Buthestoodmotionlessandstaringasbefore。AndasIfacedhim，withlevelledgunshakinginmyhands，Ihadtimetonotethewornandhaggardappearanceofhisface。Itwasasifsomestronganxietyhadwastedit。
Thecheeksweresunken，andtherewasawearied，puckeredexpressiononthebrow。Anditseemedtomethathiseyeswerestrange，notonlytheexpression，butthephysicalseeming，asthoughtheopticnervesandsupportingmuscleshadsufferedstrainandslightlytwistedtheeyeballs。
AllthisIsaw，andmybrainnowworkingrapidly，Ithoughtathousandthoughts；andyetIcouldnotpullthetriggers。Iloweredthegunandsteppedtothecornerofthecabin，primarilytorelievethetensiononmynervesandtomakeanewstart，andincidentallytobecloser。AgainIraisedthegun。Hewasalmostatarm’slength。Therewasnohopeforhim。Iwasresolved。Therewasnopossiblechanceofmissinghim，nomatterhowpoormymarksmanship。AndyetIwrestledwithmyselfandcouldnotpullthetriggers。
\"Well？\"hedemandedimpatiently。
Istrovevainlytoforcemyfingersdownonthetriggers，andvainlyIstrovetosaysomething。
\"Whydon’tyoushoot？\"heasked。
Iclearedmythroatofahuskinesswhichpreventedspeech。
\"Hump，\"hesaidslowly，\"youcan’tdoit。Youarenotexactlyafraid。
Youareimpotent。Yourconventionalmoralityisstrongerthanyou。Youaretheslavetotheopinionswhichhavecredenceamongthepeopleyouhaveknownandhavereadabout。Theircodehasbeendrummedintoyourheadfromthetimeyoulisped，andinspiteofyourphilosophy，andofwhatIhavetaughtyou，itwon’tletyoukillanunarmed，unresistingman。\"
\"Iknowit，\"Isaidhoarsely。
\"AndyouknowthatIwouldkillanunarmedmanasreadilyaswouldsmokeacigar，\"hewenton。\"YouknowmeforwhatIam，——myworthintheworldbyyourstandard。Youhavecalledmesnake，tiger，shark，monster，andCaliban。Andyet，youlittleragpuppet，youlittleechoingmechanism，youareunabletokillmeasyouwouldasnakeorashark，becauseIhavehands，feet，andabodyshapedsomewhatlikeyours。Bah！Ihadhopedbetterthingsofyou，Hump。\"
Hesteppedoutofthecompanionwayandcameuptome。
\"Putdownthatgun。Iwanttoaskyousomequestions。haven’thadachancetolookaroundyet。Whatplaceisthis？HowistheGhostlying？Howdidyougetwet？Where’sMaud？——Ibegyourpardon，MissBrewster——orshouldIsay，`Mrs。VanWeyden’？\"
Ihadbackedawayfromhim，almostweepingatmyinabilitytoshoothim，butnotfoolenoughtoputdownthegun。Ihoped，desperately，thathemightcommitsomehostileact，attempttostrikemeorchokeme；forinsuchwayonlyIknewIcouldbestirredtoshoot。
\"ThisisEndeavorIsland，\"Isaid。
\"Neverheardofit，\"hebrokein。
\"Atleast，that’sournameforit，\"Iamended。
\"Our？\"hequeried。\"Who’sour？\"
\"MissBrewsterandmyself。AndtheGhostislying，asyoucanseeforyourself，bowontothebeach。\"
\"Therearesealshere，\"hesaid。\"Theywokemeupwiththeirbarking，orI’dbesleepingyet。IheardthemwhenIdroveinlastnight。TheywerethefirstwarningthatIwasonaleeshore。It’sarookery，thekindofathingI’vehuntedforyears。ThankstomybrotherDeath，I’velightedonafortune。It’samint。What’sitsbearings？\"
\"Haven’ttheleastidea，\"Isaid。\"Butyououghttoknowquiteclosely。
Whatwereyourlastobservations？\"
Hesmiledinscrutably，butdidnotanswer。
\"Well，where’sallhands？\"Iasked。\"Howdoesitcomethatyouarealone？\"
Iwaspreparedforhimagaintosetasidemyquestion，andwassurprisedatthereadinessofhisreply。
\"Mybrothergotmeinsideforty—eighthours，andthroughnofaultofmine。Boardedmeinthenightwithonlythewatchondeck。Hunterswentbackonme。Hegavethemabiggerlay。Heardhimofferingit。Diditrightbeforeme。Ofcoursethecrewgavemethego—by。Thatwastobeexpected。
Allhandswentovertheside，andthereIwas，maroonedonmyownvessel。
ItwasDeath’sturn，andit’sallinthefamilyanyway。\"
\"Buthowdidyoulosethemasts？\"Iasked。
\"Walkoverandexaminethoselanyards，\"hesaid，pointingtowherethemizzenriggingshouldhavebeen。
\"Theyhavebeencutwithaknife！\"Iexclaimed。
\"Notquite，\"helaughed。\"Itwasaneaterjob。Lookagain。\"
Ilooked。Thelanyardshadbeenalmostsevered，withjustenoughlefttoholdtheshroudstillsomeseverestrainshouldbeputuponthem。
\"Cookydidthat，\"helaughedagain。\"Iknow，thoughIdidn’tspothimatit。Kindofevenedupthescoreabit。\"
\"GoodforMugridge！\"Icried。
\"Yes，that’swhatIthoughtwheneverythingwentovertheside。OnlyIsaiditontheothersideofmymouth。\"
\"Butwhatwereyoudoingwhileallthiswasgoingon？\"Iasked。
\"Mybest，youmaybesure，whichwasn’tmuchunderthecircumstances。\"
IturnedtorexamineThomasMugridge’swork。
\"IguessI’llsitdownandtakethesunshine，\"IheardWolfLarsensaying。
Therewasahint，justaslighthint，ofphysicalfeeblenessinhisvoice，anditwassostrangethatIlookedquicklyathim。Hishandwassweepingnervouslyacrosshisface，asthoughhewerebrushingawaycobwebs。
Iwaspuzzled。ThewholethingwassounliketheWolfLarsenIhadknown。
\"Howareyourheadaches？\"Iasked。
\"Theystilltroubleme，\"washisanswer。\"IthinkIhaveonecomingonnow。\"
Heslippeddownfromhissittingposturetillhelayonthedeck。Thenherolledoveronhisside，hisheadrestingonthebicepsoftheunderarm，theforearmshieldinghiseyesfromthesun。Istoodregardinghimwonderingly。
\"Now’syourchance，Hump，\"hesaid。
\"Idon’tunderstand，\"Ilied，forIthoroughlyunderstood。
\"Oh，nothing，\"headdedsoftly，asifheweredrowsing；\"onlyyou’vegotmewhereyouwantme。\"
\"No，Ihaven’t，\"Iretorted；\"forIwantyouafewthousandmilesawayfromhere。\"
Hechuckled，andthereafterspokenomore。HedidnotstirasIpassedbyhimandwentdownintothecabin。Iliftedthetrapinthefloor，butforsomemomentsgazeddubiouslyintothedarknessofthelazarettebeneath。
Ihesitatedtodescend。Whatifhislyingdownwerearuse？Pretty，indeed，tobecaughttherelikearat。Icreptsoftlyupthecompanionwayandpeepedathim。HewaslyingasIhadlefthim。AgainIwentbelow；butbeforeIdroppedintothelazaretteItooktheprecautionofcastingdownthedoorinadvance。Atleasttherewouldbenolidtothetrap。Butitwasallneedless。Iregainedthecabinwithastoreofjams，sea—biscuits，cannedmeats，andsuchthings，——allcouldcarry，——andreplacedthetrap—door。
ApeepatWolfLarsenshowedmethathehadnotmoved。Abrightthoughtstruckme。Istoleintohisstate—roomandpossessedmyselfofhisrevolvers。
Therewerenootherweapons，thoughthoroughlyransackedthethreeremainingstate—rooms。Tomakesure，returnedandwentthroughthesteerageandforecastle，andinthegalleygatheredupallthesharpmeatandvegetableknives。
ThenIbethoughtmeofthegreatyachtsman’sknifehealwayscarried，andIcametohimandspoketohim，firstsoftly，thenloudly。Hedidnotmove。
Ibentoverandtookitfromhispocket。Ibreathedmorefreely。Hehadnoarmswithwhichtoattackmefromadistance；whileI，armed，couldalwaysforestallhimshouldheattempttograpplemewithhisterriblegorillaarms。
Fillingacoffee—potandfrying—panwithpartofmyplunder，andtakingsomechinawarefromthecabinpantry，IleftWolfLarsenlyinginthesunandwentashore。
Maudwasstillasleep。Iblewuptheembers，（wehadnotyetarrangedawinterkitchen），andquitefeverishlycookedthebreakfast。Towardtheend，Iheardhermovingaboutwithinthehut，makinghertoilet。Justasallwasreadyandthecoffeepoured，thedooropenedandshecameforth。
\"It’snotfairofyou，\"washergreeting。\"Youareusurpingoneofmyprerogatives。Youknowyouagreedthatthecookingshouldbemine，and——\"
\"Butjustthisonce，\"Ipleaded。
\"Ifyoupromisenottodoitagain，\"shesmiled。\"Unless，ofcourse，youhavegrowntiredofmypoorefforts。\"
Tomydelightsheneveroncelookedtowardthebeach，andmaintainedthebanterwithsuchsuccessthatallunconsciouslyshesippedcoffeefromthechinacup，atefriedevaporatedpotatoes，andspreadmarmaladeonherbiscuit。Butitcouldnotlast。Isawthesurprisethatcameoverher。
Shehaddiscoveredthechinaplatefromwhichshewaseating。Shelookedoverthebreakfast，notingdetailafterdetail。Thenshelookedatme，andherfaceturnedslowlytowardthebeach。
\"Humphrey！\"shesaid。
Theoldunnamableterrormountedintohereyes。
\"Is——he——？\"shequavered。
Inoddedmyhead。TheSeaWolf：Chapter33CHAPTER33
WewaitedalldayforWolfLarsentocomeashore。Itwasanintolerableperiodofanxiety。EachmomentoneortheotherofuscastexpectantglancestowardtheGhost。Buthedidnotcome。Hedidnotevenappearondeck。
\"Perhapsitishisheadache，\"Isaid。\"Ilefthimlyingonthepoop。
Hemayliethereallnight。IthinkI’llgoandsee。\"
Maudlookedentreatyatme。
\"Itisallright，\"Iassuredher。\"Ishalltaketherevolvers。YouknowIcollectedeveryweapononboard。\"
\"Buttherearehisarms，hishands，histerrible，terriblehands！\"sheobjected。Andthenshecried，\"Oh，Humphrey，Iamafraidofhim！Don’tgo——pleasedon’tgo！\"
Sherestedherhandappealinglyonmine，andsentmypulsefluttering。
Myheartwassurelyinmyeyesforamoment。Thedearandlovelywoman！
Andshewassomuchthewoman，clingingandappealing，sunshineanddewtomymanhood，rootingitdeeperandsendingthroughitthesapofanewstrength。Iwasforputtingmyarmaroundher，aswheninthemidstofthesealherd；butIconsidered，andrefrained。
\"Ishallnottakeanyrisks，\"Isaid。\"I’llmerelypeepoverthebowandsee。\"
Shepressedmyhandearnestlyandletmego。ButthespaceondeckwhereIhadlefthimlyingwasvacant。Hehadevidentlygonebelow。Thatnightwestoodalternatewatches，oneofussleepingatatime；fortherewasnotellingwhatWolfLarsenmightdo。Hewascertainlycapableofanything。
Thenextdaywewaited，andthenext，andstillhemadenosign。
\"Theseheadachesofhis，theseattacks，\"Maudsaid，ontheafternoonofthefourthday；\"perhapsheisill，veryill。Hemaybedead。\"
\"Ordying，\"washerafterthought，whenshehadwaitedsometimeformetospeak。
\"Betterso，\"Ianswered。
\"Butthink，Humphrey，afellow—creatureinhislastlonelyhour。\"
\"Perhaps，\"Isuggested。
\"Yes，evenperhaps，\"sheacknowledged。\"Butwedonotknow。Itwouldbeterribleifhewere。Icouldneverforgivemyself。Wemustdosomething。\"
\"Perhaps，\"Isuggestedagain。
Iwaited，smilinginwardlyatthewomanofherwhichcompelledasolicitudeforWolfLarsen，ofallcreatures。Wherewashersolicitudeforme，Ithought，——formewhomshehadbeenafraidtohavemerelypeepaboard？
Shewastoosubtlenottofollowthetrendofmysilence。Andshewasasdirectasshewassubtle。
\"Youmustgoaboard，Humphrey，andfindout，\"shesaid。\"Andifyouwanttolaughatme，youhavemyconsentandforgiveness。\"
Iaroseobedientlyandwentdownthebeach。
\"Dobecareful，\"shecalledafterme。
Iwavedmyarmfromtheforecastleheadanddroppeddowntothedeck。
AftIwalkedtothecabincompanion，whereIcontentedmyselfwithhailingbelow。WolfLarsenanswered，andashestartedtoascendthestairsIcockedmyrevolver。Idisplayeditopenlyduringourconversation，buthetooknonoticeofit。Heappearedthesame，physically，aswhenlastIsawhim，buthewasgloomyandsilent。Infact，thefewwordswespokecouldhardlybecalledaconversation。didnotinquirewhyhehadnotbeenashore，nordidheaskwhyIhadnotcomeaboard。Hisheadwasallrightagain，hesaid，andso，withoutfurtherparley，Ilefthim。
Maudreceivedmyreportwithobviousrelief，andthesightofsmokewhichlaterroseinthegalleyputherinamorecheerfulmood。Thenextday，andthenext，wesawthegalleysmokerising，andsometimeswecaughtglimpsesofhimonthepoop。Butthatwasall。Hemadenoattempttocomeashore。Thisweknew，forwestillmaintainedournight—watches。Wewerewaitingforhimtodosomething，toshowhishand，sotosay，andhisinactionpuzzledandworriedus。
Aweekofthispassedby。WehadnootherinterestthanWolfLarsen，andhispresenceweighedusdownwithanapprehensionwhichpreventedusfromdoinganyofthelittlethingswehadplanned。
Butattheendoftheweekthesmokeceasedrisingfromthegalley，andhenolongershowedhimselfonthepoop。IcouldseeMaud’ssolicitudeagaingrowing，thoughshetimidly，——andevenproudly，think，——foreborearepetitionofherrequest。Afterall，whatcensurecouldbeputuponher？Shewasdivinelyaltruistic，andshewasawoman。Besides，IwasmyselfawareofhurtatthoughtofthismanwhomIhadtriedtokill，dyingalonewithhisfellow—creaturessonear。Hewasright。ThecodeofmygroupwasstrongerthanI。Thefactthathehadhands，feet，andabodyshapedsomewhatlikemine，constitutedaclaimwhichIcouldnotignore。
SoIdidnotwaitasecondtimeforMaudtosendme。discoveredthatwestoodinneedofcondensedmilkandmarmalade，andannouncedthatI
wasgoingaboard。Icouldseethatshewavered。Sheevenwentsofarastomurmurthattheywerenon—essentialsandthatmytripafterthemmightbeinexpedient。Andasshehadfollowedthetrendofmysilence，shenowfollowedthetrendofmyspeech，andsheknewthatIwasgoingaboard，notbecauseofcondensedmilkandmarmalade，butbecauseofherandofheranxiety，whichsheknewshehadfailedtohide。
ItookoffmyshoeswhenIgainedtheforecastlehead，andwentnoiselesslyaftinmystockingfeet。NordidIcallthistimefromthetopofthecompanionway。
Cautiouslydescending，Ifoundthecabindeserted。Thedoortohisstate—roomwasclosed。AtfirstIthoughtofknocking，thenIrememberedmyostensibleerrandandresolvedtocarryitout。Carefullyavoidingnoise，Iliftedthetrap—doorinthefloorandsetittooneside。Theslop—chest，aswellastheprovisions，wasstoredinthelazarette，andItookadvantageoftheopportunitytolayinastockofunderclothing。
AsIemergedfromthelazaretteIheardsoundsinWolfLarsen’sstate—room。
Icrouchedandlistened。Thedoor—knobrattled。Furtively，instinctively，Islunkbackbehindthetableanddrewandcockedmyrevolver。Thedoorswungopenandhecameforth。NeverhadseensoprofoundadespairasthatwhichIsawonhisface，——thefaceofWolfLarsenthefighter，thestrongman，theindomitableone。Foralltheworldlikeawomanwringingherhands，heraisedhisclenchedfistsandgroaned。Onefistunclosed，andtheopenpalmsweptacrosshiseyesasthoughbrushingawaycobwebs。
\"God！God！\"hegroaned，andtheclenchedfistswereraisedagaintotheinfinitedespairwithwhichhisthroatvibrated。
Itwashorrible。Iwastremblingallover，andIcouldfeeltheshiversrunningupanddownmyspineandthesweatstandingoutonmyforehead。
Surelytherecanbelittleinthisworldmoreawfulthanthespectacleofastrongmaninthemomentwhenheisutterlyweakandbroken。
ButWolfLarsenregainedcontrolofhimselfbyanexertionofhisremarkablewill。Anditwasexertion。Hiswholeframeshookwiththestruggle。Heresembledamanonthevergeofafit。Hisfacestrovetocomposeitself，writhingandtwistingintheefforttillhebrokedownagain。Oncemoretheclenchedfistswentupwardandhegroaned。Hecaughthisbreathonceortwiceandsobbed。Thenhewassuccessful。IcouldhavethoughthimtheoldWolfLarsen，andyettherewasinhismovementsavaguesuggestionofweaknessandindecision。Hestartedforthecompanionway，andsteppedforwardquiteasIhadbeenaccustomedtoseehimdo；andyetagain，inhisverywalk，thereseemedthatsuggestionofweaknessandindecision。
Iwasnowconcernedwithfearformyself。Theopentraplaydirectlyinhispath，andhisdiscoveryofitwouldleadinstantlytohisdiscoveryofme。Iwasangrywithmyselfforbeingcaughtinsocowardlyaposition，crouchingonthefloor。Therewasyettime。roseswiftlytomyfeet，and，Iknow，quiteunconsciouslyassumedadefiantattitude。Hetooknonoticeofme。Nordidhenoticetheopentrap。BeforeIcouldgraspthesituation，oract，hehadwalkedrightintothetrap。Onefootwasdescendingintotheopening，whiletheotherfootwasjustonthevergeofbeginningtheuplift。Butwhenthedescendingfootmissedthesolidflooringandfeltvacancybeneath，itwastheoldWolfLarsenandthetigermusclesthatmadethefallingbodyspringacrosstheopening，evenasitfell，sothathestruckonhischestandstomach，witharmsoutstretched，ontheflooroftheoppositeside。Thenextinstanthehaddrawnuphislegsandrolledclear。Butherolledintomymarmaladeandunderclothesandagainstthetrap—door。
Theexpressiononhisfacewasoneofcompletecomprehension。ButbeforeIcouldguesswhathehadcomprehended，hehaddroppedthetrap—doorintoplace，closingthelazarette。ThenIunderstood。Hethoughthehadmeinside。
Also，hewasblind，blindasabat。watchedhim，breathingcarefullysothatheshouldnothearme。Hesteppedquicklytohisstate—room。Isawhishandmissthedoor—knobbyaninch，quicklyfumbleforit，andfindit。Thiswasmychance。tiptoedacrossthecabinandtothetopofthestairs。Hecameback，draggingaheavysea—chest，whichhedepositedontopofthetrap。Notcontentwiththis，hefetchedasecondchestandplaceditontopofthefirst。Thenhegatheredupthemarmaladeandunderclothesandputthemonthetable。Whenhestartedupthecompanionway，Iretreated，silentlyrollingoverontopofthecabin。
Heshovedtheslidepartwaybackandrestedhisarmsonit，hisbodystillinthecompanionway。Hisattitudewasofonelookingforwardthelengthoftheschooner，orstaring，rather，forhiseyeswerefixedandunblinking。Iwasonlyfivefeetawayanddirectlyinwhatshouldhavebeenhislineofvision。Itwasuncanny。Ifeltmyselfaghost，whatofmyinvisibility。Iwavedmyhandbackandforth，ofcoursewithouteffect；
butwhenthemovingshadowfellacrosshisfaceIsawatoncethathewassusceptibletotheimpression。Hisfacebecamemoreexpectantandtenseashetriedtoanalyzeandidentifytheimpression。Heknewthathehadrespondedtosomethingfromwithout，thathissensibilityhadbeentouchedbyachangingsomethinginhisenvironment；butwhatitwashecouldnotdiscover。Iceasedwavingmyhand，sothattheshadowremainedstationary。
Heslowlymovedhisheadbackandforthunderitandturnedfromsidetoside，nowinthesunshine，nowintheshade，feelingtheshadow，asitwere，testingitbysensation。
I，too，wasbusy，tryingtoreasonouthowhewasawareoftheexistenceofsointangibleathingasashadow。Ifitwerehiseyeballsonlythatwereaffected，orifhisopticnervewerenotwhollydestroyed，theexplanationwassimple。Ifotherwise，thentheonlyconclusionIcouldreachwasthatthesensitiveskinrecognizedthedifferenceoftemperaturebetweenshadeandsunshine。Or，perhaps，——whocantell？——itwasthatfabledsixthsensewhichconveyedtohimtheloomandfeelofanobjectcloseathand。
Givingoverhisattempttodeterminetheshadow，hesteppedondeckandstartedforward，walkingwithaswiftnessandconfidencewhichsurprisedme。Andstilltherewasthathintofthefeeblenessoftheblindinhiswalk。Iknewitnowforwhatitwas。
Tomyamusedchagrin，hediscoveredmyshoesontheforecastleheadandbroughtthembackwithhimintothegalley。Iwatchedhimbuildthefireandsetaboutcookingfoodforhimself；thenIstoleintothecabinformymarmaladeandunderclothes，slippedbackpastthegalley，andclimbeddowntothebeachtodelivermybarefootreport。TheSeaWolf：Chapter34CHAPTER34
\"It’stoobadtheGhosthaslosthermasts。Why，wecouldsailawayinher。Don’tyouthinkwecould，Humphrey？\"
Isprangexcitedlytomyfeet。
\"Iwonder，Iwonder，\"Irepeated，pacingupanddown。
Maud’seyeswereshiningwithanticipationastheyfollowedme。Shehadsuchfaithinme！Andthethoughtofitwassomuchaddedpower。I
rememberedMichelet’s\"Toman，womanisastheearthwastoherlegendaryson；hehasbuttofalldownandkissherbreastandheisstrongagain。\"
ForthefirsttimeIknewthewonderfultruthofhiswords。Why，Iwaslivingthem。Maudwasallthistome，anunfailingsourceofstrengthandcourage。Ihadbuttolookather，orthinkofher，andbestrongagain。
\"Itcanbedone，itcanbedone，\"Iwasthinkingandassertingaloud。
\"Whatmenhavedone，Icando；andiftheyhaveneverdonethisbefore，stillIcandoit。\"
\"What？forgoodnesssake，\"Mauddemanded。\"Dobemerciful。Whatisityoucando？\"
\"Wecandoit，\"Iamended。\"Why，nothingelsethanputthemastsbackintotheGhostandsailaway。\"
\"Humphrey！\"sheexclaimed。
AndIfeltasproudofmyconceptionasifitwerealreadyafactaccomplished。
\"Buthowisitpossibletobedone？\"sheasked。
\"Idon’tknow，\"wasmyanswer。\"IknowonlythatIamcapableofdoinganythingthesedays。\"
Ismiledproudlyather——tooproudly，forshedroppedhereyesandwasforthemomentsilent。
\"ButthereisCaptainLarsen，\"sheobjected。
\"Blindandhelpless，\"Iansweredpromptly，wavinghimasideasastraw。
\"Butthoseterriblehandsofhis！Youknowhowheleapedacrosstheopeningofthelazarette。\"
\"AndyouknowalsohowIcreptaboutandavoidedhim，\"contendedgayly。
\"Andlostyourshoes。\"
\"You’dhardlyexpectthemtoavoidWolfLarsenwithoutmyfeetinsideofthem。\"
Webothlaughed，andthenwentseriouslytoworkconstructingtheplanwherebyweweretostepthemastsoftheGhostandreturntotheworld。Irememberedhazilythephysicsofmyschooldays，whilethelastfewmonthshadgivenmepracticalexperiencewithmechanicalpurchases。
Imustsay，though，whenwewalkeddowntotheGhosttoinspectmorecloselythetaskbeforeus，thatthesightofthegreatmastslyinginthewateralmostdisheartenedme。Wherewerewetobegin？Iftherehadbeenonemaststanding，somethinghighuptowhichtofastenblocksandtackles！Buttherewasnothing。Itremindedmeoftheproblemofliftingoneselfbyone’sboot—straps。Iunderstoodthemechanicsoflevers；butwherewasItogetafulcrum？
Therewasthemainmast，fifteeninchesindiameteratwhatwasnowthebutt，stillsixty—fivefeetinlength，andweighing，Iroughlycalculated，atleastthreethousandpounds。Andthencametheforemast，largerindiameterandweighingsurelythirty—fivehundredpounds。WherewasItobegin？Maudstoodsilentlybymyside，whileIevolvedinmymindthecontrivanceknownamongsailorsas\"shears。\"But，thoughknowntosailors，IinventeditthereonEndeavorIsland。Bycrossingandlashingtheendsoftwospars，andthenelevatingthemintheairlikeaninverted\"V，\"Icouldgetapointabovethedecktowhichtomakefastmyhoistingtackle。TothishoistingtackleIcould，ifnecessary，attachasecondhoistingtackle。
Andthentherewasthewindlass！
MaudsawthatIhadachievedasolution，andhereyeswarmedsympathetically。
\"Whatareyougoingtodo？\"sheasked。
\"Clearthatraffle，\"Ianswered，pointingtothetangledwreckageoverside。
Ah，thedecisiveness，theverysoundofthewords，wasgoodinmyears。
\"Clearthatraffle！\"ImaginesosaltyaphraseonthelipsoftheHumphreyVanWeydenofafewmonthsgone！
Theremusthavebeenatouchofthemelodramaticinmyposeandvoice，forMaudsmiled。Herappreciationoftheridiculouswaskeen，andinallthingssheunerringlysawandfelt，whereitexisted，thetouchofsham，theovershading，theovertone。Itwasthiswhichhadgivenpoiseandpenetrationtoherownworkandmadeherofworthtotheworld。Theseriouscritic，withthesenseofhumorandthepowerofexpression，mustinevitablycommandtheworld’sear。Andsoitwasthatshehadcommanded。Hersenseofhumorwasreallytheartist’sinstinctforproportion。
\"I’msureI’vehearditbefore，somewhere，inbooks，\"shemurmuredgleefully。
Ihadaninstinctforproportionmyself，andIcollapsedforthwith，descendingfromthedominantposeofamasterofmattertoastateofhumbleconfusionwhichwas，tosaytheleast，verymiserable。
Herhandleaptoutatoncetomine。
\"I’msosorry，\"shesaid。
\"Noneedtobe，\"Igulped。\"Itdoesmegood。There’stoomuchoftheschoolboyinme。Allofwhichisneitherherenorthere。Whatwe’vegottodoisactuallyandliterallytoclearthatraffle。Ifyou’llcomewithmeintheboat，we’llgettoworkandstraightenthingsout。\"
\"`Whenthetopmencleartherafflewiththeirclasp—knivesintheirteeth，’\"shequotedatme；andfortherestoftheafternoonwemademerryoverourlabor。
HertaskwastoholdtheboatinpositionwhileIworkedatthetangle。
Andsuchatangle——halyards，sheets，guys，downhauls，shrouds，stays，allwashedaboutandbackandforthandthrough，andtwinedandknottedbythesea。Icutnomorethanwasnecessary，andwhatwithpassingthelongropesunderandaroundtheboomsandmasts，ofunreevingthehalyardsandsheets，ofcoilingdownintheboatanduncoilinginordertopassthroughanotherknotinthebight，Iwassoonwettotheskin。
Thesailsdidrequiresomecutting，andthecanvas，heavywithwater，triedmystrengthseverely；butIsucceededbeforenightfallingettingitallspreadoutonthebeachtodry。Wewerebothverytiredwhenweknockedoffforsupper，andwehaddonegoodwork，too，thoughtotheeyeitappearedinsignificant。
Nextmorning，withMaudasableassistant，IwentintotheholdoftheGhosttoclearthestepsofthemast—butts。WehadnomorethanbegunworkwhenthesoundofmyknockingandhammeringbroughtWolfLarsen。
\"Hellobelow！\"hecrieddowntheopenhatch。
ThesoundofhisvoicemadeMaudquicklydrawclosetome，asforprotection，andsherestedonehandonmyarmwhileweparleyed。
\"Helloondeck，\"Ireplied。\"Goodmorningtoyou。\"
\"Whatareyoudoingdownthere？\"hedemanded。\"Tryingtoscuttlemyshipforme？\"
\"Quitetheopposite；I’mrepairingher，\"wasmyanswer。
\"Butwhatinthunderareyourepairing？\"Therewaspuzzlementinhisvoice。
\"Why，I’mgettingeverythingreadyforresteppingthemasts，\"repliedeasily，asthoughitwerethesimplestprojectimaginable。
\"Itseemsasthoughyou’restandingonyourownlegsatlast，Hump，\"
weheardhimsay；andthenforsometimehewassilent。
\"ButIsay，Hump，\"hecalleddown，\"youcan’tdoit。\"
\"Oh，yes，Ican，\"Iretorted。\"I’mdoingitnow。\"
\"Butthisismyvessel，myparticularproperty。Whatifforbidyou？\"
\"Youforget，\"Ireplied。\"Youarenolongerthebiggestbitoftheferment。
Youwere，once，andabletoeatme，asyouwerepleasedtophraseit；buttherehasbeenadiminishing，andIamnowabletoeatyou。Theyeasthasgrownstale。\"
Hegaveashort，disagreeablelaugh。\"Iseeyou’reworkingmyphilosophybackonmeforallitisworth。Butdon’tmakethemistakeofunderestimatingme。ForyourowngoodIwarnyou。\"
\"Sincewhenhaveyoubecomeaphilanthropist？\"Iqueried。\"Confess，now，inwarningmeformyowngood，thatyouareveryinconsistent。\"
Heignoredmysarcasm，saying，\"SupposeIclapthehatchon，now？Youwon’tfoolmeasyoudidinthelazarette。\"
\"WolfLarsen，\"Isaidsternly，forthefirsttimeaddressinghimbythishismostfamiliarname，\"Iamunabletoshootahelpless，unresistingman。Youhaveprovedthattomysatisfactionaswellasyours。ButIwarnyounow，andnotsomuchforyourowngoodasformine，thatIshallshootyouthemomentyouattemptahostileact。Icanshootyounow，asIstandhere；andifyouaresominded，justgoaheadandtrytoclaponthehatch。\"
\"Nevertheless，Iforbidyou，Idistinctlyforbidyourtamperingwithmyship。\"
\"But，man！\"Iexpostulated，\"youadvancethefactthatitisyourshipasthoughitwereamoralright。Youhaveneverconsideredmoralrightsinyourdealingswithothers。YousurelydonotdreamthatI’llconsiderthemindealingwithyou？\"
IhadsteppedunderneaththeopenhatchwaysothatIcouldseehim。
Thelackofexpressiononhisface，sodifferentfromwhenIhadwatchedhimunseen，wasenhancedbytheunblinking，staringeyes。Itwasnotapleasantfacetolookupon。
