Shenoddedherhead；andIcouldseesympathywarminhereyes。
Wewentuptohim，butheseemedunconscious，breathingspasmodically。
Shetookchargeofhim，liftinghisheadtokeepthebloodoutofitanddespatchingmetothecabinforapillow。Ialsobroughtblankets，andwemadehimcomfortable。Itookhispulse。Itbeatsteadilyandstrong，andwasquitenormal。Thispuzzledme。becamesuspicious。
\"Whatifheshouldbefeigningthis？\"Iasked，stillholdinghiswrist。
Maudshookherhead，andtherewasreproofinhereyes。ButjustthenthewristIheldleapedfrommyhand，andthehandclaspedlikeasteeltrapaboutmywrist。Icriedaloudinawfulfear，awildinarticulatecry；
andIcaughtoneglimpseofhisface，malignantandtriumphant，ashisotherhandcompassedmybodyandIwasdrawndowntohiminaterriblegrip。
Mywristwasreleased，buthisotherarm，passedaroundmyback，heldbothmyarmssothatIcouldnotmove。Hisfreehandwenttomythroat，andinthatmomentIknewthebitterestforetasteofdeathearnedbyone’sownidiocy。WhyhadItrustedmyselfwithinreachofthoseterriblearms？
Icouldfeelotherhandsatmythroat。TheywereMaud’shands，strivingvainlytotearloosethehandthatwasthrottlingme。Shegaveitup，andIheardherscreaminawaythatcutmetothesoul，foritwasawoman’sscreamoffearandheart—breakingdespair。Ihadhearditbefore，duringthesinkingoftheMartinez。
MyfacewasagainsthischestandIcouldnotsee，butIheardMaudturnandrunswiftlyawayalongthedeck。Everythingwashappeningquickly。
Ihadnotyethadaglimmeringofunconsciousness，anditseemedthataninterminableperiodoftimewaslapsingbeforeIheardherfeetflyingback。AndjustthenIfeltthewholemansinkunderme。Thebreathwasleavinghislungsandhischestwascollapsingundermyweight。Whetheritwasmerelytheexpelledbreath，orhisconsciousnessofhisgrowingimpotence，Iknownot，buthisthroatvibratedwithadeepgroan。Thehandatmythroatrelaxed。Ibreathed。Itflutteredandtightenedagain。Butevenhistremendouswillcouldnotovercomethedissolutionthatassailedit。Thatwillofhiswasbreakingdown。Hewasfainting。
Maud’sfootstepswereverynearashishandflutteredforthelasttimeandmythroatwasreleased。Irolledoffandovertothedeckonmyback，gaspingandblinkinginthesunshine。Maudwaspalebutcomposed，——myeyeshadgoneinstantlytoherface，——andshewaslookingatmewithmingledalarmandrelief。Aheavyseal—clubinherhandcaughtmyeyes，andatthatmomentshefollowedmygazedowntoit。Theclubdroppedfromherhandasthoughithadsuddenlystungher，andatthesamemomentmyheartsurgedwithagreatjoy。Trulyshewasmywoman，mymate—woman，fightingwithmeandformeasthemateofacavemanwouldhavefought，alltheprimitiveinheraroused，forgetfulofherculture，hardunderthesofteningcivilizationoftheonlylifeshehadeverknown。
\"Dearwoman！\"Icried，scramblingtomyfeet。
Thenextmomentshewasinmyarms，weepingconvulsivelyonmyshoulderwhileIclaspedherclose。Ilookeddownatthebrowngloryofherhair，glintinggemsinthesunshinefarmoreprecioustomethanthoseinthetreasure—chestsofkings。AndIbentmyheadandkissedherhairsoftly，sosoftlythatshedidnotknow。
Thensoberthoughtcametome。Afterall，shewasonlyawoman，cryingherrelief，nowthatthedangerwaspast，inthearmsofherprotectororoftheonewhohadbeenendangered。HadIbeenfatherorbrother，thesituationwouldhavebeeninnowisedifferent。Besides，timeandplacewerenotmeet，andIwishedtoearnabetterrighttodeclaremylove。
SoonceagainIsoftlykissedherhairasfeltherrecedingfrommyclasp。
\"Itwasarealattackthistime，\"Isaid；\"anothershockliketheonethatmadehimblind。Hefeignedatfirst，andindoingsobroughtiton。\"
Maudwasalreadyrearranginghispillow。
\"No，\"Isaid，\"notyet。NowthatIhavehimhelpless，helplessheshallremain。Fromthisdayweliveinthecabin。WolfLarsenshallliveinthesteerage。\"
Icaughthimundertheshouldersanddraggedhimtothecompanionway。
AtmydirectionMaudfetchedarope。Placingthisunderhisshoulders，Ibalancedhimacrossthethresholdandloweredhimdownthestepstothefloor。Icouldnotlifthimdirectlyintoabunk，butwithMaud’shelpIliftedfirsthisshouldersandhead，thenhisbody，balancedhimacrosstheedge，androlledhimintoalowerbunk。
Butthiswasnottobeall。Irecollectedthehandcuffsinhisstateroom，whichhepreferredtouseonsailorsinsteadoftheancientandclumsyship—irons。So，whenwelefthim，helayhandcuffedhandandfoot。ForthefirsttimeinmanydaysIbreathedfreely。IfeltstrangelylightasIcameondeck，asthoughaweighthadbeenliftedfrommyshoulders。I
felt，also，thatMaudandIhaddrawnmorecloselytogether；andIwonderedifshe，too，feltitaswewalkedalongthedecksidebysidetowherethestalledforemasthungintheshears。TheSeaWolf：Chapter37CHAPTER37
AtoncewemovedaboardtheGhost，occupyingouroldstate—roomsandcookinginthegalley。TheimprisonmentofWolfLarsenhadhappenedmostopportunely，forwhatmusthavebeentheIndiansummerofthishighlatitudewasgoneanddrizzlingstormyweatherhadsetin。Wewereverycomfortable，andtheinadequateshears，withtheforemastsuspendedfromthem，gaveabusinesslikeairtotheschoonerandapromiseofdeparture。
AndnowthatwehadWolfLarseninirons，howlittledidweneedit！
Likehisfirstattack，hissecondhadbeenaccompaniedbyseriousdisablement。
Maudmadethediscoveryintheafternoonwhiletryingtogivehimnourishment。
Hehadshownsignsofconsciousness，andshehadspokentohim，elicitingnoresponse。Hewaslyingonhisleftsideatthetime，andinevidentpain。Witharestlessmovementherolledhisheadaround，clearinghisleftearfromthepillowagainstwhichithadbeenpressed。Atonceheheardandansweredher，andatonceshecametome。
Pressingthepillowagainsthisleftear，Iaskedhimifheheardme，buthegavenosign。Removingthepillowandrepeatingthequestion，heansweredpromptlythathedid。
\"Doyouknowyouaredeafintherightear？\"Iasked。
\"Yes，\"heansweredinalow，strongvoice，\"andworsethanthat。Mywholerightsideisaffected。Itseemsasleep。Icannotmovearmorleg。\"
\"Feigningagain？\"Idemandedangrily。
Heshookhishead，hissternmouthshapingthestrangest，twistedsmile。
Itwasindeedatwistedsmile，foritwasontheleftsideonly，thefacialmusclesoftherightsidemovingnotatall。
\"ThatwasthelastplayoftheWolf，\"hesaid。\"Iamparalyzed。Ishallneverwalkagain。Oh，onlyontheotherside，\"headded，asthoughdiviningthesuspiciousglanceIflungathisleftleg，thekneeofwhichhadjustthendrawnupandelevatedtheblankets。
\"It’sunfortunate，\"hecontinued。\"I’dlikedtohavedoneforyoufirst，Hump。AndIthoughtIhadthatmuchleftinme。\"
\"Butwhy？\"Iasked，partlyinhorror，partlyoutofcuriosity。
Againhissternmouthframedthetwistedsmile，ashesaid：
\"Oh，justtobealive，tobelivinganddoing，tobethebiggestbitofthefermenttotheend，toeatyou。Buttodiethisway——\"
Heshruggedhisshoulders，orattemptedtoshrugthem，rather，fortheleftshoulderalonemoved。Likethesmile，theshrugwastwisted。
\"Buthowcanyouaccountforit？\"Iasked。\"Whereistheseatofyourtrouble？\"
\"Thebrain，\"hesaidatonce。\"Itwasthosecursedheadachesbroughtiton。\"
\"Symptoms，\"Isaid。
Henoddedhishead。\"Thereisnoaccountingforit。Iwasneversickinmylife。Something’sgonewrongwithmybrain。Acancer，atumor，orsomethingofthatnature，——athingthatdevoursanddestroys。It’sattackingmynerve—centres，eatingthemup，bitbybit，cellbycell——fromthepain。\"
\"Themotor—centres，too，\"Isuggested。
\"Soitwouldseem；andthecurseofitisthatImustliehere，conscious，mentallyunimpaired，knowingthatthelinesaregoingdown，breakingbitbybitcommunicationwiththeworld。Icannotsee，hearingandfeelingareleavingme，atthisrateIshallsoonceasetospeak；yetallthetimeIshallbehere，alive，active，andpowerless。\"
\"Whenyousayyouarehere，I’dsuggestthelikelihoodofthesoul，\"Isaid。
\"Bosh！\"washisretort。\"Itsimplymeansthatintheattackonmybrainthehigherpsychicalcentresareuntouched。Icanremember，canthinkandreason。Whenthatgoes，Igo。Iamnot。Thesoul？\"
Hebrokeoutinmockinglaughter，thenturnedhislefteartothepillowasasignthathewishednofurtherconversation。
MaudandIwentaboutourworkoppressedbythefearfulfatewhichhadovertakenhim，——howfearfulwewereyetfullytorealize。Therewastheawfulnessofretributionaboutit。Ourthoughtsweredeepandsolemn，andwespoketoeachotherscarcelyabovewhispers。
\"Youmightremovethehandcuffs，\"hesaidthatnight，aswestoodinconsultationoverhim。\"It’sdeadsafe。I’maparalyticnow。Thenextthingtowatchoutforisbedsores。\"
Hesmiledhistwistedsmile，andMaud，hereyeswidewithhorror，wascompelledtoturnawayherhead。
\"Doyouknowthatyoursmileiscrooked？\"Iaskedhim；forknewthatshemustattendhim，andIwishedtosaveherasmuchaspossible。
\"ThenIshallsmilenomore，\"hesaidcalmly。\"Ithoughtsomethingwaswrong。Myrightcheekhasbeennumballday。Yes，andI’vehadwarningsofthisforthelastthreedays；byspells，myrightsideseemedgoingtosleep，sometimesarmorhand，sometimeslegorfoot。\"
\"Somysmileiscrooked？\"hequeriedashortwhileafter。\"Well，considerhenceforththatIsmileinternally，withmysoul，ifyouplease，mysoul。
ConsiderthatIamsmilingnow。\"
Andforthespaceofseveralminuteshelaythere，quiet，indulginghisgrotesquefancy。
Themanofhimwasnotchanged。Itwastheold，indomitable，terribleWolfLarsen，imprisonedsomewherewithinthatfleshwhichhadoncebeensoinvincibleandsplendid。Nowitboundhimwithinsentientfetters，wallinghissoulindarknessandsilence，blockingitfromtheworldwhichtohimhadbeenariotofaction。Nomorewouldheconjugatetheverb\"todo\"
ineverymoodandtense。\"Tobe\"wasallthatremainedtohim——tobe，ashehaddefineddeath，withoutmovement；towill，butnottoexecute；
tothinkandreasonandinthespiritofhimtobeasaliveasever，butinthefleshtobedead，quitedead。
Andyet，thoughIevenremovedthehandcuffs，wecouldnotadjustourselvestohiscondition。Ourmindsrevolted。Toushewasfullofpotentiality。
Weknewnotwhattoexpectofhimnext，whatfearfulthing，risingabovetheflesh，hemightbreakoutanddo。Ourexperiencewarrantedthisstateofmind，andwewentaboutourworkwithanxietyalwaysuponus。
Ihadsolvedtheproblemwhichhadarisenthroughtheshortnessoftheshears。Bymeansofthewatch—tackle，（Ihadmadeanewone），Iheavedthebuttoftheforemastacrosstherailandthenloweredittothedeck。
Next，bymeansoftheshears，Ihoistedthemainboomonboard。Itsfortyfeetoflengthwouldsupplytheheightnecessaryproperlytoswingthemast。BymeansofasecondarytackleIhadattachedtotheshears，Iswungtheboomtoanearlyperpendicularposition，thenloweredthebutttothedeck，where，topreventslipping，Ispikedgreatcleatsaroundit。Thesingleblockofmyoriginalshears—tackleIhadattachedtotheendoftheboom。Thus，bycarryingthistackletothewindlass，Icouldraiseandlowertheendoftheboomatwill，thebuttalwaysremainingstationary，and，bymeansofguys，couldswingtheboomfromsidetoside。TotheendoftheboomIhadlikewiseriggedahoistingtackle；andwhenthewholearrangementwascompletedIcouldnotbutbestartledbythepowerandlatitudeitgaveme。
Ofcourse，twodays’workwasrequiredfortheaccomplishmentofthispartofmytask，anditwasnottillthemorningofthethirddaythatIswungtheforemastfromthedeckandproceededtosquareitsbutttofitthestep。HereIwasespeciallyawkward。Isawedandchoppedandchiselledtheweatheredwoodtillithadtheappearanceofhavingbeengnawedbysomegiganticmouse。Butitfitted。
\"Itwillwork，Iknowitwillwork，\"Icried。
\"DoyouknowDr。Jordan’sfinaltestoftruth？\"Maudasked。
Ishookmyheadandpausedintheactofdislodgingtheshavingswhichhaddrifteddownmyneck。
\"`Canwemakeitwork？Canwetrustourlivestoit？’isthetest。\"
\"Heisafavoriteofyours，\"Isaid。
\"WhenIdismantledmyoldPantheonandcastoutNapoleonandCaesarandtheirfellows，IstraightwayerectedanewPantheon，\"sheansweredgravely，\"andthefirstIinstalledwasDr。Jordan。\"
\"Amodernhero。\"
\"Andagreaterbecausemodern，\"sheadded。\"HowcantheOldWorldheroescomparewithours！\"
Ishookmyhead。Weweretoomuchalikeinmanythingsforargument。
Ourpointsofviewandoutlookonlifeatleastwereverylike。
\"Forapairofcriticsweagreefamously，\"Ilaughed。
\"Andasshipwrightandableassistant，\"shelaughedback。
Buttherewaslittletimeforlaughterinthosedays，whatofourheavyworkandoftheawfulnessofWolfLarsen’slivingdeath。
Hehadreceivedanotherstroke。Hehadlosthisvoice，orhewaslosingit。Hehadonlyintermittentuseofit。Ashephrasedit，thewireswerelikethestockmarket，nowup，nowdown。Occasionallythewireswereupandhespokeaswellasever，thoughslowlyandheavily。Thenspeechwouldsuddenlydeserthim，inthemiddleofasentenceperhaps，andforhours，sometimes，wewouldwaitfortheconnectiontoberestablished。Hecomplainedofgreatpaininhishead，anditwasduringthisperiodthathearrangedasystemofcommunicationagainstthetimewhenspeechshouldleavehimaltogether——onepressureofthehandfor\"yes，\"twofor\"no。\"Itwaswellthatitwasarranged，forbyeveninghisvoicehadgonefromhim。
Byhandpressures，afterthat，heansweredourquestions，andwhenhewishedtospeakhescrawledhisthoughtswithhislefthand，quitelegibly，onasheetofpaper。
Thefiercewinterhadnowdescendeduponus。Galefollowedgale，withsnowandsleetandrain。Thesealshadstartedontheirgreatsouthernmigration，andtherookerywaspracticallydeserted。workedfeverishly。
Inspiteofthebadweather，andofthewindwhichespeciallyhinderedme，Iwasondeckfromdaylighttilldarkandmakingsubstantialprogress。
Iprofitedbymylessonlearnedthroughraisingtheshearsandthenclimbingthemtoattachtheguys。Tothetopoftheforemast，whichwasjustliftedconvenientlyfromthedeck，Iattachedtherigging，stays，andthroatandpeakhalyards。Asusual，Ihadunderratedtheamountofworkinvolvedinthisportionofthetask，andtwolongdayswerenecessarytocompleteit。Andtherewassomuchyettobedone——thesails，forinstance，whichpracticallyhadtobemadeover。
WhileItoiledatriggingtheforemast，Maudsewedoncanvas，readyalwaystodropeverythingandcometomyassistancewhenmorehandsthantwowererequired。Thecanvaswasheavyandhard，andshesewedwiththeregularsailor’spalmandthree—corneredsail—needle。Herhandsweresoonsadlyblistered，butshestruggledbravelyon，andinadditiondoingthecookingandtakingcareofthesickman。
\"Afigforsuperstition，\"IsaidonFridaymorning。\"Thatmastgoesinto—day。\"
Everythingwasreadyfortheattempt。Carryingtheboom—tackletothewindlass，Ihoistedthemastnearlyclearofthedeck。Makingthistacklefast，Itooktothewindlasstheshears—tackle，（whichwasconnectedwiththeendoftheboom），andwithafewturnshadthemastperpendicularandclear。
Maudclappedherhandstheinstantshewasrelievedfromholdingtheturn，crying：
\"Itworks！Itworks！We’lltrustourlivestoit！\"
Thensheassumedaruefulexpression。
\"It’snotoverthehole，\"shesaid。\"Willyouhavetobeginallover？\"
Ismiledinsuperiorfashion，and，slackingoffononeoftheboom—guysandtakinginontheother，swungthemastperfectlyinthecentreofthedeck。Stillitwasnotoverthehole。Againtheruefulexpressioncameonherface，andagainIsmiledinasuperiorway。Slackingawayontheboom—tackleandhoistinganequivalentamountontheshears—tackle，Ibroughtthebuttofthemastintopositiondirectlyovertheholeinthedeck。
ThenIgaveMaudcarefulinstructionsforloweringawayandwentintotheholdtothestepontheschooner’sbottom。
Icalledtoher，andthemastmovedeasilyandaccurately。Straighttowardthesquareholeofthestepthesquarebuttdescended；butasitdescendeditslowlytwistedsothatsquarewouldnotfitintosquare。ButIhadnotevenamoment’sindecision。CallingtoMaudtoceaselowering，Iwentondeckandmadethewatch—tacklefasttothemastwitharollinghitch。IleftMaudtopullonitwhileIwentbelow。BythelightofthelanternIsawthebutttwistslowlyaroundtillitssidescoincidedwiththesidesofthestep。Maudmadefastandreturnedtothewindlass。Slowlythebuttdescendedtheseveralinterveninginches，atthesametimeslightlytwistingagain。AgainMaudrectifiedthetwistwiththewatch—tackle，andagainsheloweredawayfromthewindlass。Squarefittedintosquare。Themastwasstepped。
Iraisedashout，andsherandowntosee。Intheyellowlanternlightwepeeredatwhatwehadaccomplished。Welookedateachother，andourhandsfelttheirwayandclasped。Theeyesofbothus，think，weremoistwiththejoyofsuccess。
\"Itwasdonesoeasilyafterall，\"Iremarked。\"Alltheworkwasinthepreparation。\"
\"Andallthewonderinthecompletion，\"Maudadded。
\"Icanscarcelybringmyselftorealizethatthatgreatmastisreallyupandin；thatyouhavelifteditfromthewater，swungitthroughtheair，anddepositeditherewhereitbelongs。ItisaTitan’stask。\"
\"Andtheymadethemselvesmanyinventions，\"Ibeganmerrily，thenpausedtosnifftheair。
Ilookedhastilyatthelantern。Itwasnotsmoking。Againsniffed。
\"Somethingisburning，\"Maudsaid，withsuddenconviction。
Wesprangtogetherfortheladder，butIracedpasthertothedeck。
Adensevolumeofsmokewaspouringoutofthesteeragecompanionway。
\"TheWolfisnotyetdead，\"ImutteredtomyselfasIsprangdownthroughthesmoke。
ItwassothickintheconfinedspacethatIwascompelledtofeelmyway；andsopotentwasthespellofWolfLarsenonmyimagination，Iwasquitepreparedforthehelplessgianttogripmyneckinastranglehold。
Ihesitated，thedesiretoracebackandupthestepstothedeckalmostoverpoweringme。ThenIrecollectedMaud。Thevisionofher，asIhadlastseenher，inthelanternlightoftheschooner’shold，herbrowneyeswarmandmoistwithjoy，flashedbeforeme，andIknewthatIcouldnotgoback。
IwaschokingandsuffocatingbythetimeIreachedWolfLarsen’sbunk。
Ireachedmyhandandfeltforhis。Hewaslyingmotionless，butmovedslightlyatthetouchofmyhand。Ifeltoverandunderhisblankets。Therewasnowarmth，nosignoffire。Yetthatsmokewhichblindedmeandmademecoughandgaspmusthaveasource。lostmyheadtemporarilyanddashedfranticallyaboutthesteerage。Acollisionwiththetablepartiallyknockedthewindfrommybodyandbroughtmetomyself。Ireasonedthatahelplessmancouldstartafireonlyneartowherehelay。
IreturnedtoWolfLarsen’sbunk。ThereIencounteredMaud。HowlongshehadbeenthereinthatsuffocatingatmosphereIcouldnotguess。
\"Goupondeck！\"Icommandedperemptorily。
\"But，Humphrey——\"shebegantoprotestinaqueer，huskyvoice。
\"Please！please！\"Ishoutedatherharshly。
Shedrewawayobediently，andthenIthought，Whatifshecannotfindthesteps？Istartedafterher，tostopatthefootofthecompanionway。
Perhapsshehadgoneup。AsIstoodthere，hesitant，heardhercrysoftly：
——
\"Oh，Humphrey，Iamlost。\"
Ifoundherfumblingatthewalloftheafterbulkhead，and，halfleadingher，halfcarryingher，Itookherupthecompanionway。Thepureairwaslikenectar。Maudwasonlyfaintanddizzy，andIleftherlyingonthedeckwhenItookmysecondplungebelow。
ThesourceofthesmokemustbeveryclosetoWolfLarsen——mymindwasmadeuptothis，andIwentstraighttohisbunk。AsIfeltaboutamonghisblankets，somethinghotfellonthebackofmyhand。Itburnedme，andIjerkedmyhandaway。ThenIunderstood。Throughthecracksinthebottomoftheupperbunkhehadsetfiretothemattress。Hestillretainedsufficientuseofhisleftarmtodothis。Thedampstrawofthemattress，firedfrombeneathanddeniedair，hadbeensmoulderingallthewhile。
AsIdraggedthemattressoutofthebunkitseemedtodisintegrateinmid—air，atthesametimeburstingintoflames。Ibeatouttheburningremnantsofstrawinthebunk，thenmadeadashforthedeckforfreshair。
Severalbucketsofwatersufficedtoputouttheburningmattressinthemiddleofthesteeragefloor；andtenminuteslater，whenthesmokehadfairlycleared，IallowedMaudtocomebelow。WolfLarsenwasunconscious，butitwasamatterofminutesforthefreshairtorestorehim。Wewereworkingoverhim，however，whenhesignedforpaperandpencil。
\"Praydonotinterruptme，\"hewrote。\"Iamsmiling。\"
\"Iamstillabitoftheferment，yousee，\"hewrotealittlelater。
\"Iamgladyouareassmallabitasyouare，\"Isaid。
\"Thankyou，\"hewrote。\"ButjustthinkofhowmuchsmallershallbebeforeIdie。\"
\"AndyetIamallhere，Hump，\"hewrotewithafinalflourish。\"Icanthinkmoreclearlythaneverinmylifebefore。Nothingtodisturbme。
Concentrationisperfect。Iamallhereandmorethanhere。\"
Itwaslikeamessagefromthenightofthegrave；forthisman’sbodyhadbecomehismausoleum。Andthere，insostrangesepulture，hisspiritflutteredandlived。Itwouldflutterandlivetillthelastlineofcommunicationwasbroken，andafterthatwhowastosayhowmuchlongeritmightcontinuetoflutterandlive？TheSeaWolf：Chapter38CHAPTER38
Ithinkmyleftsideisgoing，\"WolfLarsenwrote，themorningafterhisattempttofiretheship。\"Thenumbnessisgrowing。Icanhardlymovemyhand。Youwillhavetospeaklouder。Thelastlinesaregoingdown。\"
\"Areyouinpain？\"Iasked。
Iwascompelledtorepeatmyquestionloudlybeforeheanswered。
\"Notallthetime。\"
Thelefthandstumbledslowlyandpainfullyacrossthepaper，anditwaswithextremedifficultythatwedecipheredthescrawl。Itwaslikea\"spiritmessage，\"suchasaredeliveredatsancesofspiritualistsforadollaradmission。
\"ButIamstillhere，allhere，\"thehandscrawledmoreslowlyandpainfullythanever。
Thepencildropped，andwehadtoreplaceitinthehand。
\"WhenthereisnopainIhaveperfectpeaceandquiet。Ihaveneverthoughtsoclearly。IcanponderlifeanddeathlikeaHindoosage。\"
\"Andimmortality？\"Maudqueriedloudlyintheear。
Threetimesthehandessayedtowritebutfumbledhopelessly。Thepencilfell。Invainwetriedtoreplaceit。Thefingerscouldnotcloseonit。
ThenMaudpressedandheldthefingersaboutthepencilwithherownhand，andthehandwrote，inlargeletters，andsoslowlythattheminutestickedofftoeachletter：
\"B——O——S——H。\"
ItwasWolfLarsen’slastword，\"bosh，\"scepticalandinvincibletotheend。Thearmandhandrelaxed。Thetrunkofthebodymovedslightly。
Thentherewasnomovement。Maudreleasedthehand。Thefingersspreadslightly，fallingapartoftheirownweight，andthepencilrolledaway。
\"Doyoustillhear？\"Ishouted，holdingthefingersandwaitingforthesinglepressurewhichwouldsignify\"Yes。\"Therewasnoresponse。Thehandwasdead。
\"Inoticedthelipsslightlymove，\"Maudsaid。
Irepeatedthequestion。Thelipsmoved。Sheplacedthetipsofherfingersonthem。AgainIrepeatedthequestion。\"Yes，\"Maudannounced。
Welookedateachotherexpectantly。
\"Whatgoodisit？\"Iasked。\"Whatcanwesaynow？\"
\"Oh，askhim——\"
Shehesitated。
\"Askhimsomethingthatrequires`no’forananswer，\"suggested。\"Thenwewillknowwithcertainty。\"
\"Areyouhungry？\"shecried。
Thelipsmovedunderherfingers，andsheanswered，\"Yes。\"
\"Willyouhavesomebeef？\"washernextquery。
\"No，\"sheannounced。
\"Beef—tea？\"
