Theboat—pullerobeyed，takingaturnaroundthelittleforwardthwartandpayingthelineasitjerkedtaut。Theboatsheeredoutwitharush，andthehuntersteadiedittoaparallelcoursesometwentyfeetfromthesideoftheGhost。
\"Nowgetthatsaildownandcomealongside！\"WolfLarsenordered。
Heneverletgohisrifle，evenpassingdownthetackleswithonehand。
Whentheywerefast，bowandstern，andthetwouninjuredmenpreparedtocomeaboard，thehunterpickeduphisrifleasiftoplaceitinasecureposition。
\"Dropit！\"WolfLarsencried，andthehunterdroppeditasthoughitwerehotandhadburnedhim。
Onceaboard，thetwoprisonershoistedintheboatandunderWolfLarsen’sdirectioncarriedthewoundedboat—steererdownintotheforecastle。
\"IfourfiveboatsdoaswellasyouandIhavedone，we’llhaveaprettyfullcrew，\"WolfLarsensaidtome。
\"Themanyoushot——heis，Ihope——\"MaudBrewsterquavered。
\"Intheshoulder，\"heanswered。\"Nothingserious。Mr。VanWeydenwillpullhimaroundasgoodaseverinthreeorfourweeks。\"
\"Buthewon’tpullthosechapsaround，fromthelookofit，\"headded，pointingattheMacedonia’sthirdboat，forwhichIhadbeensteeringandwhichwasnownearlyabreastofus。\"That’sHorner’sandSmoke’swork。
Itoldthemwewantedlivemen，notcarcasses。Butthejoyofshootingtohitisamostcompellingthing，whenonceyou’velearnedhowtoshoot。
Everexperiencedit，Mr。VanWeyden？\"
Ishookmyheadandregardedtheirwork。Ithadindeedbeenbloody，fortheyhaddrawnoffandjoinedourotherthreeboatsintheattackontheremainingtwooftheenemy。Thedesertedboatwasinthetroughofthesea，rollingdrunk—enlyacrosseachcomber，itsloosespritsailoutatrightanglestoitandflutteringandflappinginthewind。Thehunterandboat—pullerwerebothlyingawkwardlyinthebottom，buttheboat—steererlayacrossthegunwale，halfinandhalfout，hisarmstrailinginthewaterandhisheadrollingfromsidetoside。
\"Don’tlook，MissBrewster，pleasedon’tlook，\"Ihadbeggedofher，andIwasgladthatshehadmindedmeandbeensparedthesight。
\"Headrightintothebunch，Mr。VanWeyden，\"wasWolfLarsen’scommand。
Aswedrewnearer，thefiringceased，andwesawthatthefightwasover。Theremainingtwoboatshadbeencapturedbyourfive，andthesevenweregroupedtogether，waitingtobepickedup。
\"Lookatthat！\"Icriedinvoluntarily，pointingtothenortheast。
TheblotofsmokewhichindicatedtheMacedonia’spositionhadreappeared。
\"Yes，I’vebeenwatchingit，\"wasWolfLarsen’scalmreply。Hemeasuredthedistanceawaytothefog—bankandforaninstantpausedtofeeltheweightofthewindonhischeek。\"We’llmakeit，Ithink；butyoucandependuponitthatblessedbrotherofminehastwiggedourlittlegameandisjusta—humpingforus。Ah，lookatthat！\"
Theblotofsmokehadsuddenlygrownlarger，anditwasveryblack。
\"I’llbeatyouout，though，brothermine，\"hechuckled。\"I’llbeatyouout，andIhopeyounoworsethanthatyourackyouroldenginesintoscrap。\"
Whenwehoveto，ahastythoughorderlyconfusionreigned。Theboatscameaboardfromeverysideatonce。Asfastastheprisonerscameovertherailtheyweremarshalledforwardintotheforecastlebyourhunters，whileoursailorshoistedintheboats，pell—mell，droppingthemanywhereuponthedeckandnotstoppingtolashthem。Wewerealreadyunderway，allsailssetanddrawing，andthesheetsbeingslackedoffforawindabeam，asthelastboatliftedclearofthewaterandswunginthetackles。
Therewasneedforhaste。TheMacedonia，belchingtheblackestofsmokefromherfunnel，waschargingdownuponusfromoutofthenortheast。
Neglectingtheboatsthatremainedtoher，shehadalteredhercoursesoastoanticipateours。Shewasnotrunningstraightforus，butaheadofus。Ourcourseswereconverginglikethesidesofanangle，thevertexofwhichwasattheedgeofthefog—bank。Itwasthere，ornotatall，thattheMacedoniacouldhopetocatchus。ThehopefortheGhostlayinthatsheshouldpassthatpointbeforetheMacedoniaarrivedatit。
WolfLarsenwassteering，hiseyesglisteningandsnappingastheydweltuponandleapedfromdetailtodetailofthechase。Nowhestudiedtheseatowindwardforsignsofthewindslackeningorfreshening，nowtheMacedonia；andagain，hiseyesrovedovereverysail，andhegavecommandstoslackasheethereatrifle，tocomeinononethereatrifle，tillhewasdrawingoutoftheGhostthelastbitofspeedshepossessed。
Allfeudsandgrudgeswereforgotten，andIwassurprisedatthealacritywithwhichthemenwhohadsolongenduredhisbrutalitysprangtoexecutehisorders。Strangetosay，theunfortunateJohnsoncameintomymindasweliftedandsurgedandheeledalong，andIwasawareofaregretthathewasnotaliveandpresent；hehadsolovedtheGhostanddelightedinhersailingpowers。
\"Bettergetyourrifles，youfellows，\"WolfLarsencalledtoourhunters；
andthefivemenlinedtheleerail，gunsinhand，andwaited。
TheMacedoniawasnowbutamileaway，theblacksmokepouringfromherfunnelatarightangle，somadlysheraced，poundingthroughtheseaataseventeen—knotgait——\"`Sky—hootingthroughthebrine，’\"
asWolfLarsenquotedwhilegazingather。Wewerenotmakingmorethannineknots，butthefog—bankwasverynear。
ApuffofsmokebrokefromtheMacedonia’sdeck，weheardaheavyreport，andaroundholetookforminthestretchedcanvasofourmainsail。
Theywereshootingatuswithoneofthesmallcannonwhichrumorhadsaidtheycarriedonboard。Ourmen，clusteringamidships，wavedtheirhatsandraisedaderisivecheer。Againtherewasapuffofsmokeandaloudreport，thistimethecannon—ballstrikingnotmorethantwentyfeetasternandglancingtwicefromseatoseatowindwardereitsank。
Buttherewasnorifle—firingforthereasonthatalltheirhunterswereoutintheboatsorourprisoners。Whenthetwovesselswerehalfamileapart，athirdshotmadeanotherholeinourmainsail。Thenweenteredthefog。Itwasaboutus，veilingandhidingusinitsdensewetgauze。
Thesuddentransitionwasstartling。Themomentbeforewehadbeenleapingthroughthesunshine，theclearskyaboveus，theseabreakingandrollingwidetothehorizon，andaship，vomitingsmokeandfireandironmissiles，rushingmadlyuponus。Andatonce，asinaninstant’sleap，thesunwasblottedout，therewasnosky，evenourmastheadswerelosttoview，andourhorizonwassuchastear—blindedeyesmaysee。Thegraymistdrovebyuslikearain。Everywoollenfilamentofourgarments，everyhairofourheadsandfaces，wasjewelledwithacrystalglobule。Theshroudswerewetwithmoisture；itdrippedfromourriggingoverhead；andontheundersideofourboomsdropsofwatertookshapeinlongswayinglines，whichweredetachedandflungtothedeckinmimicshowersateachsurgeoftheschooner。Iwasawareofapent，stifledfeeling。Asthesoundsoftheshipthrustingherselfthroughthewaveswerehurledbackuponusbythefog，sowereone’sthoughts。Themindrecoiledfromcontemplationofaworldbeyondthiswetveilwhichwrappedusaround。Thiswastheworld，theuniverseitself，itsboundssonearonefeltimpelledtoreachoutbotharmsandpushthemback。Itwasimpossiblethattherestcouldbebeyondthesewallsofgray。Therestwasadream，nomorethanthememoryofadream。
Itwasweird，strangelyweird。IlookedatMaudBrewsterandknewthatshewassimilarlyaffected。ThenIlookedatWolfLarsen，buttherewasnothingsubjectiveabouthisstateofconsciousness。Hiswholeconcernwaswiththeimmediate，objectivepresent。Hestillheldthewheel，andIfeltthathewastimingTime，reckoningthepassageoftheminuteswitheachforwardlungeandleewardrolloftheGhost。
\"Gofor’ardandhard—a—leewithoutanynoise，\"hesaidtomeinalowvoice。\"Clewupthetopsailsfirst。Setmenatallthesheets。Lettherebenorattlingofblocks，nosoundofvoices。Nonoise，understand，nonoise。\"
Whenallwasready，theword\"hard—a—lee\"waspassedforwardtomefrommantoman；andtheGhostheeledaboutontheporttackwithpracticallynonoiseatall。Andwhatlittletherewas，——theslappingofafewreef—pointsandthecreakingofasheaveinablockortwo，——wasghostlyunderthehollowechoingpallinwhichwewereswathed。
Wehadscarcelyfilledaway，itseemed，whenthefogthinnedabruptlyandwewereagaininthesunshine，thewide—stretchingseabreakingbeforeustothesky—line。Buttheoceanwasbare。NowrathfulMacedoniabrokeitssurfacenorblackenedtheskywithhersmoke。
WolfLarsenatoncesquaredawayandrandownalongtherimofthefog—bank。
Histrickwasobvious。Hehadenteredthefogtowindwardofthesteamer，andwhilethesteamerhadblindlydrivenonintothefoginthechanceofcatchinghimhehadcomeaboutandoutofhisshelterandwasnowrunningdowntorentertoleeward。Successfulinthis，theoldsimileoftheneedleinthehaystackwouldbemildindeedcomparedwithhisbrother’schanceoffindinghim。
Hedidnotrunlong。Jibingthefore—andmain—sailsandsettingthetopsailsagain，weheadedbackintothebank。AsweenteredIcouldhaveswornIsawavaguebulkemergingtowindward。IlookedquicklyatWolfLarsen。Alreadywewereourselvesburiedinthefog，buthenoddedhishead。He，too，hadseenit——theMacedonia，guessinghisman渦vreandfailingbyamomentinanticipatingit。Therewasnodoubtthatwehadescapedunseen。
\"Hecan’tkeepthisup，\"WolfLarsensaid。\"He’llhavetogobackfortherestofhisboats。Sendamantothewheel，Mr。VanWeyden，keepthiscourseforthepresent，andyoumightaswellsetthewatches，forwewon’tdoanylingeringto—night。\"
\"I’dgivefivehundreddollars，though，\"headded，\"justtobeaboardtheMacedoniaforfiveminutes，listeningtomybrothercurse。\"
\"Andnow，Mr。VanWeyden，\"hesaidtomewhenhehadbeenrelievedfromthewheel，\"wemustmakethesenewcomerswelcome。Serveoutplentyofwhiskeytothehuntersandseethatafewbottlesslipfor’ard。I’llwagereverymanJackofthemisoverthesideto—morrow，huntingforWolfLarsenascontentedlyasevertheyhuntedforDeathLarsen。\"
\"Butwon’ttheyescapeasWainwrightdid？\"Iasked。
Helaughedshrewdly。\"Notaslongasouroldhuntershaveanythingtosayaboutit。I’mdividingamongstthemadollaraskinforalltheskinsshotbyournewhunters。Atleasthalfoftheirenthusiasmto—daywasduetothat。Oh，no，therewon’tbeanyescapingiftheyhaveanythingtosayaboutit。Andnowyou’dbettergetfor’ardtoyourhospitalduties。Theremustbeafullwardwaitingforyou。\"TheSeaWolf：Chapter26CHAPTER26
WolfLarsentookthedistributionofthewhiskeyoffmyhands，andthebottlesbegantomaketheirappearancewhileIworkedoverthefreshbatchofwoundedmenintheforecastle。Ihadseenwhiskeydrunk，suchaswhiskeyandsodabythemenoftheclubs，butneverasthesemendrankit，frompannikinsandmugs，andfromthebottles——greatbrimmingdrinks，eachoneofwhichwasinitselfadebauch。Buttheydidnotstopatoneortwo。
Theydrankanddrank，andeverthebottlesslippedforwardandtheydrankmore。
Everybodydrank；thewoundeddrank；Oofty—Oofty，whohelpedme，drank。
OnlyLouisrefrained，nomorethancautiouslywettinghislipswiththeliquor，thoughhejoinedintherevelswithanabandonequaltothatofmostofthem。Itwasasaturnalia。Inloudvoicestheyshoutedovertheday’sfighting，wrangledaboutdetails，orwaxedaffectionateandmadefriendswiththemenwhomtheyhadfought。Prisonersandcaptorshiccoughedononeanother’sshoulders，andsworemightyoathsofrespectandesteem。
TheyweptoverthemiseriesofthepastandoverthemiseriesyettocomeundertheironruleofWolfLarsen。Andallcursedhimandtoldterribletalesofhisbrutality。
Itwasastrangeandfrightfulspectacle——thesmall，bunk—linedspace，thefloorandwallsleapingandlurching，thedimlight，theswayingshadowslengtheningandforeshorteningmonstrously，thethickairheavywithsmokeandthesmellofbodiesandiodoform，andtheinflamedfacesofthemen——half—men，Ishouldcallthem。InotedOofty—Oofty，holdingtheendofabandageandlookinguponthescene，hisvelvetyandluminouseyesglisteninginthelightlikeadeer’seyes，andyetIknewthebarbaricdevilthatlurkedinhisbreastandbeliedallthesoftnessandtenderness，almostwomanly，ofhisfaceandform。AndInoticedtheboyishfaceofHarrison，——agoodfaceonce，butnowademon’s，——convulsedwithpassionashetoldthenewcomersofthehell—shiptheywereinandshriekedcursesupontheheadofWolfLarsen。
WolfLarsenitwas，alwaysWolfLarsen，enslaverandtormentorofmen，amaleCirceandthesehisswine，sufferingbrutesthatgrovelledbeforehimandrevoltedonlyindrunkennessandinsecrecy。AndwasI，too，oneofhisswine？Ithought。AndMaudBrewster？No！IgroundmyteethinmyangeranddeterminationtillthemanIwasattendingwincedundermyhandandOofty—Ooftylookedatmewithcuriosity。Ifeltendowedwithasuddenstrength。Whatofmynew—foundlove，Iwasagiant。Ifearednothing。I
wouldworkmywillthroughitall，inspiteofWolfLarsenandofmyownthirty—fivebookishyears。Allwouldbewell。Iwouldmakeitwell。Andso，exalted，upbornebyasenseofpower，Iturnedmybackonthehowlinginfernoandclimbedtothedeck，wherethefogdriftedghostlythroughthenightandtheairwassweetandpureandquiet。
Thesteerage，whereweretwowoundedhunters，wasarepetitionoftheforecastle，exceptthatWolfLarsenwasnotbeingcursed；anditwaswithagreatreliefthatIagainemergedondeckandwentafttothecabin。
Supperwasready，andWolfLarsenandMaudwerewaitingforme。
Whileallhisshipwasgettingdrunkasfastasitcould，heremainedsober。Notadropofliquorpassedhislips。Hedidnotdareitunderthecircumstances，forhehadonlyLouisandmetodependupon，andLouiswasevennowatthewheel。Weweresailingonthroughthefogwithoutalookoutandwithoutlights。ThatWolfLarsenhadturnedtheliquorlooseamonghismensurprisedme，butheevidentlyknewtheirpsychologyandthebestmethodofcementingincordialitywhathadbeguninbloodshed。
HisvictoryoverDeathLarsenseemedtohavehadaremarkableeffectuponhim。Thepreviouseveninghehadreasonedhimselfintotheblues，andIhadbeenwaitingmomentarilyforoneofhischaracteristicoutbursts。
Yetnothinghadoccurred，andhewasnowinsplendidtrim。Possiblyhissuccessincapturingsomanyhuntersandboatshadcounteractedthecustomaryreaction。Atanyrate，thebluesweregone，andthebluedevilshadnotputinanappearance。SoIthoughtatthetime；but，ahme，littleIknewhimorknewthateventhen，perhaps，hewasmeditatinganoutbreakmoreterriblethananyIhadseen。
AsIsay，hediscoveredhimselfinsplendidtrimwhenIenteredthecabin。Hehadhadnoheadachesforweeks，hiseyeswereclearblueasthesky，hisbronzewasbeautifulwithperfecthealth；lifeswelledthroughhisveinsinfullandmagnificentflood。WhilewaitingformehehadengagedMaudinanimateddiscussion。Temptationwasthetopictheyhadhitupon，andfromthefewwordsIheardImadeoutthathewascontendingthattemptationwastemptationonlywhenamanwasseducedbyitandfell。
\"Forlookyou，\"hewassaying，\"asIseeit，amandoesthingsbecauseofdesire。Hehasmanydesires。Hemaydesiretoescapepain，ortoenjoypleasure。Butwhateverhedoes，hedoesbecausehedesirestodoit。\"
\"Butsupposehedesirestodotwooppositethings，neitherofwhichwillpermithimtodotheother？\"Maudinterrupted。
\"TheverythingIwascomingto，\"hesaid。
\"Andbetweenthesetwodesiresisjustwherethesoulofthemanismanifest，\"shewenton。\"Ifitisagoodsoul，itwilldesireanddothegoodaction，andthecontraryifitisabadsoul。Itisthesoulthatdecides。\"
\"Boshandnonsense！\"heexclaimedimpatiently。\"Itisthedesirethatdecides。Hereisamanwhowantsto，say，getdrunk。Also，hedoesn’twanttogetdrunk。Whatdoeshedo？Howdoeshedoit？Heisapuppet。Heisthecreatureofhisdesires，andofthetwodesiresheobeysthestrongestone，thatisall。Hissoulhasn’tanythingtodowithit。Howcanhebetemptedtogetdrunkandrefusetogetdrunk？Ifthedesiretoremainsoberprevails，itisbecauseitisthestrongestdesire。Temptationplaysnopart，unless，——\"hepausedwhilegraspingthenewthoughtwhichhadcomeintohismind，——\"unlessheistemptedtoremainsober。
\"Ha！ha！\"helaughed。\"Whatdoyouthinkofthat，Mr。VanWeyden？\"
\"Thatbothofyouarehair—splitting，\"Isaid。\"Theman’ssoulishisdesires。Or，ifyouwill，thesumofhisdesiresishissoul。Thereinyouarebothwrong。Youlaythestressuponthedesireapartfromthesoul，MissBrewsterlaysthestressonthesoulapartfromthedesire，andinpointoffactsoulanddesirearethesamething。
\"However，\"Icontinued，\"MissBrewsterisrightincontendingthattemptationistemptationwhetherthemanyieldorovercome。Fireisfannedbythewinduntilitleapsupfiercely。Soisdesirelikefire。Itisfanned，asbyawind，bysightofthethingdesired，orbyanewandluringdescriptionorcomprehensionofthethingdesired。Thereliesthetemptation。Itisthewindthatfansthedesireuntilitleapsuptomastery。That’stemptation。
Itmaynotfansufficientlytomakethedesireovermastering，butinsofarasitfansatall，thatfarisittemptation。And，asyousay，itmaytemptforgoodaswellasforevil。\"
Ifeltproudofmyselfaswesatdowntothetable。Mywordshadbeendecisive。Atleasttheyhadputanendtothediscussion。
ButWolfLarsenseemedvoluble，pronetospeechasIhadneverseenhimbefore。Itwasasthoughhewereburstingwithpentenergywhichmustfindanoutletsomehow。Almostimmediatelyhelaunchedintoadiscussiononlove。Asusual，hiswasthesheermaterialisticside，andMaud’swastheidealistic。Formyself，beyondawordorsoofsuggestionorcorrectionnowandagain，Itooknopart。
Hewasbrilliant，butsowasMaud，andforsometimeIlostthethreadoftheconversationthroughstudyingherfaceasshetalked。Itwasafacethatrarelydisplayedcolor，butto—nightitwasflushedandvivacious。
Herwitwasplayingkeenly，andshewasenjoyingthetiltasmuchasWolfLarsen，andhewasenjoyingithugely。Forsomereason，thoughIknownotwhy，intheargument，soutterlyhadIlostitinthecontemplationofonestraybrownlockofMaud’shair，hequotedfromIseultatTintagel，whereshesays：>\"BlessedamIbeyondwomenevenherein，Thatbeyondallbornwomenismysin，Andperfectmytransgression。\"
AshehadreadpessimismintoOmar，sonowhereadtriumph，stingingtriumphandexultation，intoSwinburne’slines。Andhereadrightly，andhereadwell。HehadhardlyceasedreadingwhenLouisputhisheadintothecompanionwayandwhispereddown：
\"Beeasy，willye？Thefog’slifted，an’’tistheportlightivasteamerthat’scrossin’ourbowthisblessedminute。\"
WolfLarsensprangondeck，andsoswiftlythatbythetimewefollowedhimhehadpulledthesteerage—slideoverthedrunkenclamorandwasonhiswayforwardtoclosetheforecastle—scuttle。Thefog，thoughitremained，hadliftedhigh，whereitobscuredthestarsandmadethenightquiteblack。
DirectlyaheadofusIcouldseeabrightredlightandawhitelight，andIcouldhearthepulsingofasteamer’sengines。BeyondadoubtitwastheMacedonia。
WolfLarsenhadreturnedtothepoop，andwestoodinasilentgroup，watchingthelightsrapidlycrossourbow。
\"Luckyformehedoesn’tcarryasearchlight，\"WolfLarsensaid。
\"WhatifIshouldcryoutloudly？\"Iqueriedinawhisper。
\"Itwouldbeallup，\"heanswered。\"Buthaveyouthoughtuponwhatwouldimmediatelyhappen？\"
BeforeIhadtimetoexpressanydesiretoknow，hehadmebythethroatwithhisgorillagrip，andbyafaintquiverofthemuscles，——ahint，asitwere，——hesuggestedtomethetwistthatwouldsurelyhavebrokenmyneck。ThenextmomenthehadreleasedmeandweweregazingattheMacedonia’slights。
\"WhatifIshouldcryout？\"Maudasked。
\"Ilikeyoutoowelltohurtyou，\"hesaidsoftly——nay，therewasatendernessandacaressinhisvoicethatmademewince。\"Butdon’tdoit，justthesame，forI’dpromptlybreakMr。VanWeyden’sneck。\"
\"Thenshehasmypermissiontocryout，\"Isaiddefiantly。
\"Ihardlythinkyou’llcaretosacrificetheDeanofAmericanLetterstheSecond，\"hesneered。
Wespokenomore，thoughwehadbecometoousedtooneanotherforthesilencetobeawkward；andwhentheredlightandthewhitehaddisappearedwereturnedtothecabintofinishtheinterruptedsupper。
Againtheyfelltoquoting，andMaudgaveDowson’s\"ImpenitentiaUltima。\"
Sherendereditbeautifully，butIwatchednother，butWolfLarsen。I
wasfascinatedbythefascinatedlookhebentuponMaud。Hewasquiteoutofhimself，andInoticedtheunconsciousmovementofhislipsasheshapedwordforwordasfastassheutteredthem。Heinterruptedherwhenshegavethelines：\"Andhereyesshouldbemylightwhilethesunwentoutbehindme，Andtheviolsinhervoicebethelastsoundinmyear。\"
\"Thereareviolsinyourvoice，\"hesaidbluntly，andhiseyesflashedtheirgoldenlight。
Icouldhaveshoutedwithjoyathercontrol。Shefinishedtheconcludingstanzawithoutfalteringandthenslowlyguidedtheconversationintolessperilouschannels。AndallthewhileIsatinahalf—daze，thedrunkenriotofthesteeragebreakingthroughthebulkhead，themanIfearedandthewomanIlovedtalkingonandon。Thetablewasnotcleared。ThemanwhohadtakenMugridge’splacehadevidentlyjoinedhiscomradesintheforecastle。
IfeverWolfLarsenattainedthesummitofliving，heattaineditthen。
FromtimetotimeIforsookmyownthoughtstofollowhim，andIfollowedinamaze，masteredforthemomentbyhisremarkableintellect，underthespellofhispassion，forhewaspreachingthepassionofrevolt。ItwasinevitablethatMilton’sLucifershouldbeinstanced，andthekeennesswithwhichWolfLarsenanalyzedanddepictedthecharacterwasarevelationofhisstifledgenius。ItremindedmeofTaine，yetIknewthemanhadneverheardofthatbrilliantthoughdangerousthinker。
\"Heledalostcause，andhewasnotafraidofGod’sthunderbolts，\"
WolfLarsenwassaying。\"Hurledintohell，hewasunbeaten。AthirdofGod’sangelshehadledwithhim，andstraightwayheincitedmantorebelagainstGod，andgainedforhimselfandhellthemajorportionofallthegenerationsofman。Whywashebeatenoutofheaven？BecausehewaslessbravethanGod？lessproud？lessaspiring？No！Athousandtimesno！Godwasmorepowerful，ashesaid，Whomthunderhathmadegreater。ButLuciferwasafreespirit。Toservewastosuffocate。Hepreferredsufferinginfreedomtoallthehappinessofacomfortableservility。HedidnotcaretoserveGod。Hecaredtoservenothing。Hewasnofigurehead。Hestoodonhisownlegs。Hewasanindividual。\"
\"Thefirstanarchist，\"Maudlaughed，risingandpreparingtowithdrawtoherstate—room。
\"Thenitisgoodtobeananarchist！\"hecried。He，too，hadrisen，andhestoodfacingher，whereshehadpausedatthedoorofherroom，ashewenton：\"`HereatleastWeshallbefree；theAlmightyhathnotbuiltHereforhisenvy；willnotdriveushence；Herewemayreignsecure；andinmychoiceToreignisworthambition，thoughinhell：Bettertoreigninhellthanserveinheaven。’\"
Itwasthedefiantcryofamightyspirit。Thecabinstillrangwithhisvoice，ashestoodthere，swaying，hisbronzedfaceshining，hisheadupanddominant，andhiseyes，goldenandmasculine，intenselymasculineandinsistentlysoft，flashinguponMaudatthedoor。
Againthatunnamableandunmistakableterrorwasinhereyes，andshesaid，almostinawhisper，\"YouareLucifer。\"
Thedoorclosedandshewasgone。Hestoodstaringafterherforaminute，thenreturnedtohimselfandtome。
\"I’llrelieveLouisatthewheel，\"hesaidshortly，\"andcalluponyoutorelieveatmidnight。Betterturninnowandgetsomesleep。\"
Hepulledonapairofmittens，putonhiscap，andascendedthecompanion—stairs，whileIfollowedhissuggestionbygoingtobed。Forsomeunknownreason，promptedmysteriously，Ididnotundress，butlaydownfullyclothed。ForatimeIlistenedtotheclamorinthesteerageandmarvelleduponthelovewhichhadcometome；butmysleepontheGhosthadbecomemosthealthfulandnatural，andsoonthesongsandcriesdiedaway，myeyesclosed，andmyconsciousnesssankdownintothehalf—deathofslumber。
Iknewnotwhathadarousedme，butIfoundmyselfoutofmybunk，onmyfeet，wideawake，mysoulvibratingtothewarningofdangerasitmighthavethrilledtoatrumpetcall。Ithrewopenthedoor。Thecabinlightwasburninglow。IsawMaud，myMaud，strainingandstrugglingandcrushedintheembraceofWolfLarsen’sarms。Icouldseethevainbeatandflutterofherasshestrove，pressingherfaceagainsthisbreast，toescapefromhim。AllthissawontheveryinstantofseeingandasIsprangforward。
Istruckhimwithmyfist，ontheface，asheraisedhishead，butitwasapunyblow。Heroaredinaferocious，animal—likeway，andgavemeashovewithhishand。Itwasonlyashove，aflirtofthewrist，yetsotremendouswashisstrengththatIwashurledbackwardasfromacatapult。
