Commandfollowedcommand。Astheschoonerpaidoff，theforeandmainsheetswereslackedawayforfairwind。Andbeforethewindwewere，andleaping，whenJohnson，easinghissheetatimminentperil，cutacrossourwakeahundredfeetaway。AgainWolfLarsenlaughed，atthesametimebeckoningthemwithhisarmtofollow。Itwasevidentlyhisintentiontoplaywiththem，——alesson，Itookit，inlieuofabeating，thoughadangerouslesson，forthefrailcraftstoodinmomentarydangerofbeingoverwhelmed。
　　Johnsonsquaredawaypromptlyandranafterus。Therewasnothingelseforhimtodo。Deathstalkedeverywhere，anditwasonlyamatteroftimewhensomeoneofthosemanyhugeseaswouldfallupontheboat，rolloverit，andpasson。
　　"’Tisthefearivdeathattheheartsivthem，"Louismutteredinmyear，asIpassedforwardtoseetotakingintheflyingjibandstaysail。
　　"Oh，he’llheavetoinalittlewhileandpickthemup，"answeredcheerfully。
　　"He’sbentupongivingthemalesson，that’sall。"
　　Louislookedatmeshrewdly。"Thinkso？"heasked。
　　"Surely，"Ianswered。"Don’tyou？"
　　"Ithinknothingbutivmyownskin，thesedays，"washisanswer。"An’
　　’tiswithwonderI’mfilledastotheworkin’outivthings。Aprettymessthat’Friscowhiskeygotmeinto，an’aprettiermessthatwoman’sgotyouintoaftthere。Ah，it’smyselfthatknowsyeforablitherin’fool。"
　　"Whatdoyoumean？"Idemanded；for，havingspedhisshaft，hewasturningaway。
　　"WhatdoImean？"hecried。"Andit’syouthatasksme！’TisnotwhatImean，butwhattheWolf’llmean。TheWolf，Isaid，theWolf！"
　　"Iftroublecomes，willyoustandby？"Iaskedimpulsively，forhehadvoicedmyownfear。
　　"Standby？’TisoldfatLouisIstandby，an’troubleenoughit’llbe。
　　We’reatthebeginnin’ivthings，I’mtellin’ye，thebarebeginnin’ivthings。"
　　"Ihadnotthoughtyousogreatacoward，"Isneered。
　　Hefavoredmewithacontemptuousstare。"IfIraisedneverahandforthatpoorfool，"——pointingasterntothetinysail，——"d’yethinkI’mhungerin’forabrokenheadforawomanIneverlaidmeeyesuponbeforethisday？"
　　Iturnedscornfullyawayandwentaft。
　　"Bettergetinthosetopsails，Mr。VanWeyden，"WolfLarsensaid，asIcameonthepoop。
　　Ifeltrelief，atleastasfarasthetwomenwereconcerned。Itwasclearhedidnotwishtoruntoofarawayfromthem。Ipickeduphopeatthethoughtandputtheorderswiftlyintoexecution。Ihadscarcelyopenedmymouthtoissuethenecessarycommands，wheneagermenwerespringingtohalyardsanddownhauls，andotherswereracingaloft。ThiseagernessontheirpartwasnotedbyWolfLarsenwithagrimsmile。
　　Stillweincreasedourlead，andwhentheboathaddroppedasternseveralmileswehovetoandwaited。Alleyeswatcheditcoming，evenWolfLarsen’s；
　　buthewastheonlyunperturbedmanaboard。Louis，gazingfixedly，betrayedatroubleinhisfacehewasnotquiteabletohide。
　　Theboatdrewcloserandcloser，hurlingalongthroughtheseethinggreenlikeathingalive，liftingandsendinganduptossingacrossthehuge—backedbreakers，ordisappearingbehindthemonlytorushintosightagainandshootskyward。Itseemedimpossiblethatitcouldcontinuetolive，yetwitheachdizzyingsweepitdidachievetheimpossible。Arain—squalldrovepast，andoutoftheflyingwettheboatemerged，almostuponus。
　　"Hardup，there！"WolfLarsenshouted，himselfspringingtothewheelandwhirlingitover。
　　AgaintheGhostsprangawayandracedbeforethewind，andfortwohoursJohnsonandLeachpursuedus。Wehovetoandranaway，hovetoandranaway，andeverasternthestrugglingpatchofsailtossedskywardandfellintotherushingvalleys。Itwasaquarterofamileawaywhenathicksquallofrainveileditfromview。Itneveremerged。Thewindblewtheairclearagain，butnopatchofsailbrokethetroubledsurface。
　　IthoughtIsaw，foraninstant，theboat’sbottomshowblackinabreakingcrest。Atthebest，thatwasall。ForJohnsonandLeachthetravailofexistencehadceased。
　　Themenremainedgroupedamidships。Noonehadgonebelow，andnoonewasspeaking。Norwereanylooksbeingexchanged。Eachmanseemedstunned——deeplycontemplative，asitwere，and，notquitesure，tryingtorealizejustwhathadtakenplace。WolfLarsengavethemlittletimeforthought。
　　HeatonceputtheGhostuponhercourse——acoursewhichmeantthesealherdandnotYokohamaharbor。Butthemenwerenolongereagerastheypulledandhauled，andIheardcursesamongstthem，whichlefttheirlipssmotheredandasheavyandlifelessaswerethey。Notsowasitwiththehunters。Smoketheirrepressiblerelatedastory，andtheydescendedintothesteerage，bellowingwithlaughter。
　　AsIpassedtoleewardofthegalleyonmywayaft，Iwasapproachedbytheengineerwehadrescued。Hisfacewaswhite，hislipsweretrembling。
　　"GoodGod！sir，whatkindofacraftisthis？"hecried。
　　"Youhaveeyes，youhaveseen，"Ianswered，almostbrutally，whatofthepainandfearatmyownheart。
　　"Yourpromise？"IsaidtoWolfLarsen。
　　"IwasnotthinkingoftakingthemaboardwhenImadethatpromise，"
　　heanswered。"Andanyway，you’llagreeI’venotlaidmyhandsuponthem。"
　　"Farfromit，farfromit，"helaughedamomentlater。
　　Imadenoreply。Iwasincapableofspeaking，mymindwastooconfused。
　　Imusthavetimetothink，Iknew。Thiswoman，sleepingevennowinthesparecabin，wasaresponsibilitywhichImustconsider，andtheonlyrationalthoughtthatflickeredthroughmymindwasthatImustdonothinghastilyifIweretobeanyhelptoheratall。TheSeaWolf：Chapter20CHAPTER20
　　Theremainderofthedaypasseduneventfully。Theyoungslipofagale，havingwettedourgills，proceededtomoderate。Thefourthengineerandthethreeoilers，afterawarminterviewwithWolfLarsen，werefurnishedwithoutfitsfromtheslop—chests，assignedplacesunderthehuntersinthevariousboatsandwatchesonthevessel，andbundledforwardintotheforecastle。Theywentprotestingly，buttheirvoiceswerenotloud。TheywereawedbywhattheyhadalreadyseenofWolfLarsen’scharacter，whilethetaleofwoetheyspeedilyheardintheforecastletookthelastbitofrebellionoutofthem。
　　MissBrewster，——wehadlearnedhernamefromtheengineer，——sleptonandon。AtsupperIrequestedthehunterstolowertheirvoices，soshewasnotdisturbed；anditwasnottillnextmorningthatshemadeherappearance。Ithadbeenmyintentiontohavehermealsservedapart，butWolfLarsenputdownhisfoot。Whowasshethatsheshouldbetoogoodforcabintableandcabinsociety？hadbeenhisdemand。
　　Buthercomingtothetablehadsomethingamusinginit。Thehuntersfellsilentasclams。JockHornerandSmokealonewereunabashed，stealingstealthyglancesathernowandagain，andeventakingpartintheconversation。
　　Theotherfourmengluedtheireyesontheirplatesandchewedsteadilyandwiththoughtfulprecision，theirearsmovingandwobbling，intimewiththeirjaws，liketheearsofsomanyanimals。
　　WolfLarsenhadlittletosayatfirst，doingnomorethanreplywhenhewasaddressed。Notthathewasabashed。Farfromit。Thiswomanwasanewtypetohim，adifferentbreedfromanyhehadeverknown，andhewascurious。Hestudiedher，hiseyesrarelyleavingherfaceunlesstofollowthemovementsofherhandsorshoulders。studiedhermyself，andthoughitwasIwhomaintainedtheconversation，IknowthatIwasabitshy，notquiteself—possessed。Hiswastheperfectpoise，thesupremeconfidenceinself，whichnothingcouldshake；andhewasnomoretimidofawomanthanhewasofstormandbattle。
　　"AndwhenshallwearriveatYokohama？"sheasked，turningtohimandlookinghimsquarelyintheeyes。
　　Thereitwas，thequestionflat。Thejawsstoppedworking，theearsceasedwobbling，andthougheyesremainedgluedonplates，eachmanlistenedgreedilyfortheanswer。
　　"Infourmonths，possiblythreeiftheseasonclosesearly，"WolfLarsensaid。
　　Shecaughtherbreath，andstammered，"I——Ithought——IwasgiventounderstandthatYokohamawasonlyaday’ssailaway。It——"Hereshepausedandlookedaboutthetableatthecircleofunsympatheticfacesstaringhardattheplates。"Itisnotright，"sheconcluded。
　　"ThatisaquestionyoumustsettlewithMr。VanWeydenthere，"hereplied，noddingtomewithamischievoustwinkle。"Mr。VanWeydeniswhatyoumaycallanauthorityonsuchthingsasrights。NowI，whoamonlyasailor，wouldlookuponthesituationsomewhatdifferently。Itmaypossiblybeyourmisfortunethatyouhavetoremainwithus，butitiscertainlyourgoodfortune。"
　　Heregardedhersmilingly。Hereyesfellbeforehisgaze，butsheliftedthemagain，anddefiantly，tomine。Ireadtheunspokenquestionthere：
　　wasitright？ButIhaddecidedthatthepartIwastoplaymustbeaneutralone，soIdidnotanswer。
　　"Whatdoyouthink？"shedemanded。
　　"Thatitisunfortunate，especiallyifyouhaveanyengagementsfallingdueinthecourseofthenextseveralmonths。But，sinceyousaythatyouwerevoyagingtoJapanforyourhealth，IcanassureyouthatitwillimprovenobetteranywherethanaboardtheGhost。"
　　Isawhereyesflashwithindignation，andthistimeitwaswhodroppedmine，whileIfeltmyfaceflushingunderhergaze。Itwascowardly，butwhatelsecouldIdo？
　　"Mr。VanWeydenspeakswiththevoiceofauthority，"WolfLarsenlaughed。
　　Inoddedmyhead，andshe，havingrecoveredherself，waitedexpectantly。
　　"Notthatheismuchtospeakofnow，"WolfLarsenwenton，"buthehasimprovedwonderfully。Youshouldhaveseenhimwhenhecameonboard。
　　Amorescrawny，pitifulspecimenofhumanityonecouldhardlyconceive。
　　Isn’tthatso，Kerfoot？"
　　Kerfoot，thusdirectlyaddressed，wasstartledintodroppinghisknifeonthefloor，thoughhemanagedtogruntaffirmation。
　　"Developedhimselfbypeelingpotatoesandwashingdishes。Eh，Kerfoot？"
　　Againthatworthygrunted。
　　"Lookathimnow。True，heisnotwhatyouwouldtermmuscular，butstillhehasmuscles，whichismorethanhehadwhenhecameaboard。Also，hehaslegstostandon。Youwouldnotthinksotolookathim，buthewasquiteunabletostandaloneatfirst。"
　　Thehuntersweresnickering，butshelookedatmewithasympathyinhereyeswhichmorethancompensatedforWolfLarsen’snastiness。Intruth，ithadbeensolongsinceIhadreceivedsympathythatIwassoftened，andIbecamethen，andgladly，herwillingslave。ButIwasangrywithWolfLarsen。Hewaschallengingmymanhoodwithhisslurs，challengingtheverylegsheclaimedtobeinstrumentalingettingforme。
　　"Imayhavelearnedtostandonmyownlegs，"Iretorted。"ButIhaveyettostampuponotherswiththem。"
　　Helookedatmeinsolently。"Youreducationisonlyhalfcompleted，then，"hesaiddryly，andturnedtoher。
　　"WeareveryhospitableupontheGhost。Mr。VanWeydenhasdiscoveredthat。Wedoeverythingtomakeourguestsfeelathome，eh，Mr。VanWeyden？"
　　"Eventothepeelingofpotatoesandthewashingofdishes，"answered，"tosaynothingtowringingtheirnecksoutofveryfellowship。"
　　"IbegofyounottoreceivefalseimpressionsofusfromMr。VanWeyden，"
　　heinterposedwithmockanxiety。"Youwillobserve，MissBrewster，thathecarriesadirkinhisbelt，a——ahem——amostunusualthingforaship’sofficertodo。Whilereallyveryestimable，Mr。VanWeydenissometimes——howshallIsay？——er——quarrelsome，andharshmeasuresarenecessary。
　　Heisquitereasonableandfairinhiscalmmoments，andasheiscalmnowhewillnotdenythatonlyyesterdayhethreatenedmylife。"
　　Iwaswell—nighchoking，andmyeyeswerecertainlyfiery。Hedrewattentiontome。
　　"Lookathimnow。Hecanscarcelycontrolhimselfinyourpresence。
　　Heisnotaccustomedtothepresenceofladies，anyway。shallhavetoarmmyselfbeforeIdaregoondeckwithhim。"
　　Heshookhisheadsadly，murmuring，"Toobad，toobad，"whilethehuntersburstintoguffawsoflaughter。
　　Thedeep—seavoicesofthesemen，rumblingandbellowingintheconfinedspace，producedawildeffect。Thewholesettingwaswild，andforthefirsttime，regardingthisstrangewomanandrealizinghowincongruousshewasinit，IwasawareofhowmuchapartofitIwasmyself。Iknewthesemenandtheirmentalprocesses，wasoneofthemmyself，livingtheseal—huntinglife，eatingtheseal—huntingfare，thinking，largely，theseal—huntingthoughts。Therewasformenostrangenesstoit，totheroughclothes，thecoarsefaces，thewildlaughter，andthelurchingcabinwallsandswayingsea—lamps。
　　AsIbutteredapieceofbreadmyeyeschancedtorestuponmyhand。
　　Theknuckleswereskinnedandinflamedclearacross，thefingersswollen，thenailsrimmedwithblack。Ifeltthemattress—likegrowthofbeardonmyneck，knewthatthesleeveofmycoatwasripped，thatabuttonwasmissingfromthethroatoftheblueshirtIwore。ThedirkmentionedbyWolfLarsenrestedinitssheathonmyhip。Itwasverynaturalthatitshouldbethere，——hownaturalIhadnotimagineduntilnow，whenIlookeduponitwithhereyesandknewhowstrangeitandallthatwentwithitmustappeartoher。
　　ButshedivinedthemockeryinWolfLarsen’swords，andagainfavoredmewithasympatheticglance。Buttherewasalookofbewildermentalsoinhereyes。Thatitwasmockerymadethesituationmorepuzzlingtoher。
　　"Imaybetakenoffbysomepassingvessel，perhaps，"shesuggested。
　　"Therewillbenopassingvessels，exceptothersealingschooners，"
　　WolfLarsenmadeanswer。
　　"Ihavenoclothes，nothing，"sheobjected。"Youhardlyrealize，sir，thatIamnotaman，orthatIamunaccustomedtothevagrant，carelesslifewhichyouandyourmenseemtolead。"
　　"Thesooneryougetaccustomedtoit，thebetter，"hesaid。
　　"I’llfurnishyouwithcloth，needles，andthread，"headded。"Ihopeitwillnotbetoodreadfulahardshipforyoutomakeyourselfadressortwo。"
　　Shemadeawrypuckerwithhermouth，asthoughtoadvertiseherignoranceofdressmaking。Thatshewasfrightenedandbewildered，andthatshewasbravelystrivingtohideit，wasquiteplaintome。
　　"Isupposeyou’relikeMr。VanWeydenthere，accustomedtohavingthingsdoneforyou。Well，Ithinkdoingafewthingsforyourselfwillhardlydislocateanyjoints。Bytheway，whatdoyoudoforaliving？"
　　Sheregardedhimwithamazementunconcealed。
　　"Imeannooffence，believeme。Peopleeat，thereforetheymustprocurethewherewithal。Thesemenhereshootsealsinordertolive；forthesamereasonIsailthisschooner；andMr。VanWeyden，forthepresentatanyrate，earnshissaltygrubbyassistingme。Nowwhatdoyoudo？"
　　Sheshruggedhershoulders。
　　"Doyoufeedyourself？Ordoessomeoneelsefeedyou？"
　　"I’mafraidsomeoneelsehasfedmemostofmylife，"shelaughed，tryingbravelytoenterintothespiritofhisquizzing，thoughIcouldseeaterrordawningandgrowinginhereyesasshewatchedWolfLarsen。
　　"AndIsupposesomeoneelsemakesyourbedforyou？"
　　"Ihavemadebeds，"shereplied。
　　"Veryoften？"
　　Sheshookherheadwithmockruefulness。
　　"DoyouknowwhattheydotopoormenintheStates，who，likeyou，donotworkfortheirliving？"
　　"Iamveryignorant，"shepleaded。"Whatdotheydotothepoormenwhoarelikeme？"
　　"Theysendthemtojail。Thecrimeofnotearningaliving，intheircase，iscalledvagrancy。IfIwereMr。VanWeyden，whoharpseternallyonquestionsofrightandwrong，I’daskbywhatrightdoyoulivewhenyoudonothingtodeserveliving？"
　　"ButasyouarenotMr。VanWeyden，Idon’thavetoanswer，doI？"
　　Shebeameduponhimthroughherterror—filledeyes，andthepathosofitcutmetotheheart。Imustinsomewaybreakinandleadtheconversationintootherchannels。
　　"Haveyoueverearnedadollarbyyourownlabor？"hedemanded，certainofheranswer，atriumphantvindictivenessinhisvoice。
　　"Yes，Ihave，"sheansweredslowly，andIcouldhavelaughedaloudathiscrestfallenvisage。"Iremembermyfathergivingmeadollaronce，whenIwasalittlegirl，forremainingabsolutelyquietforfiveminutes。"
　　Hesmiledindulgently。
　　"Butthatwaslongago，"shecontinued。"Andyouwouldscarcelydemandalittlegirlofninetoearnherownliving。"
　　"Atpresent，however，"shesaid，afteranotherslightpause，"earnabouteighteenhundreddollarsayear。"
　　Withoneaccord，alleyeslefttheplatesandsettledonher。Awomanwhoearnedeighteenhundreddollarsayearwasworthlookingat。WolfLarsenwasundisguisedinhisadmiration。
　　"Salaryorpiece—work？"heasked。
　　"Piece—work，"sheansweredpromptly。
　　"Eighteenhundred，"hecalculated。"That’sahundredandfiftydollarsamonth。Well，MissBrewster，thereisnothingsmallabouttheGhost。
　　Consideryourselfonsalaryduringthetimeyouremainwithus。"
　　Shemadenoacknowledgment。Shewastoounusedasyettothewhimsofthemantoacceptthemwithequanimity。
　　"Iforgottoinquire，"hewentonsuavely，"astothenatureofyouroccupation。Whatcommoditiesdoyouturnout？Whattoolsandmaterialsdoyourequire？"
　　"Paperandink，"shelaughed。"And，oh！alsoatypewriter。"
　　"YouareMaudBrewster，"Isaidslowlyandwithcertainty，almostasthoughIwerechargingherwithacrime。
　　Hereyesliftedcuriouslytomine。"Howdoyouknow？"
　　"Aren’tyou？"Idemanded。
　　Sheacknowledgedheridentitywithanod。ItwasWolfLarsen’sturntobepuzzled。Thenameanditsmagicsignifiednothingtohim。wasproudthatitdidmeansomethingtome，andforthefirsttimeinawearywhileIwasconvincinglyconsciousofasuperiorityoverhim。
　　"Irememberwritingareviewofathinlittlevolume——"Ihadbeguncarelessly，whensheinterruptedme。
　　"You！"shecried。"Youare——"
　　Shewasnowstaringatmeinwide—eyedwonder。
　　Inoddedmyidentity，inturn。
　　"HumphreyVanWeyden，"sheconcluded；thenaddedwithasighofrelief，andunawarethatshehadglancedthatreliefatWolfLarsen，"Iamsoglad。"
　　"Irememberthereview，"shewentonhastily，becomingawareoftheawkwardnessofherremark；"thattoo，tooflatteringreview。"
　　"Notatall，"Ideniedvaliantly。"Youimpeachmysoberjudgmentandmakemycanonsoflittleworth。Besides，allmybrothercriticswerewithme。Didn’tLangincludeyour`KissEndured’amongthefoursupremesonnetsbywomenintheEnglishlanguage？"
　　"ButyoucalledmetheAmericanMrs。Meynell！"
　　"Wasitnottrue？"Idemanded。
　　"No，notthat，"sheanswered。"Iwashurt。"
　　"Wecanmeasuretheunknownonlybytheknown，"Ireplied，inmyfinestacademicmanner。"AsacriticIwascompelledtoplaceyou。Youhavenowbecomeayardstickyourself。Sevenofyourthinlittlevolumesareonmyshelves；andtherearetwothickervolumes，theessays，which，youwillpardonmysaying，andIknownotwhichisflatteredmore，fullyequalyourverse。ThetimeisnotfardistantwhensomeunknownwillariseinEnglandandthecriticswillnamehertheEnglishMaudBrewster。"
　　"Youareverykind，Iamsure，"shemurmured；andtheveryconventionalityofhertonesandwords，withthehostofassociationsitarousedoftheoldlifeontheothersideoftheworld，gavemeaquickthrill——richwithremembrancebutstingingsharpwithhomesickness。
　　"AndyouareMaudBrewster，"Isaidsolemnly，gazingacrossather。
　　"AndyouareHumphreyVanWeyden，"shesaid，gazingbackatmewithequalsolemnityandawe。"Howunusual！Idon’tunderstand。Wesurelyarenottoexpectsomewildlyromanticsea—storyfromyoursoberpen？"
　　"No，Iamnotgatheringmaterial，Iassureyou，"wasmyanswer。"Ihaveneitheraptitudenorinclinationforfiction。"
　　"Tellme，whyhaveyoualwaysburiedyourselfinCalifornia？"shenextasked。"Ithasnotbeenkindofyou。WeoftheEasthaveseensoverylittleofyou——toolittle，indeed，oftheDeanofAmericanLetters，theSecond。"
　　Ibowedto，anddisclaimed，thecompliment。"Inearlymetyou，once，inPhiladelphia，someBrowningaffairorother——youweretolecture，youknow。Mytrainwasfourhourslate。"
　　Andthenwequiteforgotwherewewere，leavingWolfLarsenstrandedandsilentinthemidstofourfloodofgossip。Thehuntersleftthetableandwentondeck，andstillwetalked。WolfLarsenaloneremained。SuddenlyIbecameawareofhim，leaningbackfromthetableandlisteningcuriouslytoouralienspeechofaworldhedidnotknow。
　　Ibrokeshortoffinthemiddleofasentence。Thepresent，withallitsperilsandanxieties，rusheduponmewithstunningforce。ItsmoteMissBrewsterlikewise，avagueandnamelessterrorrushingintohereyesassheregardedWolfLarsen。
　　Herosetohisfeetandlaughedawkwardly。Thesoundofitwasmetallic。
　　"Oh，don’tmindme，"hesaid，withaself—depreciatorywaveofhishand。
　　"Idon’tcount。Goon，goon，Iprayyou。"
　　Butthegatesofspeechwereclosed，andwe，too，rosefromthetableandlaughedawkwardly。TheSeaWolf：Chapter21CHAPTER21
　　ThechagrinWolfLarsenfeltfrombeingignoredbyMaudBrewsterandmeintheconversationattablehadtoexpressitselfinsomefashion，anditfelltoThomasMugridgetobethevictim。Hehadnotmendedhiswaysnorhisshirt，thoughthelatterhecontendedhehadchanged。Thegarmentitselfdidnotbearouttheassertion，nordidtheaccumulationsofgreaseonstoveandpotandpanattestageneralcleanliness。
　　"I’vegivenyouwarning，Cooky，"WolfLarsensaid，"andnowyou’vegottotakeyourmedicine。"
　　Mugridge’sfaceturnedwhiteunderitssootyveneer，andwhenWolfLarsencalledforaropeandacoupleofmen，themiserableCockneyfledwildlyoutofthegalleyanddodgedandduckedaboutthedeckwiththegrinningcrewinpursuit。Fewthingscouldhavebeenmoretotheirlikingthantogivehimatowovertheside，fortotheforecastlehehadsentmessesandconcoctionsofthevilestorder。Conditionsfavoredtheundertaking。
　　TheGhostwasslippingthroughthewateratnomorethanthreemilesanhour，andtheseawasfairlycalm。ButMugridgehadlittlestomachforadipinit。Possiblyhehadseenmentowedbefore。Besides，thewaterwasfrightfullycold，andhiswasanythingbutaruggedconstitution。
　　Asusual，thewatchesbelowandthehuntersturnedoutforwhatpromisedsport。Mugridgeseemedtobeinrabidfearofthewater，andheexhibitedanimblenessandspeedwedidnotdreamhepossessed。Corneredintheright—angleofthepoopandgalley，hespranglikeacattothetopofthecabinandranaft。Buthispursuersforstallinghim，hedoubledbackacrossthecabin，passedoverthegalley，andgainedthedeckbymeansofthesteerage—scuttle。
　　Straightforwardheraced，theboat—pullerHarrisonathisheelsandgainingonhim。ButMugridge，leapingsuddenly，caughtthejib—boom—lift。Ithappenedinaninstant。Holdinghisweightbyhisarms，andinmid—airdoublinghisbodyatthehips，heletflywithbothfeet。TheoncomingHarrisoncaughtthekicksquarelyinthepitofthestomach，groanedinvoluntarily，anddoubledupandsankbackwardtothedeck。
　　Hand—clappingandroarsoflaughterfromthehuntersgreetedtheexploit，whileMugridge，eludinghalfofhispursuersattheforemast，ranaftandthroughtheremainderlikearunneronthefootballfield。Straightaftheheld，tothepoopandalongthepooptothestern。Sogreatwashisspeedthatashecurvedpastthecornerofthecabinheslippedandfell。
　　Nilsonwasstandingatthewheel，andtheCockney’shurtlingbodystruckhislegs。Bothwentdowntogether，butMugridgealonearose。Bysomefreakofpressures，hisfrailbodyhadsnappedthestrongman’sleglikeapipestem。
　　Parsonstookthewheel，andthepursuitcontinued。Roundandroundthedeckstheywent，Mugridgesickwithfear，thesailorshallooingandshoutingdirectionstooneanother，andthehuntersbellowingencouragementandlaughter。Mugridgewentdownonthefore—hatchunderthreemen；butheemergedfromthemasslikeaneel，bleedingatthemouth，theoffendingshirtrippedintotatters，andsprangforthemain—rigging。Uphewent，clearup，beyondtheratlines，totheverymasthead。
　　Halfadozensailorsswarmedtothecrosstreesafterhim，wheretheyclusteredandwaitedwhiletwooftheirnumber，Oofty—OoftyandBlack，（whowasLatimer’sboat—steerer），continuedupthethinsteelstays，liftingtheirbodieshigherandhigherbymeansoftheirarms。
　　Itwasaperilousundertaking，for，ataheightofoverahundredfeetfromthedeck，holdingonbytheirhands，theywerenotinthebestofpositionstoprotectthemselvesfromMugridge’sfeet。AndMugridgekickedsavagely，tilltheKanaka，hangingonwithonehand，seizedtheCockney’sfootwiththeother。Blackduplicatedtheperformanceamomentlaterwiththeotherfoot。Thenthethreewrithedtogetherinaswayingtangle，struggling，sliding，andfallingintothearmsoftheirmatesonthecrosstrees。
　　Theaerialbattlewasover，andThomasMugridge，whiningandgibbering，hismouthfleckedwithbloodyfoam，wasbroughtdowntodeck。WolfLarsenroveabowlineinapieceofropeandslippeditunderhisshoulders。Thenhewascarriedaftandflungintothesea。Forty，——fifty，——sixtyfeetoflineranout，whenWolfLarsencried"Belay！"Oofty—Ooftytookaturnonabitt，theropetautened，andtheGhost，lungingonward，jerkedthecooktothesurface。
　　Itwasapitifulspectacle。Thoughhecouldnotdrown，andwasnine—livedinaddition，hewassufferingalltheagoniesofhalf—drowning。TheGhostwasgoingveryslowly，andwhenhersternliftedonawaveandsheslippedforwardshepulledthewretchtothesurfaceandgavehimamomentinwhichtobreathe；butbetweeneachliftthesternfell，andwhilethebowlazilyclimbedthenextwavethelineslackedandhesankbeneath。
　　IhadforgottentheexistenceofMaudBrewster，andrememberedherwithastartasshesteppedlightlybesideme。Itwasherfirsttimeondecksinceshehadcomeaboard。Adeadsilencegreetedherappearance。
　　"Whatisthecauseofthemerriment？"sheasked。
　　"AskCaptainLarsen，"Iansweredcomposedlyandcoldly，thoughinwardlymybloodwasboilingatthethoughtthatsheshouldbewitnesstosuchbrutality。
　　Shetookmyadviceandwasturningtoputitintoexecution，whenhereyeslightedonOofty—Oofty，immediatelybeforeher，hisbodyinstinctwithalertnessandgraceasheheldtheturnoftherope。
　　"Areyoufishing？"sheaskedhim。