongruousshewasinit，IwasawareofhowmuchapartofitIwasmyself。Iknewthesemenandtheirmentalprocesses，wasoneofthemmyself，livingtheseal—huntinglife，eatingtheseal—huntingfare，thinking，largely，theseal—huntingthoughts。Therewasformenostrangenesstoit，totheroughclothes，thecoarsefaces，thewildlaughter，andthelurchingcabinwallsandswayingsea—lamps。
AsIbutteredapieceofbreadmyeyeschancedtorestuponmyhand。
Theknuckleswereskinnedandinflamedclearacross，thefingersswollen，thenailsrimmedwithblack。Ifeltthemattress—likegrowthofbeardonmyneck，knewthatthesleeveofmycoatwasripped，thatabuttonwasmissingfromthethroatoftheblueshirtIwore。ThedirkmentionedbyWolfLarsenrestedinitssheathonmyhip。Itwasverynaturalthatitshouldbethere，——hownaturalIhadnotimagineduntilnow，whenIlookeduponitwithhereyesandknewhowstrangeitandallthatwentwithitmustappeartoher。
ButshedivinedthemockeryinWolfLarsen’swords，andagainfavoredmewithasympatheticglance。Buttherewasalookofbewildermentalsoinhereyes。Thatitwasmockerymadethesituationmorepuzzlingtoher。
\"Imaybetakenoffbysomepassingvessel，perhaps，\"shesuggested。
\"Therewillbenopassingvessels，exceptothersealingschooners，\"
WolfLarsenmadeanswer。
\"Ihavenoclothes，nothing，\"sheobjected。\"Youhardlyrealize，sir，thatIamnotaman，orthatIamunaccustomedtothevagrant，carelesslifewhichyouandyourmenseemtolead。\"
\"Thesooneryougetaccustomedtoit，thebetter，\"hesaid。
\"I’llfurnishyouwithcloth，needles，andthread，\"headded。\"Ihopeitwillnotbetoodreadfulahardshipforyoutomakeyourselfadressortwo。\"
Shemadeawrypuckerwithhermouth，asthoughtoadvertiseherignoranceofdressmaking。Thatshewasfrightenedandbewildered，andthatshewasbravelystrivingtohideit，wasquiteplaintome。
\"Isupposeyou’relikeMr。VanWeydenthere，accustomedtohavingthingsdoneforyou。Well，Ithinkdoingafewthingsforyourselfwillhardlydislocateanyjoints。Bytheway，whatdoyoudoforaliving？\"
Sheregardedhimwithamazementunconcealed。
\"Imeannooffence，believeme。Peopleeat，thereforetheymustprocurethewherewithal。Thesemenhereshootsealsinordertolive；forthesamereasonIsailthisschooner；andMr。VanWeyden，forthepresentatanyrate，earnshissaltygrubbyassistingme。Nowwhatdoyoudo？\"
Sheshruggedhershoulders。
\"Doyoufeedyourself？Ordoessomeoneelsefeedyou？\"
\"I’mafraidsomeoneelsehasfedmemostofmylife，\"shelaughed，tryingbravelytoenterintothespiritofhisquizzing，thoughIcouldseeaterrordawningandgrowinginhereyesasshewatchedWolfLarsen。
\"AndIsupposesomeoneelsemakesyourbedforyou？\"
\"Ihavemadebeds，\"shereplied。
\"Veryoften？\"
Sheshookherheadwithmockruefulness。
\"DoyouknowwhattheydotopoormenintheStates，who，likeyou，donotworkfortheirliving？\"
\"Iamveryignorant，\"shepleaded。\"Whatdotheydotothepoormenwhoarelikeme？\"
\"Theysendthemtojail。Thecrimeofnotearningaliving，intheircase，iscalledvagrancy。IfIwereMr。VanWeyden，whoharpseternallyonquestionsofrightandwrong，I’daskbywhatrightdoyoulivewhenyoudonothingtodeserveliving？\"
\"ButasyouarenotMr。VanWeyden，Idon’thavetoanswer，doI？\"
Shebeameduponhimthroughherterror—filledeyes，andthepathosofitcutmetotheheart。Imustinsomewaybreakinandleadtheconversationintootherchannels。
\"Haveyoueverearnedadollarbyyourownlabor？\"hedemanded，certainofheranswer，atriumphantvindictivenessinhisvoice。
\"Yes，Ihave，\"sheansweredslowly，andIcouldhavelaughedaloudathiscrestfallenvisage。\"Iremembermyfathergivingmeadollaronce，whenIwasalittlegirl，forremainingabsolutelyquietforfiveminutes。\"
Hesmiledindulgently。
\"Butthatwaslongago，\"shecontinued。\"Andyouwouldscarcelydemandalittlegirlofninetoearnherownliving。\"
\"Atpresent，however，\"shesaid，afteranotherslightpause，\"earnabouteighteenhundreddollarsayear。\"
Withoneaccord，alleyeslefttheplatesandsettledonher。Awomanwhoearnedeighteenhundreddollarsayearwasworthlookingat。WolfLarsenwasundisguisedinhisadmiration。
\"Salaryorpiece—work？\"heasked。
\"Piece—work，\"sheansweredpromptly。
\"Eighteenhundred，\"hecalculated。\"That’sahundredandfiftydollarsamonth。Well，MissBrewster，thereisnothingsmallabouttheGhost。
Consideryourselfonsalaryduringthetimeyouremainwithus。\"
Shemadenoacknowledgment。Shewastoounusedasyettothewhimsofthemantoacceptthemwithequanimity。
\"Iforgottoinquire，\"hewentonsuavely，\"astothenatureofyouroccupation。Whatcommoditiesdoyouturnout？Whattoolsandmaterialsdoyourequire？\"
\"Paperandink，\"shelaughed。\"And，oh！alsoatypewriter。\"
\"YouareMaudBrewster，\"Isaidslowlyandwithcertainty，almostasthoughIwerechargingherwithacrime。
Hereyesliftedcuriouslytomine。\"Howdoyouknow？\"
\"Aren’tyou？\"Idemanded。
Sheacknowledgedheridentitywithanod。ItwasWolfLarsen’sturntobepuzzled。Thenameanditsmagicsignifiednothingtohim。wasproudthatitdidmeansomethingtome，andforthefirsttimeinawearywhileIwasconvincinglyconsciousofasuperiorityoverhim。
\"Irememberwritingareviewofathinlittlevolume——\"Ihadbeguncarelessly，whensheinterruptedme。
\"You！\"shecried。\"Youare——\"
Shewasnowstaringatmeinwide—eyedwonder。
Inoddedmyidentity，inturn。
\"HumphreyVanWeyden，\"sheconcluded；thenaddedwithasighofrelief，andunawarethatshehadglancedthatreliefatWolfLarsen，\"Iamsoglad。\"
\"Irememberthereview，\"shewentonhastily，becomingawareoftheawkwardnessofherremark；\"thattoo，tooflatteringreview。\"
\"Notatall，\"Ideniedvaliantly。\"Youimpeachmysoberjudgmentandmakemycanonsoflittleworth。Besides，allmybrothercriticswerewithme。Didn’tLangincludeyour`KissEndured’amongthefoursupremesonnetsbywomenintheEnglishlanguage？\"
\"ButyoucalledmetheAmericanMrs。Meynell！\"
\"Wasitnottrue？\"Idemanded。
\"No，notthat，\"sheanswered。\"Iwashurt。\"
\"Wecanmeasuretheunknownonlybytheknown，\"Ireplied，inmyfinestacademicmanner。\"AsacriticIwascompelledtoplaceyou。Youhavenowbecomeayardstickyourself。Sevenofyourthinlittlevolumesareonmyshelves；andtherearetwothickervolumes，theessays，which，youwillpardonmysaying，andIknownotwhichisflatteredmore，fullyequalyourverse。ThetimeisnotfardistantwhensomeunknownwillariseinEnglandandthecriticswillnamehertheEnglishMaudBrewster。\"
\"Youareverykind，Iamsure，\"shemurmured；andtheveryconventionalityofhertonesandwords，withthehostofassociationsitarousedoftheoldlifeontheothersideoftheworld，gavemeaquickthrill——richwithremembrancebutstingingsharpwithhomesickness。
\"AndyouareMaudBrewster，\"Isaidsolemnly，gazingacrossather。
\"AndyouareHumphreyVanWeyden，\"shesaid，gazingbackatmewithequalsolemnityandawe。\"Howunusual！Idon’tunderstand。Wesurelyarenottoexpectsomewildlyromanticsea—storyfromyoursoberpen？\"
\"No，Iamnotgatheringmaterial，Iassureyou，\"wasmyanswer。\"Ihaveneitheraptitudenorinclinationforfiction。\"
\"Tellme，whyhaveyoualwaysburiedyourselfinCalifornia？\"shenextasked。\"Ithasnotbeenkindofyou。WeoftheEasthaveseensoverylittleofyou——toolittle，indeed，oftheDeanofAmericanLetters，theSecond。\"
Ibowedto，anddisclaimed，thecompliment。\"Inearlymetyou，once，inPhiladelphia，someBrowningaffairorother——youweretolecture，youknow。Mytrainwasfourhourslate。\"
Andthenwequiteforgotwherewewere，leavingWolfLarsenstrandedandsilentinthemidstofourfloodofgossip。Thehuntersleftthetableandwentondeck，andstillwetalked。WolfLarsenaloneremained。SuddenlyIbecameawareofhim，leaningbackfromthetableandlisteningcuriouslytoouralienspeechofaworldhedidnotknow。
Ibrokeshortoffinthemiddleofasentence。Thepresent，withallitsperilsandanxieties，rusheduponmewithstunningforce。ItsmoteMissBrewsterlikewise，avagueandnamelessterrorrushingintohereyesassheregardedWolfLarsen。
Herosetohisfeetandlaughedawkwardly。Thesoundofitwasmetallic。
\"Oh，don’tmindme，\"hesaid，withaself—depreciatorywaveofhishand。
\"Idon’tcount。Goon，goon，Iprayyou。\"
Butthegatesofspeechwereclosed，andwe，too，rosefromthetableandlaughedawkwardly。TheSeaWolf：Chapter21CHAPTER21
ThechagrinWolfLarsenfeltfrombeingignoredbyMaudBrewsterandmeintheconversationattablehadtoexpressitselfinsomefashion，anditfelltoThomasMugridgetobethevictim。Hehadnotmendedhiswaysnorhisshirt，thoughthelatterhecontendedhehadchanged。Thegarmentitselfdidnotbearouttheassertion，nordidtheaccumulationsofgreaseonstoveandpotandpanattestageneralcleanliness。
\"I’vegivenyouwarning，Cooky，\"WolfLarsensaid，\"andnowyou’vegottotakeyourmedicine。\"
Mugridge’sfaceturnedwhiteunderitssootyveneer，andwhenWolfLarsencalledforaropeandacoupleofmen，themiserableCockneyfledwildlyoutofthegalleyanddodgedandduckedaboutthedeckwiththegrinningcrewinpursuit。Fewthingscouldhavebeenmoretotheirlikingthantogivehimatowovertheside，fortotheforecastlehehadsentmessesandconcoctionsofthevilestorder。Conditionsfavoredtheundertaking。
TheGhostwasslippingthroughthewateratnomorethanthreemilesanhour，andtheseawasfairlycalm。ButMugridgehadlittlestomachforadipinit。Possiblyhehadseenmentowedbefore。Besides，thewaterwasfrightfullycold，andhiswasanythingbutaruggedconstitution。
Asusual，thewatchesbelowandthehuntersturnedoutforwhatpromisedsport。Mugridgeseemedtobeinrabidfearofthewater，andheexhibitedanimblenessandspeedwedidnotdreamhepossessed。Corneredintheright—angleofthepoopandgalley，hespranglikeacattothetopofthecabinandranaft。Buthispursuersforstallinghim，hedoubledbackacrossthecabin，passedoverthegalley，andgainedthedeckbymeansofthesteerage—scuttle。
Straightforwardheraced，theboat—pullerHarrisonathisheelsandgainingonhim。ButMugridge，leapingsuddenly，caughtthejib—boom—lift。Ithappenedinaninstant。Holdinghisweightbyhisarms，andinmid—airdoublinghisbodyatthehips，heletflywithbothfeet。TheoncomingHarrisoncaughtthekicksquarelyinthepitofthestomach，groanedinvoluntarily，anddoubledupandsankbackwardtothedeck。
Hand—clappingandroarsoflaughterfromthehuntersgreetedtheexploit，whileMugridge，eludinghalfofhispursuersattheforemast，ranaftandthroughtheremainderlikearunneronthefootballfield。Straightaftheheld，tothepoopandalongthepooptothestern。Sogreatwashisspeedthatashecurvedpastthecornerofthecabinheslippedandfell。
Nilsonwasstandingatthewheel，andtheCockney’shurtlingbodystruckhislegs。Bothwentdowntogether，butMugridgealonearose。Bysomefreakofpressures，hisfrailbodyhadsnappedthestrongman’sleglikeapipestem。
Parsonstookthewheel，andthepursuitcontinued。Roundandroundthedeckstheywent，Mugridgesickwithfear，thesailorshallooingandshoutingdirectionstooneanother，andthehuntersbellowingencouragementandlaughter。Mugridgewentdownonthefore—hatchunderthreemen；butheemergedfromthemasslikeaneel，bleedingatthemouth，theoffendingshirtrippedintotatters，andsprangforthemain—rigging。Uphewent，clearup，beyondtheratlines，totheverymasthead。
Halfadozensailorsswarmedtothecrosstreesafterhim，wheretheyclusteredandwaitedwhiletwooftheirnumber，Oofty—OoftyandBlack，（whowasLatimer’sboat—steerer），continuedupthethinsteelstays，liftingtheirbodieshigherandhigherbymeansoftheirarms。
Itwasaperilousundertaking，for，ataheightofoverahundredfeetfromthedeck，holdingonbytheirhands，theywerenotinthebestofpositionstoprotectthemselvesfromMugridge’sfeet。AndMugridgekickedsavagely，tilltheKanaka，hangingonwithonehand，seizedtheCockney’sfootwiththeother。Blackduplicatedtheperformanceamomentlaterwiththeotherfoot。Thenthethreewrithedtogetherinaswayingtangle，struggling，sliding，andfallingintothearmsoftheirmatesonthecrosstrees。
Theaerialbattlewasover，andThomasMugridge，whiningandgibbering，hismouthfleckedwithbloodyfoam，wasbroughtdowntodeck。WolfLarsenroveabowlineinapieceofropeandslippeditunderhisshoulders。Thenhewascarriedaftandflungintothesea。Forty，——fifty，——sixtyfeetoflineranout，whenWolfLarsencried\"Belay！\"Oofty—Ooftytookaturnonabitt，theropetautened，andtheGhost，lungingonward，jerkedthecooktothesurface。
Itwasapitifulspectacle。Thoughhecouldnotdrown，andwasnine—livedinaddition，hewassufferingalltheagoniesofhalf—drowning。TheGhostwasgoingveryslowly，andwhenhersternliftedonawaveandsheslippedforwardshepulledthewretchtothesurfaceandgavehimamomentinwhichtobreathe；butbetweeneachliftthesternfell，andwhilethebowlazilyclimbedthenextwavethelineslackedandhesankbeneath。
IhadforgottentheexistenceofMaudBrewster，andrememberedherwithastartasshesteppedlightlybesideme。Itwasherfirsttimeondecksinceshehadcomeaboard。Adeadsilencegreetedherappearance。
\"Whatisthecauseofthemerriment？\"sheasked。
\"AskCaptainLarsen，\"Iansweredcomposedlyandcoldly，thoughinwardlymybloodwasboilingatthethoughtthatsheshouldbewitnesstosuchbrutality。
Shetookmyadviceandwasturningtoputitintoexecution，whenhereyeslightedonOofty—Oofty，immediatelybeforeher，hisbodyinstinctwithalertnessandgraceasheheldtheturnoftherope。
\"Areyoufishing？\"sheaskedhim。
