\"Yes，hewillhavesomebeef—tea，\"shesaidquietly，lookingupatme。
\"Untilhishearinggoesweshallbeabletocommunicatewithhim。Andafterthat——\"
Shelookedatmequeerly。Isawherlipstremblingandthetearsswimmingupinhereyes。SheswayedtowardmeandIcaughtherinmyarms。
\"Oh，Humphrey，\"shesobbed，\"whenwillitallend？Iamsotired，sotired。\"
Sheburiedherheadonmyshoulder，herfrailformshakenwithastormofweeping。Shewaslikeafeatherinmyarms，soslender，soethereal。
\"Shehasbrokendownatlast，\"Ithought。\"WhatcanIdowithoutherhelp？\"
ButIsoothedandcomfortedher，tillshepulledherselfbravelytogetherandrecuperatedmentallyasquicklyasshewaswonttodophysically。
\"Ioughttobeashamedofmyself，\"shesaid。Thenadded，withthewhimsicalsmileIadored，\"butIamonlyonesmallwoman。\"
Thatphrase，the\"onesmallwoman，\"startledmelikeanelectricshock。
Itwasmyownphrase，mypet，secretphrase，mylovephraseforher。
\"Wheredidyougetthatphrase？\"Idemanded，withanabruptnessthatinturnstartledher。
\"Whatphrase？\"sheasked。
\"Onesmallwoman。\"
\"Isityours？\"sheasked。
\"Yes，\"Ianswered，\"mine。Imadeit。\"
\"Thenyoumusthavetalkedinyoursleep，\"shesmiled。
Thedancing，tremulouslightwasinhereyes。Mine，Iknew，werespeakingbeyondthewillofmyspeech。Ileanedtowardher。WithoutvolitionIleanedtowardher，asatreeisswayedbythewind。Ah，wewereveryclosetogetherinthatmoment。Butsheshookherhead，asonemightshakeoffsleeporadream，saying：
\"Ihaveknownitallmylife。Itwasmyfather’snameformymother。\"
\"Itismyphrase，too，\"Isaidstubbornly。
\"Foryourmother？\"
\"No，\"Ianswered，andshequestionednofurther，thoughIcouldhaveswornhereyesretainedforsometimeamocking，teasingexpression。
Withtheforemastin，theworknowwentonapace。AlmostbeforeIknewit，andwithoutoneserioushitch，Ihadthemainmaststepped。Aderrick—boom，riggedtotheforemast，hadaccomplishedthis；andseveraldaysmorefoundallstaysandshroudsinplace，andeverythingsetuptaut。Topsailswouldbeanuisanceandadangerforacrewoftwo，soIheavedthetopmastsondeckandlashedthemfast。
Severalmoredayswereconsumedinfinishingthesailsandputtingthemon。Therewereonlythree——thejib，foresail，andmainsail；and，patched，shortened，anddistorted，theywerearidiculouslyill—fittingsuitforsotrimacraftastheGhost。
\"Butthey’llwork！\"Maudcriedjubilantly。\"We’llmakethemwork，andtrustourlivestothem！\"
Certainly，amongmymanynewtrades，Ishoneleastasasail—maker。
Icouldsailthembetterthanmakethem，andIhadnodoubtofmypowertobringtheschoonertosomenorthernportofJapan。Infact，Ihadcrammednavigationfromtext—booksaboard；andbesides，therewasWolfLarsen’sstar—scale，sosimpleadevicethatachildcouldworkit。
Asforitsinventor，beyondanincreasingdeafnessandthemovementofthelipsgrowingfainterandfainter，therehadbeenlittlechangeinhisconditionforaweek。Butonthedaywefinishedbendingtheschooner’ssails，heheardhislast，andthelastmovementofhislipsdiedaway——
butnotbeforeIhadaskedhim，\"Areyouallthere？\"andthelipshadanswered，\"Yes。\"
Thelastlinewasdown。Somewherewithinthattombofthefleshstilldweltthesouloftheman。Walledbythelivingclay，thatfierceintelligencewehadknownburnedon；butitburnedoninsilenceanddarkness。Anditwasdisembodied。Tothatintelligencetherecouldbenoobjectiveknowledgeofabody。Itknewnobody。Theveryworldwasnot。Itknewonlyitselfandthevastnessandprofundityofthequietandthedark。TheSeaWolf：Chapter39CHAPTER39
Thedaycameforourdeparture。TherewasnolongeranythingtodetainusonEndeavorIsland。TheGhost’sstumpymastswereinplace，hercrazysailsbent。Allmyhandiworkwasstrong，noneofitbeautiful；butIknewthatitwouldwork，andIfeltmyselfamanofpowerasIlookedatit。
\"Ididit！Ididit！WithmyownhandsIdidit！\"Iwantedtocryaloud。
ButMaudandIhadawayofvoicingeachother’sthoughts，andshesaid，aswepreparedtohoistthemainsail：
\"Tothink，Humphrey，youdiditallwithyourownhands！\"
\"Butthereweretwootherhands，\"Ianswered。\"Twosmallhands，anddon’tsaythatwasaphrase，also，ofyourfather。\"
Shelaughedandshookherhead，andheldherhandsupforinspection。
\"Icannevergetthemcleanagain，\"shewailed，\"norsoftentheweather—beat。\"
\"Thendirtandweather—beatshallbeyourguerdonofhonor，\"said，holdingtheminmine；and，spiteofmyresolutions，Iwouldhavekissedthetwodearhandshadshenotswiftlywithdrawnthem。
Ourcomradeshipwasbecomingtremulous。Ihadmasteredmylovelongandwell，butnowitwasmasteringme。Wilfullyhaditdisobeyedandwonmyeyestospeech，andnowitwaswinningmytongue——ay，andmylips，fortheyweremadthismomenttokissthetwosmallhandswhichhadtoiledsofaithfullyandhard。AndI，too，wasmad。Therewasacryinmybeinglikebuglescallingmetoher。AndtherewasawindblowinguponmewhichIcouldnotresist，swayingtheverybodyofmetillIleanedtowardher，allunconsciousthatIleaned。Andsheknewit。Shecouldnotbutknowitassheswiftlydrewawayherhands，andyetcouldnotforbearonequick，searchinglookbeforesheturnedawayhereyes。
Bymeansofdeck—tacklesIhadarrangedtocarrythehalyardsforwardtothewindlass；andnowIhoistedthemainsail，peakandthroat，atthesametime。Itwasaclumsyway，butitdidnottakelong，andsoontheforesailaswellwasupandfluttering。
\"Wecannevergetthatanchorupinthisnarrowplace，onceithasleftthebottom，\"Isaid。\"Weshouldbeontherocksfirst。\"
\"Whatcanyoudo？\"sheasked。
\"Slipit，\"wasmyanswer。\"AndwhenIdo，youmustdoyourfirstworkonthewindlass。Ishallhavetorunatoncetothewheel，andatthesametimeyoumustbehoistingthejib。\"
Thisman渦vreofgettingunderwayIhadstudiedandworkedoutascoreoftimes；and，withthejib—halyardtothewindlass，IknewMaudwascapableofhoistingthatmostnecessarysail。Abriskwindwasblowingintothecove，andthoughthewaterwascalm，rapidworkwasrequiredtogetussafelyout。
WhenIknockedtheshackle—boltloose，thechainroaredoutthroughthehawse—holeandintothesea。Iracedaft，puttingthewheelup。TheGhostseemedtostartintolifeassheheeledtothefirstfillofhersails。Thejibwasrising。Asitfilled，theGhost’sbowswungoffandIhadtoputthewheeldownafewspokesandsteadyher。
Ihaddevisedanautomaticjib—sheetwhichpassedthejibacrossofitself，sotherewasnoneedforMaudtoattendtothat；butshewasstillhoistingthejibwhenIputthewheelharddown。Itwasamomentofanxiety，fortheGhostwasrushingdirectlyuponthebeach，astone’sthrowdistant。Butsheswungobedientlyonherheelintothewind。Therewasagreatflutteringandflappingofcanvasandreef—points，mostwelcometomyears，thenshefilledawayontheothertack。
Maudhadfinishedhertaskandcomeaft，whereshestoodbesideme，asmallcapperchedonherwind—blownhair，hercheeksflushedfromexertion，hereyeswideandbrightwiththeexcitement，hernostrilsquiveringtotherushandbiteofthefreshsaltair。Herbrowneyeswerelikeastartleddeer’s。Therewasawild，keenlookinthemIhadneverseenbefore，andherlipspartedandherbreathsuspendedastheGhost，charginguponthewallofrockattheentrancetotheinnercove，sweptintothewindandfilledawayintosafewater。
Myfirstmate’sberthonthesealinggroundsstoodmeingoodstead，andIclearedtheinnercoveandlaidalongtackalongtheshoreoftheoutercove。Onceagainabout，andtheGhostheadedouttoopensea。
Shehadnowcaughtthebosom—breathingoftheocean，andwasherselfa—breathwiththerhythmofitasshesmoothlymountedandslippeddowneachbroad—backedwave。Thedayhadbeendullandovercast，butthesunnowburstthroughtheclouds，awelcomeomen，andshoneuponthecurvingbeachwheretogetherwehaddaredthelordsoftheharemandslaintheholluschickie。AllEndeavorIslandbrightenedunderthesun。Eventhegrimsouthwesternpromontoryshowedlessgrim，andhereandthere，wherethesea—spraywetitssurface，highlightsflashedanddazzledinthesun。
\"Ishallalwaysthinkofitwithpride，\"IsaidtoMaud。
Shethrewherheadbackinaqueenlyway，butsaid，\"Dear，dearEndeavorIsland！Ishallalwaysloveit。\"
\"AndI，\"Isaidquickly。
Itseemedoureyesmustmeetinagreatunderstanding，andyet，loath，theystruggledawayanddidnotmeet。
TherewasasilenceImightalmostcallawkward，tillIbrokeit，saying：
\"Seethoseblackcloudstowindward。Youremember，Itoldyoulastnightthebarometerwasfalling。\"
\"Andthesunisgone，\"shesaid，hereyesstillfixeduponourisland，wherewehadprovedourmasteryovermatterandattainedtothetruestcomradeshipthatmayfalltomanandwoman。
\"Andit’sslackoffthesheetsforJapan！\"Icriedgayly。\"Afairwindandaflowingsheet，youknow，orhoweveritgoes。\"
Lashingthewheel，Iranforward，easedtheforeandmainsheets，tookinontheboom—tackles，andtrimmedeverythingforthequarteringbreezewhichwasours。Itwasafreshbreeze，veryfresh，butIresolvedtorunaslongasIdared。Unfortunately，whenrunningfree，itisimpossibletolashthewheel，soIfacedanall—nightwatch。Maudinsistedonrelievingme，butprovedthatshehadnotthestrengthtosteerinaheavysea，evenifshecouldhavegainedthewisdomonsuchshortnotice。Sheappearedquiteheart—brokenoverthediscovery，butrecoveredherspiritsbycoilingdowntacklesandhalyardsandallstrayropes。Thenthereweremealstobecookedinthegalley，bedstomake，WolfLarsentobeattendedupon，andshefinishedthedaywithagrandhouse—cleaningattackuponthecabinandsteerage。
AllnightIsteered，withoutrelief，thewindslowlyandsteadilyincreasingandthesearising。AtfiveinthemorningMaudbroughtmehotcoffeeandbiscuitsshehadbaked，andatsevenasubstantialandpipinghotbreakfastputnewlifeintome。
Throughouttheday，andasslowlyandsteadilyasever，thewindincreased。
Itimpressedonewithitssullendeterminationtoblow，andblowharder，andkeeponblowing。AndstilltheGhostfoamedalong，racingoffthemilestillIwascertainshewasmakingatleastelevenknots。Itwastoogoodtolose，butbynightfallIwasexhausted。Thoughinsplendidphysicaltrim，athirty—six—hourtrickatthewheelwasthelimitofmyendurance。Besides，Maudbeggedmetoheaveto，andIknew，ifthewindandseaincreasedatthesamerateduringthenight，thatitwouldsoonbeimpossibletoheaveto。So，astwilightdeepened，gladlyandatthesametimereluctantly，IbroughttheGhostuponthewind。
ButIhadnotreckoneduponthecolossaltaskthereefingofthreesailsmeantforoneman。WhilerunningawayfromthewindIhadnotappreciateditsforce，butwhenweceasedtorunIlearnedtomysorrow，andwell—nightomydespair，howfiercelyitwasreallyblowing。Thewindbalkedmyeveryeffort，rippingthecanvasoutofmyhandsandinaninstantundoingwhatIhadgainedbytenminutesofsevereststruggle。Ateighto’clockIhadsucceededonlyinputtingthesecondreefintotheforesail。Ateleveno’clockIwasnofartheralong。Blooddrippedfromeveryfingerend，whilethenailswerebrokentothequick。FrompainandsheerexhaustionIweptinthedarkness，secretly，sothatMaudshouldnotknow。
Then，indesperation，Iabandonedtheattempttoreefthemainsailandresolvedtotrytheexperimentofheavingtoundertheclose—reefedforesail。
Threehoursmorewererequiredtogasketthemainsailandjib，andattwointhemorning，nearlydead，thelifealmostbuffetedandworkedoutofme，Ihadbarelysufficientconsciousnesstoknowtheexperimentwasasuccess。Theclose—reefedforesailworked。TheGhostclungonclosetothewindandbetrayednoinclinationtofalloffbroadsidetothetrough。
Iwasfamished，butMaudtriedvainlytogetmetoeat。dozedwithmymouthfulloffood。Iwouldfallasleepintheactofcarryingfoodtomymouthandwakenintormenttofindtheactyetuncompleted。SosleepilyhelplesswasIthatshewascompelledtoholdmeinmychairtopreventmybeingflungtothefloorbytheviolentpitchingoftheschooner。
OfthepassagefromthegalleytothecabinIknewnothing。Itwasasleep—walkerMaudguidedandsupported。Infact，IwasawareofnothingtillIawoke，howlongafterIcouldnotimagine，inmybunkwithmybootsoff。Itwasdark。Iwasstiffandlame，andcriedoutwithpainwhenthebed—clothestouchedmypoorfinger—ends。
Morninghadevidentlynotcome，soIclosedmyeyesandwenttosleepagain。Ididnotknowit，butIhadslepttheclockaroundanditwasnightagain。
OncemoreIwoke，troubledbecauseIcouldsleepnobetter。struckamatchandlookedatmywatch。Itmarkedmidnight。AndIhadnotleftthedeckuntilthree！IshouldhavebeenpuzzledhadInotguessedthesolution。
NowonderIwassleepingbrokenly。Ihadslepttwenty—onehours。IlistenedforawhiletothebehavioroftheGhost，tothepoundingoftheseasandthemuffledroarofthewindondeck，andthenturnedoveronmysideandsleptpeacefullyuntilmorning。
WhenIaroseatsevenIsawnosignofMaudandconcludedshewasinthegalleypreparingbreakfast。OndeckIfoundtheGhostdoingsplendidlyunderherpatchofcanvas。Butinthegalley，thoughafirewasburningandwaterboiling，IfoundnoMaud。
Idiscoveredherinthesteerage，byWolfLarsen’sbunk。lookedathim，themanwhohadbeenhurleddownfromthetopmostpitchoflifetobeburiedaliveandbeworsethandead。Thereseemedarelaxationofhisexpressionlessfacewhichwasnew。MaudlookedatmeandIunderstood。
\"Hislifeflickeredoutinthestorm，\"Isaid。
\"Buthestilllives，\"sheanswered，infinitefaithinhervoice。
\"Hehadtoogreatstrength。\"
\"Yes，\"shesaid，\"butnowitnolongershackleshim。Heisafreespirit。\"
\"Heisafreespiritsurely，\"Ianswered；and，takingherhand，Iledherondeck。
Thestormbrokethatnight，whichistosaythatitdiminishedasslowlyasithadarisen。Afterbreakfastnextmorning，whenIhadhoistedWolfLarsen’sbodyondeckreadyforburial，itwasstillblowingheavilyandalargeseawasrunning。Thedeckwascontinuallyawashwiththeseawhichcameinboardovertherailandthroughthescuppers。Thewindsmotetheschoonerwithasuddengust，andsheheeledovertillherleerailwasburied，theroarinherriggingrisinginpitchtoashriek。WestoodinthewatertoourkneesasIbaredmyhead。
\"Irememberonlyonepartoftheservice，\"Isaid，\"andthatis，`Andthebodyshallbecastintothesea。’\"
Maudlookedatme，surprisedandshocked；butthespiritofsomethingIhadseenbeforewasstronguponme，impellingmetogiveservicetoWolfLarsenasWolfLarsenhadoncegivenservicetoanotherman。Iliftedtheendofthehatchcover，andthecanvas—shroudedbodyslippedfeetfirstintothesea。Theweightofirondraggeditdown。Itwasgone。
\"Good—by，Lucifer，proudspirit，\"Maudwhispered，solowthatitwasdrownedbytheshoutingofthewind；butIsawthemovementofherlipsandknew。
Asweclungtotheleerailandworkedourwayaft，Ihappenedtoglancetoleeward。TheGhost，atthemoment，wasuptossedonasea，andIcaughtaclearviewofasmallsteamshiptwoorthreemilesaway，rollingandpitching，headontothesea，asitsteamedtowardus。Itwaspaintedblack，andfromthetalkofthehuntersoftheirpoachingexploitsIrecognizeditasaUnitedStatesrevenuecutter。IpointeditouttoMaudandhurriedlyledherafttothesafetyofthepoop。
Istartedtorushbelowtotheflag—locker，thenrememberedthatinriggingtheGhostIhadforgottentomakeprovisionforaflag—halyard。
\"Weneednodistresssignal，\"Maudsaid。\"Theyhaveonlytoseeus。\"
\"Wearesaved，\"Isaid，soberlyandsolemnly。Andthen，inanexuberanceofjoy，\"Ihardlyknowwhethertobegladornot。\"
Ilookedather。Oureyeswerenotloathtomeet。Weleanedtowardeachother，andbeforeIknewitmyarmswereabouther。
\"NeedI？\"Iasked。
Andsheanswered，\"Thereisnoneed，thoughthetellingofitwouldbesweet，sosweet。\"
Herlipsmetthepressofmine，and，bywhatstrangetrickoftheimaginationIknownot，thesceneinthecabinoftheGhostflasheduponme，whenshehadpressedherfingerslightlyonmylipsandsaid，\"Hush，hush。\"
\"Mywoman，myonesmallwoman，\"Isaid，myfreehandpettinghershoulderinthewayallloversknowthoughneverlearninschool。
\"Myman，\"shesaid，lookingatmeforaninstantwithtremulouslidswhichfluttereddownandveiledhereyesasshesnuggledherheadagainstmybreastwithahappylittlesigh。
Ilookedtowardthecutter。Itwasveryclose。Aboatwasbeinglowered。
\"Onekiss，dearlove，\"Iwhispered。\"Onekissmorebeforetheycome。\"
\"Andrescueusfromourselves，\"shecompleted，withamostadorablesmile，whimsicalasIhadneverseenit，foritwaswhimsicalwithlove。
