Hemadenoreply。Hiseyes，fixedintentlyontheseaastern，suddenlyflashed。
\"Sharkho，sir！\"hecried。
\"Heavein！Lively！Allhandstailon！\"WolfLarsenshouted，springinghimselftotheropeinadvanceofthequickest。
MugridgehadheardtheKanaka’swarningcryandwasscreamingmadly。
Icouldseeablackfincuttingthewaterandmakingforhimwithgreaterswiftnessthanhewasbeingpulledaboard。Itwasaneventosswhetherthesharkorwewouldgethim，anditwasamatterofmoments。WhenMugridgewasdirectlybeneathus，thesterndescendedtheslopeofapassingwave，thusgivingtheadvantagetotheshark。Thefindisappeared。Thebellyflashedwhiteinaswiftupwardrush。Almostequallyswift，butnotquite，wasWolfLarsen。Hethrewhisstrengthintoonetremendousjerk。TheCockney’sbodyleftthewater；sodidpartoftheshark’s。Hedrewuphislegs，andtheman—eaterseemednomorethanbarelytotouchonefoot，sinkingbackintothewaterwithasplash。ButatthemomentofcontactThomasMugridgecriedout。Thenhecameinlikeafresh—caughtfishonaline，clearingtherailgenerouslyandstrikingthedeckinaheap，onhandsandknees，androllingover。
Butafountainofbloodwasgushingforth。Therightfootwasmissing，amputatedneatlyattheankle。IlookedinstantlytoMaudBrewster。Herfacewaswhite，hereyesdilatedwithhorror。Shewasgazing，notatThomasMugridge，butatWolfLarsen。Andhewasawareofit，forhesaid，withoneofhisshortlaughs：
\"Man—play，MissBrewster。Somewhatrougher，Iwarrant，thanwhatyouhavebeenusedto，butstill——man—play。Thesharkwasnotinthereckoning。
It——\"
Butatthisjuncture，Mugridge，whohadliftedhisheadandascertainedtheextentofhisloss，flounderedoveronthedeckandburiedhisteethinWolfLarsen’sleg。WolfLarsenstooped，coolly，totheCockney，andpressedwiththumbandfingerattherearofthejawsandbelowtheears。
Thejawsopenedwithreluctance，andWolfLarsensteppedfree。
\"AsIwassaying，\"hewenton，asthoughnothingunwontedhadhappened，\"thesharkwasnotinthereckoning。Itwas——ahem——shallwesayProvidence？\"
Shegavenosignthatshehadheard，thoughtheexpressionofhereyeschangedtooneofinexpressibleloathingasshestartedtoturnaway。Shenomorethanstarted，forsheswayedandtottered，andreachedherhandweaklyouttomine。Icaughtherintimetosaveherfromfalling，andhelpedhertoaseatonthecabin。Ithoughtshemustfaintoutright，butshecontrolledherself。
\"Willyougetatourniquet，Mr。VanWeyden，\"WolfLarsencalledtome。
Ihesitated。Herlipsmoved，andthoughtheyformednowords，shecommandedmewithhereyes，plainlyasspeech，togotothehelpoftheunfortunateman。
\"Please，\"shemanagedtowhisper，andIcouldbutobey。
BynowIhaddevelopedsuchskillatsurgerythatWolfLarsen，withafewwordsofadvice，leftmetomytaskwithacoupleofsailorsforassistants。Forhistaskheelectedavengeanceontheshark。Aheavyswivel—hook，baitedwithfatsalt—pork，wasdroppedoverside；andbythetimeIhadcompressedtheseveredveinsandarteries，thesailorsweresingingandheavingintheoffendingmonster。Ididnotseeitmyself，butmyassistants，firstoneandthentheother，desertedmeforafewmomentstorunamidshipsandlookatwhatwasgoingon。Theshark，asixteen—footer，washoistedupagainstthemain—rigging。Itsjawswerepriedaparttotheirgreatestextension，andastoutstake，sharpenedatbothends，wassoinsertedthatwhentheprieswereremovedthespreadjawswerefixeduponit。Thisaccomplished，thehookwascutout。Thesharkdroppedbackintothesea，helpless，yetwithitsfullstrength，doomedtolingeringstarvation——alivingdeathlessmeetforitthanforthemanwhodevisedthepunishment。TheSeaWolf：Chapter22CHAPTER22
Iknewwhatitwasasshecametowardme。Fortenminuteshadwatchedhertalkingearnestlywiththeengineer，andnow，withasignforsilence，Idrewheroutofearshotofthehelmsman。Herfacewaswhiteandset；
herlargeeyes，largerthanusualwhatofthepurposeinthem，lookedpenetratinglyintomine。Ifeltrathertimidandapprehensive，forshehadcometosearchHumphreyVanWeyden’ssoul，andHumphreyVanWeydenhadnothingofwhichtobeparticularlyproudsincehisadventontheGhost。
Wewalkedtothebreakofthepoop，wheresheturnedandfacedme。I
glancedaroundtoseethatnoonewaswithinhearingdistance。
\"Whatisit？\"Iaskedgently；buttheexpressionofdeterminationonherfacedidnotrelax。
\"Icanreadilyunderstand，\"shebegan，\"thatthismorning’saffairwaslargelyanaccident；butIhavebeentalkingwithMr。Haskins。Hetellsmethatthedaywewererescued，evenwhileIwasinthecabin，twomenweredrowned，deliberatelydrowned——murdered。\"
Therewasaqueryinhervoice，andshefacedmeaccusingly，asthoughIwereguiltyofthedeed，oratleastapartytoit。
\"Theinformationisquitecorrect，\"Ianswered。\"Thetwomenweremurdered。\"
\"Andyoupermittedit！\"shecried。
\"Iwasunabletopreventit，isabetterwayofphrasingit，\"replied，stillgently。
\"Butyoutriedtopreventit？\"Therewasanemphasisonthe\"tried，\"
andapleadinglittlenoteinhervoice。
\"Oh，butyoudidn’t，\"shehurriedon，diviningmyanswer。\"Butwhydidn’tyou？\"
Ishruggedmyshoulders。\"Youmustremember，MissBrewster，thatyouareanewinhabitantofthislittleworld，andthatyoudonotyetunderstandthelawswhichoperatewithinit。Youbringwithyoucertainfineconceptionsofhumanity，manhood，conduct，andsuchthings；buthereyouwillfindthemmisconceptions。Ihavefounditso，\"Iadded，withaninvoluntarysigh。
Sheshookherheadincredulously。
\"Whatwouldyouadvise，then？\"Iasked。\"ThatIshouldtakeaknife，oragun，oranaxe，andkillthisman？\"
Shehalfstartedback。
\"No，notthat！\"
\"ThenwhatshouldIdo？Killmyself？\"
\"Youspeakinpurelymaterialisticterms，\"sheobjected。\"Thereissuchathingasmoralcourage，andmoralcourageisneverwithouteffect。\"
\"Ah，\"Ismiled，\"youadvisemetokillneitherhimnormyself，buttolethimkillme。\"Iheldupmyhandasshewasabouttospeak。\"Formoralcourageisaworthlessassetonthislittlefloatingworld。Leach，oneofthemenwhoweremurdered，hadmoralcouragetoanunusualdegree。Sohadtheotherman，Johnson。Notonlydiditnotstandthemingoodstead，butitdestroyedthem。AndsowithmeifIshouldexercisewhatlittlemoralcourageImaypossess。
\"Youmustunderstand，MissBrewster，andunderstandclearly，thatthismanisamonster。Heiswithoutconscience。Nothingissacredtohim，nothingistooterribleforhimtodo。ItwasduetohiswhimthatIwasdetainedaboardinthefirstplace。ItisduetohiswhimthatIamstillalive。
Idonothing，candonothing，becauseIamaslavetothismonster，asyouarenowaslavetohim；becauseIdesiretolive，asyouwilldesiretolive；becauseIcannotfightandovercomehim，justasyouwillnotbeabletofightandovercomehim。\"
Shewaitedformetogoon。
\"Whatremains？Mineisther攍eoftheweak。Iremainsilentandsufferignominy，asyouwillremainsilentandsufferignominy。Anditiswell。
Itisthebestwecandoifwewishtolive。Thebattleisnotalwaystothestrong。Wehavenotthestrengthwithwhichtofightthisman；wemustdissimulate，andwin，ifwinwecan，bycraft。Ifyouwillbeadvisedbyme，thisiswhatyouwilldo。Iknowmypositionisperilous，andImaysayfranklythatyoursisevenmoreperilous。Wemuststandtogether，withoutappearingtodoso，insecretalliance。shallnotbeabletosidewithyouopenly，and，nomatterwhatindignitiesmaybeputuponme，youaretoremainlikewisesilent。Wemustprovokenosceneswiththisman，norcrosshiswill。Andwemustkeepsmilingfacesandbefriendlywithhimnomatterhowrepulsiveitmaybe。\"
Shebrushedherhandacrossherforeheadinapuzzledway，saying，\"StillIdonotunderstand。\"
\"YoumustdoasIsay，\"Iinterruptedauthoritatively，forsawWolfLarsen’sgazewanderingtowardusfromwherehepacedupanddownwithLatimeramidships。\"DoasIsay，anderelongyouwillfindamright。\"
\"WhatshallIdo，then？\"sheasked，detectingtheanxiousglanceIhadshotattheobjectofourconversation，andimpressed，flattermyself，withtheearnestnessofmymanner。
\"Dispensewithallthemoralcourageyoucan，\"Isaidbriskly。\"Don’tarousethisman’sanimosity。Bequitefriendlywithhim，talkwithhim，discussliteratureandartwithhim——heisfondofsuchthings。Youwillfindhimaninterestedlistenerandnofool。Andforyourownsaketrytoavoidwitnessing，asmuchasyoucan，thebrutalitiesoftheship。Itwillmakeiteasierforyoutoactyourpart。\"
\"Iamtolie，\"shesaidinsteady，rebellioustones，\"byspeechandactiontolie。\"
WolfLarsenhadseparatedfromLatimerandwascomingtowardus。Iwasdesperate。
\"Please，pleaseunderstandme，\"Isaidhurriedly，loweringmyvoice。
\"Allyourexperienceofmenandthingsisworthlesshere。Youmustbeginoveragain。Iknow，——Icanseeit，——youhave，amongotherways，beenusedtomanagingpeoplewithyoureyes，lettingyourmoralcouragespeakoutthroughthem，asitwere。Youhavealreadymanagedmewithyoureyes，commandedmewiththem。Butdon’ttryitonWolfLarsen。Youcouldaseasilycontrolalion，whilehewouldmakeamockofyou。Hewould——Ihavealwaysbeenproudofthefactthatdiscoveredhim，\"Isaid，turningtheconversationasWolfLarsensteppedonthepoopandjoinedus。\"Theeditorswereafraidofhimandthepublisherswouldhavenoneofhim。ButIknew，andhisgeniusandmyjudgmentwerevindicatedwhenhemadethatmagnificenthitwithhis`Forge。’\"
\"Anditwasanewspaperpoem，\"shesaidglibly。
\"Itdidhappentoseethelightinanewspaper，\"Ireplied，\"butnotbecausethemagazineeditorshadbeendeniedaglimpseatit。\"
\"WeweretalkingofHarris，\"IsaidtoWolfLarsen。
\"Oh，yes，\"heacknowledged。\"Irememberthe`Forge。’Filledwithprettysentimentsandanalmightyfaithinhumanillusions。Bytheway，Mr。VanWeyden，you’dbetterlookinonCooky。He’scomplainingandrestless。\"
ThuswasIbluntlydismissedfromthepoop，onlytofindMugridgesleepingsoundlyfromthemorphineIhadgivenhim。Imadenohastetoreturnondeck，andwhenIdidIwasgratifiedtoseeMissBrewsterinanimatedconversationwithWolfLarsen。AsIsay，thesightgratifiedme。Shewasfollowingmyadvice。AndyetIwasconsciousofaslightshockorhurtinthatshewasabletodothethingIhadbeggedhertodoandwhichshehadnotablydisliked。TheSeaWolf：Chapter23CHAPTER23
Bravewinds，blowingfair，swiftlydrovetheGhostnorthwardintothesealherd。Weencountereditwelluptotheforty—fourthparallel，inarawandstormyseaacrosswhichthewindharriedthefog—banksineternalflight。Fordaysatatimewecouldneverseethesunnortakeanobservation；thenthewindwouldsweepthefaceoftheoceanclean，thewaveswouldrippleandflash，andwewouldlearnwherewewere。Adayofclearweathermightfollow，orthreedaysorfour，andthenthefogwouldsettledownuponus，seeminglythickerthanever。
Thehuntingwasperilous；yettheboats，lowereddayafterday，wereswallowedupinthegrayobscurity，andwereseennomoretillnightfall，andoftennottilllongafter，whentheywouldcreepinlikesea—wraiths，onebyone，outofthegray。Wainwright，——thehunterwhomWolfLarsenhadstolenwithboatandmen，——tookadvantageoftheveiledseaandescaped。
Hedisappearedonemorningintheencirclingfogwithhistwomen，andweneversawthemagain，thoughitwasnotmanydayswhenwelearnedthattheyhadpassedfromschoonertoschooneruntiltheyfinallyregainedtheirown。
ThiswasthethingIhadsetmymindupondoing，buttheopportunityneveroffered。Itwasnotinthemate’sprovincetogooutintheboats，andthoughIman渦vredcunninglyforit，WolfLarsennevergrantedmetheprivilege。Hadhedoneso，IshouldhavemanagedsomehowtocarryMissBrewsterawaywithme。Asitwas，thesituationwasapproachingastagewhichIwasafraidtoconsider。Iinvoluntarilyshunnedthethoughtofit，andyetthethoughtcontinuallyaroseinmymindlikeahauntingspectre。
Ihadreadsea—romancesinmytime，whereinfigured，asamatterofcourse，thelonewomaninthemidstofashiploadofmen；butIlearned，now，thatIhadnevercomprehendedthedeepersignificanceofsuchasituation——thethingthewritersharpeduponandexploitedsothoroughly。Andhereitwas，now，andIwasfacetofacewithit。Thatitshouldbeasvitalaspossible，itrequirednomorethanthatthewomanshouldbeMaudBrewster，whonowcharmedmeinpersonasshehadlongcharmedmethroughherwork。
Noonemoreoutofenvironmentcouldbeimagined。Shewasadelicate，etherealcreature，swayingandwillowy，lightandgracefulofmovement。
Itneverseemedtomethatshewalked，or，atleast，walkedaftertheordinarymannerofmortals。Herswasanextremelithesomeness，andshemovedwithacertainindefinableairiness，approachingoneasdownmightfloatorasabirdonnoiselesswings。
ShewaslikeabitofDresdenchina，andIwascontinuallyimpressedwithwhatImaycallherfragility。AsatthetimeIcaughtherarmwhenhelpingherbelow，soatanytimeIwasquiteprepared，shouldstressorroughhandlingbefallher，toseehercrumbleaway。haveneverseenbodyandspiritinsuchperfectaccord。Describeherverse，asthecriticshavedescribedit，assublimatedandspiritual，andyouhavedescribedherbody。
Itseemedtopartakeofhersoul，tohaveanalogousattributes，andtolinkittolifewiththeslenderestofchains。Indeed，shetrodtheearthlightly，andinherconstitutiontherewaslittleoftherobustclay。
ShewasinstrikingcontrasttoWolfLarsen。Eachwasnothingthattheotherwas，everythingthattheotherwasnot。Inotedthemwalkingthedecktogetheronemorning，andIlikenedthemtotheextremeendsofthehumanladderofevolution——theonetheculminationofallsavagery，theotherthefinishedproductofthefinestcivilization。True，WolfLarsenpossessedintellecttoanunusualdegree，butitwasdirectedsolelytotheexerciseofhissavageinstinctsandmadehimbutthemoreformidableasavage。Hewassplendidlymuscled，aheavyman，andthoughhestrodewiththecertitudeanddirectnessofthephysicalman，therewasnothingheavyabouthisstride。Thejungleandthewildernesslurkedintheupliftanddownputofhisfeet。Hewascat—footed，andlithe，andstrong，alwaysstrong。Ilikenedhimtosomegreattiger，abeastofprowessandprey。
Helookedit，andthepiercingglitterthataroseattimesinhiseyeswasthesamepiercingglitterIhadobservedintheeyesofcagedleopardsandotherpreyingcreaturesofthewild。
Butthisday，asInotedthempacingupanddown，Isawthatitwasshewhoterminatedthewalk。TheycameuptowhereIwasstandingbytheentrancetothecompanionway。Thoughshebetrayeditbynooutwardsign，Ifelt，somehow，thatshewasgreatlyperturbed。Shemadesomeidleremark，lookingatme，andlaughedlightlyenough；butIsawhereyesreturntohis，involuntarily，asthoughfascinated；thentheyfell，butnotswiftlyenoughtoveiltherushofterrorthatfilledthem。
ItwasinhiseyesthatIsawthecauseofherperturbation。Ordinarilygrayandcoldandharsh，theywerenowwarmandsoftandgolden，andalladancewithtinylightsthatdimmedandfaded，orwelleduptillthefullorbswerefloodedwithaglowingradiance。Perhapsitwastothisthatthegoldencolorwasdue；butgoldenhiseyeswere，enticingandmasterful，atthesametimeluringandcompelling，andspeakingademandandclamorofthebloodwhichnowoman，muchlessMaudBrewster，couldmisunderstand。
Herownterrorrusheduponme，andinthatmomentoffear，——themostterriblefearamancanexperience，——Iknewthatininexpressiblewaysshewasdeartome。TheknowledgethatIlovedherrusheduponmewiththeterror，andwithbothemotionsgrippingatmyheartandcausingmybloodatthesametimetochillandtoleapriotously，Ifeltmyselfdrawnbyapowerwithoutmeandbeyondme，andfoundmyeyesreturningagainstmywilltogazeintotheeyesofWolfLarsen。Buthehadrecoveredhimself。
Thegoldencolorandthedancinglightsweregone。Coldandgrayandglitteringtheywereashebowedbrusquelyandturnedaway。
\"Iamafraid，\"shewhispered，withashiver。\"Iamsoafraid。\"
I，too，wasafraid，andwhatofmydiscoveryofhowmuchshemeanttomemymindwasinaturmoil；butIsucceededinansweringquitecalmly：
\"Allwillcomeright，MissBrewster。Trustme，itwillcomeright。\"
Sheansweredwithagratefullittlesmilethatsentmyheartpounding，andstartedtodescendthecompanion—stairs。
ForalongwhileIremainedstandingwhereshehadleftme。Therewasimperativeneedtoadjustmyself，toconsiderthesignificanceofthechangedaspectofthings。Ithadcome，atlast，lovehadcome，whenIleastexpecteditandunderthemostforbiddingconditions。Ofcourse，myphilosophyhadalwaysrecognizedtheinevitablenessofthelove—callsoonerorlater；
butlongyearsofbookishsilencehadmademeinattentiveandunprepared。
Andnowithadcome！MaudBrewster！Mymemoryflashedbacktothatfirstthinlittlevolumeonmydesk，andIsawbeforeme，asthoughintheconcrete，therowofthinlittlevolumesonmylibraryshelf。HowIhadwelcomedeachofthem！Eachyearonehadcomefromthepress，andtomeeachwastheadventoftheyear。Theyhadvoicedakindredintellectandspirit，andassuchIhadreceivedthemintoacamaraderieofthemind；butnowtheirplacewasinmyheart。
Myheart？Arevulsionoffeelingcameoverme。Iseemedtostandoutsidemyselfandtolookatmyselfincredulously。MaudBrewster！HumphreyVanWeyden，the\"cold—bloodedfish，\"the\"emotionlessmonster，\"the\"analyticaldemon，\"ofCharleyFuruseth’schristening，inlove！Andthen，withoutrhymeorreason，allsceptical，mymindflewbacktoasmallbiographicalnoteinthered—bound\"Who’sWho，\"andIsaidtomyself，\"ShewasborninCambridge，andsheistwenty—sevenyearsold。\"AndthenIsaid，\"Twenty—sevenyearsoldandstillfreeandfancyfree？\"ButhowdidIknowshewasfancyfree？
Andthepangofnew—bornjealousyputallincredulitytoflight。Therewasnodoubtaboutit。Iwasjealous；thereforeIloved。AndthewomanlovedwasMaudBrewster。
I，HumphreyVanWeyden，wasinlove！Andagainthedoubtassailedme。
NotthatIwasafraidofit，however，orreluctanttomeetit。Onthecontrary，idealistthatIwastothemostpronounceddegree，myphilosophyhadalwaysrecognizedandguerdonedloveasthegreatestthingintheworld，theaimandthesummitofbeing，themostexquisitepitchofjoyandhappinesstowhichlifecouldthrill，thethingofallthingstobehailedandwelcomedandtakenintotheheart。ButnowthatithadcomeIcouldnotbelieve。
Icouldnotbesofortunate。Itwastoogood，toogoodtobetrue。Symons’slinescameintomyhead：
\"IwanderedalltheseyearsamongAworldofwomen，seekingyou。\"
AndthenIhadceasedseeking。Itwasnotforme，thisgreatestthingintheworld，Ihaddecided。Furusethwasright；Iwasabnormal，an\"emotionlessmonster，\"astrangebookishcreature，capableofpleasuringinsensationsonlyofthemind。AndthoughIhadbeensurroundedbywomenallmydays，myappreciationofthemhadbeenaestheticandnothingmore。Ihadactually，attimes，consideredmyselfoutsidethepale，amonkishfellowdeniedtheeternalorthepassingpassionsIsawandunderstoodsowellinothers。
Andnowithadcome！Undreamedofandunheralded，ithadcome。Inwhatcouldhavebeennolessthananecstasy，Ileftmypostattheheadofthecompanionwayandstartedalongthedeck，murmuringtomyselfthosebeautifullinesofMrs。Browning：
\"IlivedwithvisionsformycompanyInsteadofmenandwomenyearsago，Andfoundthemgentlemates，northoughttoknowAsweetermusicthantheyplayedtome。\"
Butthesweetermusicwasplayinginmyears，andIwasblindandoblivioustoallaboutme。ThesharpvoiceofWolfLarsenarousedme。
\"Whatthehellareyouupto？\"hewasdemanding。
Ihadstrayedforwardwherethesailorswerepainting，andcametomyselftofindmyadvancingfootonthevergeofoverturningapaint—pot。
\"Sleep—walking，sunstroke，——what？\"hebarked。
\"No；indigestion，\"Iretorted，andcontinuedmywalkasifnothinguntowardhadoccurred。TheSeaWolf：Chapter24CHAPTER24
AmongthemostvividmemoriesofmylifearethoseoftheeventsontheGhostwhichoccurredduringthefortyhourssucceedingthediscoveryofmyloveforMaudBrewster。I，whohadlivedmylifeinquietplaces，onlytoenterattheageofthirty—fiveuponacourseofthemostirrationaladventureIcouldhaveimagined，neverhadmoreincidentandexcitementcrammedintoanyfortyhoursofmyexperience。NorcanIquiteclosemyearstoasmallvoiceofpridewhichtellsmedidnotdosobadly，allthingsconsidered。
Tobeginwith，atthemiddaydinner，WolfLarseninformedthehuntersthattheyweretoeatthenceforthinthesteerage。Itwasanunprecedentedthingonsealingschooners，whereitisthecustomforthehunterstorankunofficiallyasofficers。Hegavenoreason，buthismotivewasobviousenough。HornerandSmokehadbeendisplayingagallantrytowardMaudBrewster，ludicrousinitselfandinoffensivetoher，buttohimevidentlydistasteful。
Theannouncementwasreceivedwithblacksilence，thoughtheotherfourhuntersglancedsignificantlyatthetwowhohadbeenthecauseoftheirbanishment。JockHorner，quietaswashisway，gavenosign；butthebloodsurgeddarklyacrossSmoke’sforehead，andhehalfopenedhismouthtospeak。WolfLarsenwaswatchinghim，waitingforhim，thesteelyglitterinhiseyes；butSmokeclosedhismouthagainwithouthavingsaidanything。
\"Anythingtosay？\"theotherdemandedaggressively。
Itwasachallenge，butSmokerefusedtoacceptit。
\"Aboutwhat？\"heasked，soinnocentlythatWolfLarsenwasdisconcerted，whiletheotherssmiled。
\"Oh，nothing，\"WolfLarsensaidlamely。\"Ijustthoughtyoumightwanttoregisterakick。\"
\"Aboutwhat？\"askedtheimperturbableSmoke。
Smoke’smateswerenowsmilingbroadly。Hiscaptaincouldhavekilledhim，andIdoubtnotthatbloodwouldhaveflowedhadnotMaudBrewsterbeenpresent。Forthatmatter，itwasherpresencewhichenabledSmoketoactashedid。HewastoodiscreetandcautiousamantoincurWolfLarsen’sangeratatimewhenthatangercouldbeexpressedintermsstrongerthanwords。Iwasinfearthatastrugglemighttakeplace，butacryfromthehelmsmanmadeiteasyforthesituationtosaveitself。
\"Smokeho！\"thecrycamedowntheopencompanionway。
\"How’sitbear？\"WolfLarsencalledup。
\"Deadastern，sir。\"
\"Maybeit’saRussian，\"suggestedLatimer。
Hiswordsbroughtanxietyintothefacesoftheotherhunters。ARussiancouldmeanbutonething——acruiser。Thehunters，nevermorethanroughlyawareofthepositionoftheship，neverthelessknewthatwewereclosetotheboundariesoftheforbiddensea，whileWolfLarsen’srecordasapoacherwasnotorious。Alleyescentreduponhim。
\"We’redeadsafe，\"heassuredthemwithalaugh。\"Nosaltminesthistime，Smoke。ButI’lltellyouwhat——I’lllayoddsoffivetooneit’stheMacedonia。\"
Nooneacceptedhisofferandhewenton。\"Inwhichevent，I’lllaytentoonethere’stroublebreezingup。\"
\"No，thankyou，\"Latimerspokeup。\"Idon’tobjecttolosingmymoney，butIliketogetarunforit，anyway。Thereneverwasatimewhentherewasn’ttroublewhenyouandthatbrotherofyoursgottogether，andI’lllaytwentytooneonthat。\"
