Ageneralsmilefollowed，inwhichWolfLarsenjoined，andthedinnerwentonsmoothly，thankstome，forhetreatedmeabominablytherestofthemeal，sneeringatmeandpatronizingmetillIwasalla—tremblewithsuppressedrage。YetIknewImustcontrolmyselfforMaudBrewster’ssake，andIreceivedmyrewardwhenhereyescaughtmineforafleetingsecond，andtheysaid，asdistinctlyasifshespoke，"Bebrave，bebrave。"
　　Weleftthetabletogoondeck，forasteamerwasawelcomebreakinthemonotonyoftheseaonwhichwefloated，whiletheconvictionthatitwasDeathLarsenandtheMacedoniaaddedtotheexcitement。Thestiffbreezeandheavyseawhichhadsprungupthepreviousafternoonhadbeenmoderatingallmorning，sothatitwasnowpossibletolowertheboatsforanafternoon’shunt。Thehuntingpromisedtobeprofitable。Wehadsailedsincedaylightacrossaseabarrenofseals，andwerenowrunningintotheherd。
　　Thesmokewasstillmilesastern，butoverhaulingusrapidly，whenweloweredourboats。Theyspreadoutandstruckanortherlycourseacrosstheocean。Nowandagainwesawasaillower，heardthereportsoftheshotguns，andsawthesailgoupagain。Thesealswerethick，thewindwasdyingaway；everythingfavoredabigcatch。Asweranofftogetourleewardpositionofthelastleeboat，wefoundtheoceanfairlycarpetedwithsleepingseals。Theywereallaboutus，thickerthanIhadeverseenthembefore，intwosandthreesandbunches，stretchedfulllengthonthesurfaceandsleepingforalltheworldlikesomanylazyyoungdogs。
　　Undertheapproachingsmokethehullandupperworksofasteamerweregrowinglarger。ItwastheMacedonia。Ireadhernamethroughtheglassesasshepassedbyscarcelyamiletostarboard。WolfLarsenlookedsavagelyatthevessel，whileMaudBrewsterwascurious。
　　"Whereisthetroubleyouweresosurewasbreezingup，CaptainLarsen？"
　　sheaskedgayly。
　　Heglancedather，amoment’samusementsofteninghisfeatures。
　　"Whatdidyouexpect？Thatthey’dcomeaboardandcutourthroats？"
　　"Somethinglikethat，"sheconfessed。"Youunderstand，seal—huntersaresonewandstrangetomethatIamquitereadytoexpectanything。"
　　Henoddedhishead。"Quiteright，quiteright。Yourerroristhatyoufailedtoexpecttheworst。"
　　"Why，whatcanbeworsethancuttingourthroats？"sheasked，withprettyna寁esurprise。
　　"Cuttingourpurses，"heanswered。"Manissomadethesedaysthathiscapacityforlivingisdeterminedbythemoneyhepossesses。"
　　"`Whostealsmypursestealstrash，’"shequoted。
　　"Whostealsmypursestealsmyrighttolive，"wasthereply，"oldsawstothecontrary。Forhestealsmybreadandmeatandbed，andinsodoingimperilsmylife。Therearenotenoughsoup—kitchensandbread—linestogoaround，youknow，andwhenmenhavenothingintheirpursestheyusuallydie，anddiemiserably——unlesstheyareabletofilltheirpursesprettyspeedily。"
　　"ButIfailtoseethatthissteamerhasanydesignsonyourpurse。"
　　"Waitandyouwillsee，"heansweredgrimly。
　　Wedidnothavelongtowait。Havingpassedseveralmilesbeyondourlineofboats，theMacedoniaproceededtolowerherown。Weknewshecarriedfourteenboatstoourfive，（wewereoneshortthroughthedesertionofWainwright），andshebegandroppingthemfartoleewardofourlastboat，continueddroppingthemathwartourcourse，andfinisheddroppingthemfartowindwardofourfirstweatherboat。Thehunting，forus，wasspoiled。Therewerenosealsbehindus，andaheadofusthelineoffourteenboats，likeahugebroom，swepttheherdbeforeit。
　　OurboatshuntedacrossthetwoorthreemilesofwaterbetweenthemandthepointwheretheMacedonia’shadbeendropped，andthenheadedforhome。Thewindhadfallentoawhisper，theoceanwasgrowingcalmerandcalmer，andthis，coupledwiththepresenceofthegreatherd，madeaperfecthuntingday——oneofthetwoorthreedaystobeencounteredinthewholeofaluckyseason。Anangrylotofmen，boat—pullersandsteerersaswellashunters，swarmedoverourside。Eachmanfeltthathehadbeenrobbed；andtheboatswerehoistedinamidcurses，which，ifcurseshadpower，wouldhavesettledDeathLarsenforalleternity——"Deadanddamnedforadozeniveternities，"commentedLouis，hiseyestwinklingupatmeasherestedfromhaulingtautthelashingsofhisboat。
　　"Listentothem，andfindifitishardtodiscoverthemostvitalthingintheirsouls，"saidWolfLarsen。"Faith？andlove？andhighideals？Thegood？thebeautiful？thetrue？"
　　"Theirinnatesenseofrighthasbeenviolated，"MaudBrewstersaid，joiningtheconversation。
　　Shewasstandingadozenfeetaway，onehandrestingonthemainshroudsandherbodyswayinggentlytotheslightrolloftheship。Shehadnotraisedhervoice，andyetIwasstruckbyitsclearandbell—liketone。
　　Ah，itwassweetinmyears！Iscarcelydaredlookatherjustthen，forthefearofbetrayingmyself。Aboy’scapwasperchedonherhead，andherhair，lightbrownandarrangedinalooseandfluffyorderthatcaughtthesun，seemedanaureoleaboutthedelicateovalofherface。Shewaspositivelybewitching，and，withal，sweetlyspirituelle，ifnotsaintly。
　　Allmyold—timemarvelatlifereturnedtomeatsightofthissplendidincarnationofit，andWolfLarsen’scoldexplanationoflifeanditsmeaningwastrulyridiculousandlaughable。
　　"Asentimentalist，"hesneered，"likeMr。VanWeyden。Thosemenarecursingbecausetheirdesireshavebeenoutraged。Thatisall。Whatdesires？
　　Thedesiresforthegoodgrubandsoftbedsashorewhichahandsomepay—daybringsthem——thewomenandthedrink，thegorgingandthebeast—linesswhichsotrulyexpressesthem，thebestthatisinthem，theirhighestaspirations，theirideals，ifyouplease。Theexhibitiontheymakeoftheirfeelingsisnotatouchingsight，yetitshowshowdeeplytheyhavebeentouched，howdeeplytheirpurseshavebeentouched；fortolayhandsontheirpursesistolayhandsontheirsouls。"
　　"Youhardlybehaveasifyourpursehadbeentouched，"shesaid，smilingly。
　　"ThenitsohappensthatIambehavingdifferently，formypurseandmysoulhavebothbeentouched。AtthecurrentpriceofskinsintheLondonmarket，andbasedonafairestimateofwhattheafternoon’scatchwouldhavebeenhadnottheMacedoniahoggedit，theGhosthaslostaboutfifteenhundreddollars’worthofskins。"
　　"Youspeaksocalmly——"shebegan。
　　"ButIdonotfeelcalm；Icouldkillthemanwhorobbedme，"heinterrupted。
　　"Yes，yes，Iknow，andthatmanmybrother——moresentiment！Bah！"
　　Hisfaceunderwentasuddenchange。Hisvoicewaslessharshandwhollysincereashesaid：
　　"Youmustbehappy，yousentimentalists，reallyandtrulyhappyatdreamingandfindingthingsgood，and，becauseyoufindsomeofthemgood，feelinggoodyourself。Now，tellme，youtwo，doyoufindmegood？"
　　"Youaregoodtolookupon——inaway，"Iqualified。
　　"Thereareinyouallpowersforgood，"wasMaudBrewster’sanswer。
　　"Thereyouare！"hecriedather，halfangrily。"Yourwordsareemptytome。Thereisnothingclearandsharpanddefiniteaboutthethoughtyouhaveexpressed。Youcannotpickitupinyourtwohandsandlookatit。Inpointoffact，itisnotathought。Itisafeeling，asentiment，asomethingbaseduponillusionandnotaproductoftheintellectatall。"
　　Ashewentonhisvoiceagaingrewsoft，andaconfidingnotecameintoit。"Doyouknow，IsometimescatchmyselfwishingthatI，too，wereblindtothefactsoflifeandonlyknewitsfanciesandillusions。They’rewrong，allwrong，ofcourse，andcontrarytoreason；butinthefaceofthemmyreasontellsme，wrongandmostwrong，thattodreamandliveillusionsgivesgreaterdelight。Andafterall，delightisthewageforliving。Withoutdelight，livingisaworthlessact。Tolaboratlivingandbeunpaidisworsethantobedead。Hewhodelightsthemostlivesthemost，andyourdreamsandunrealitiesarelessdisturbingtoyouandmoregratifyingthanaremyfactstome。"
　　Heshookhisheadslowly，pondering。
　　"Ioftendoubt，Ioftendoubt，theworthwhilenessofreason。Dreamsmustbemoresubstantialandsatisfying。Emotionaldelightismorefillingandlastingthanintellectualdelight；and，besides，youpayforyourmomentsofintellectualdelightbyhavingtheblues。Emotionaldelightisfollowedbynomorethanjadedsenseswhichspeedilyrecuperate。Ienvyyou，Ienvyyou。"
　　Hestoppedabruptly，andthenonhislipsformedoneofhisstrangequizzicalsmiles，asheadded：
　　"It’sfrommybrainIenvyyou，takenotice，andnotfrommyheart。
　　Myreasondictatesit。Theenvyisanintellectualproduct。amlikeasobermanlookingupondrunkenmen，and，greatlyweary，wishinghe，too，weredrunk。"
　　"Orlikeawisemanlookinguponfoolsandwishinghe，too，wereafool，"
　　Ilaughed。
　　"Quiteso，"hesaid。"Youareablessed，bankruptpairoffools。Youhavenofactsinyourpocketbook。"
　　"Yetwespendasfreelyasyou，"wasMaudBrewster’scontribution。
　　"Morefreely，becauseitcostsyounothing。"
　　"Andbecausewedrawuponeternity，"sheretorted。
　　"Whetheryoudoorthinkyoudo，it’sthesamething。Youspendwhatyouhaven’tgot，andinreturnyougetgreatervaluefromspendingwhatyouhaven’tgotthanIgetfromspendingwhatIhavegot，andwhatIhavesweatedtoget。"
　　"Whydon’tyouchangethebasisofyourcoinage，then？"shequeriedteasingly。
　　Helookedatherquickly，half—hopefully，andthensaid，allregretfully：
　　"Toolate。I’dliketo，perhaps，butIcan’t。Mypocketbookisstuffedwiththeoldcoinage，andit’sastubbornthing。Icanneverbringmyselftorecognizeanythingelseasvalid。"
　　Heceasedspeaking，andhisgazewanderedabsentlypastherandbecamelostintheplacidsea。Theoldprimalmelancholywasstronguponhim。
　　Hewasquiveringtoit。Hehadreasonedhimselfintoaspelloftheblues，andwithinfewhoursonecouldlookforthedevilwithinhimtobeupandstirring。IrememberedCharleyFuruseth，andknewthisman’ssadnessasthepenaltywhichthematerialisteverpaysforhismaterialism。TheSeaWolf：Chapter25CHAPTER25
　　"You’vebeenondeck，Mr。VanWeyden，"WolfLarsensaid，thefollowingmorningatthebreakfasttable。"Howdothingslook？"
　　"Clearenough，"Ianswered，glancingatthesunshinewhichstreameddowntheopencompanionway。"Fairwesterlybreeze，withapromiseofstiffening，ifLouispredictscorrectly。"
　　Henoddedhisheadinapleasedway。"Anysignsoffog？"
　　"Thickbanksinthenorthandnorthwest。"
　　Henoddedhisheadagain，evincingevengreatersatisfactionthanbefore。
　　"WhatoftheMacedonia？"
　　"Notsighted，"Ianswered。
　　Icouldhaveswornhisfacefellattheintelligence，butwhyheshouldbedisappointedIcouldnotconceive。
　　Iwassoontolearn。"Smokeho！"camethehailfromondeck，andhisfacebrightened。
　　"Good！"heexclaimed，andleftthetableatoncetogoondeckandintothesteerage，wherethehuntersweretakingthefirstbreakfastoftheirexile。
　　MaudBrewsterandIscarcelytouchedthefoodbeforeus，gazing，instead，insilentanxietyateachother，andlisteningtoWolfLarsen’svoice，whicheasilypenetratedthecabinthroughtheinterveningbulkhead。Hespokeatlength，andhisconclusionwasgreetedwithawildroarofcheers。
　　Thebulkheadwastoothickforustohearwhathesaid；butwhateveritwasitaffectedthehuntersstrongly，forthecheeringwasfollowedbyloudexclamationsandshoutsofjoy。
　　FromthesoundsondeckIknewthatthesailorshadbeenroutedoutandwerepreparingtolowertheboats。MaudBrewsteraccompaniedmeondeck，butIleftheratthebreakofthepoop，whereshemightwatchthesceneandnotbeinit。Thesailorsmusthavelearnedwhateverprojectwasonhand，andthevimandsnaptheyputintotheirworkattestedtheirenthusiasm。Thehunterscametroopingondeckwithshotgunsandammunition—boxes，and，mostunusual，theirrifles。Thelatterwererarelytakenintheboats，foraseal，shotatlongrangewitharifle，invariablysankbeforeaboatcouldreachit。Buteachhunterthisdayhadhisrifleandalargesupplyofcartridges。noticedtheygrinnedwithsatisfactionwhenevertheylookedattheMacedonia’ssmoke，whichwasrisinghigherandhigherassheapproachedfromthewest。
　　Thefiveboatswentoverthesidewitharush，spreadoutliketheribsofafan，andsetanortherlycourse，asontheprecedingafternoon，forustofollow。Iwatchedforsometime，curiously，butthereseemednothingextraordinaryabouttheirbehavior。Theyloweredsails，shotseals，andhoistedsailsagain，andcontinuedontheirwayasIhadalwaysseenthemdo。TheMacedoniarepeatedherperformanceofyesterday，"hogging"
　　theseabydroppingherlineofboatsinadvanceofoursandacrossourcourse。Fourteenboatsrequireaconsiderablespreadofoceanforcomfortablehunting，andwhenshehadcompletelylappedourlineshecontinuedsteamingintothenortheast，droppingmoreboatsasshewent。
　　"What’sup？"IaskedWolfLarsen，unablelongertokeepmycuriosityincheck。
　　"Nevermindwhat’sup，"heansweredgruffly。"Youwon’tbeathousandyearsinfindingout，andinthemeantimejustprayforplentyofwind。"
　　"Oh，well，Idon’tmindtellingyou，"hesaidthenextmoment。"I’mgoingtogivethatbrotherofmineatasteofhisownmedicine。Inshort，I’mgoingtoplaythehogmyself，andnotforoneday，butfortherestoftheseason，——ifwe’reinluck。"
　　"Andifwe’renot？"Iqueried。
　　"Nottobeconsidered，"helaughed。"Wesimplymustbeinluck，orit’sallupwithus。"
　　Hehadthewheelatthetime，andIwentforwardtomyhospitalintheforecastle，wherelaythetwocrippledmen，NilsonandThomasMugridge。
　　Nilsonwasascheerfulascouldbeexpected，forhisbrokenlegwasknittingnicely；buttheCockneywasdesperatelymelancholy，andIwasawareofagreatsympathyfortheunfortunatecreature。Andthemarvelofitwasthatstillhelivedandclungtolife。Thebrutalyearshadreducedhismeagrebodytosplinteredwreckage，andyetthesparkoflifewithinburnedbrightlyasever。
　　"Withanartificialfoot，——andtheymakeexcellentones，——youwillbestumpingships’galleystotheendoftime，"Iassuredhimjovially。
　　Buthisanswerwasserious，nay，solemn。"Idon’tknowaboutwotyous’y，Mr。VanW’yden，butIdoknowI’llneverrest’appytillseethat’ell—’oundbloodywelldead。’Ecawn’tliveaslongasme。’E’sgotnorighttolive，an’astheGoodWordputsit，`’Eshallshorelydie，’an’
　　Is’y，`Amen，an’damnsoonatthat。’"
　　WhenIreturnedondeckIfoundWolfLarsensteeringmainlywithonehand，whilewiththeotherhandheheldthemarineglassesandstudiedthesituationoftheboats，payingparticularattentiontothepositionoftheMacedonia。Theonlychangenoticeableinourboatswasthattheyhadhauledcloseonthewindandwereheadingseveralpointswestofnorth。Still，Icouldnotseetheexpediencyoftheman渦vre，forthefreeseawasstillinterceptedbytheMacedonia’sfiveweatherboats，which，inturn，hadhauledcloseonthewind。Thustheyslowlydivergedtowardthewest，drawingfartherawayfromtheremainderoftheboatsintheirline。Ourboatswererowingaswellassailing。Eventhehunterswerepulling，andwiththreepairsofoarsinthewatertheyrapidlyoverhauledwhatImayappropriatelytermtheenemy。
　　ThesmokeoftheMacedoniahaddwindledtoadimblotonthenortheasternhorizon。Ofthesteamerherselfnothingwastobeseen。Wehadbeenloafingalong，tillnow，oursailsshakinghalfthetimeandspillingthewind；andtwice，forshortperiods，wehadbeenhoveto。Buttherewasnomoreloafing。Sheetsweretrimmed，andWolfLarsenproceededtoputtheGhostthroughherpaces。Weranpastourlineofboatsandboredownuponthefirstweatherboatoftheotherline。
　　"Downthatflyingjib，Mr。VanWeyden，"WolfLarsencommanded。"Andstandbytobackoverthejibs。"
　　Iranforwardandhadthedownhauloftheflyingjiballinandfastasweslippedbytheboatahundredfeettoleeward。Thethreemeninitgazedatussuspiciously。Theyhadbeenhoggingthesea，andtheyknewWolfLarsen，byreputationatanyrate。Inotedthatthehunter，ahugeScandinaviansittinginthebow，heldhisrifle，readytohand，acrosshisknees。Itshouldhavebeeninitsproperplaceintherack。Whentheycameoppositeourstern，WolfLarsengreetedthemwithawaveofthehand，andcried：
　　"Comeonboardandhavea`gam’！"
　　"Togam，"amongthesealingschooners，isasubstitutefortheverbs"tovisit，""togossip。"Itexpressesthegarrulityoftheseaandisapleasantbreakinthemonotonyofthelife。
　　TheGhostswungaroundintothewind，andIfinishedmyworkforwardintimetorunaftandlendahandwiththemainsheet。
　　"Youwillpleasestayondeck，MissBrewster，"WolfLarsensaid，ashestartedforwardtomeethisguest。"Andyou，too，Mr。VanWeyden。"
　　Theboathadlowereditssailandrunalongside。Thehunter，golden—beardedlikeasea—king，cameovertherailanddroppedondeck。Buthishugenesscouldnotquiteovercomehisapprehensiveness。Doubtanddistrustshowedstronglyinhisface。Itwasatransparentface，forallofitshairyshield，andadvertisedinstantreliefwhenheglancedfromWolfLarsentome，notedthattherewasonlythepairofus，andthenglancedoverhisowntwomenwhohadjoinedhim。Surelyhehadlittlereasontobeafraid。HetoweredlikeaGoliathaboveWolfLarsen。Hemusthavemeasuredsixfeeteightornineinchesinstature，andIsubsequentlylearnedhisweight——240
　　pounds。Andtherewasnofatabouthim。Itwasallboneandmuscle。
　　Areturnofapprehensionwasapparent，when，atthetopofthecompanionway，WolfLarseninvitedhimbelow。Buthereassuredhimselfwithaglancedownathishost——abigmanhimselfbutdwarfedbythepropinquityofthegiant。Soallhesitancyvanished，andthepairdescendedintothecabin。
　　Inthemeantime，histwomen，aswasthewontofvisitingsailors，hadgoneforwardintotheforecastletodosomevisitingthemselves。
　　Suddenly，fromthecabincameagreat，chokingbellow，followedbyallthesoundsofafuriousstruggle。Itwastheleopardandthelion，andthelionmadeallthenoise。WolfLarsenwastheleopard。
　　"Youseethesacrednessofourhospitality，"Isaidbitterly，toMaudBrewster。
　　Shenoddedherheadthatsheheard，andInotedinherfacethesignsofthesamesicknessatsightorsoundofviolentstrugglefromwhichI
　　hadsufferedsoseverelyduringmyfirstweeksontheGhost。
　　"Wouldn’titbebetterifyouwentforward，saybythesteeragecompanionway，untilitisover？"Isuggested。
　　Sheshookherheadandgazedatmepitifully。Shewasnotfrightened，butappalled，rather，atthehumananimalityofit。
　　"Youwillunderstand，"Itookadvantageoftheopportunitytosay，"whateverpartItakeinwhatisgoingonandwhatistocome，thatIamcompelledtotakeit——ifyouandIareevertogetoutofthisscrapewithourlives。"
　　"Itisnotnice——forme，"Iadded。
　　"Iunderstand，"shesaid，inaweak，far—awayvoice，andhereyesshowedmethatshedidunderstand。
　　Thesoundsfrombelowsoondiedaway。ThenWolfLarsencamealoneondeck。Therewasaslightflushunderhisbronze，butotherwiseheborenosignsofthebattle。
　　"Sendthosetwomenaft，Mr。VanWeyden，"hesaid。
　　Iobeyed，andaminuteortwolatertheystoodbeforehim。
　　"Hoistinyourboat，"hesaidtothem。"Yourhunter’sdecidedtostayaboardawhileanddoesn’twantitpoundingalongside。"
　　"Hoistinyourboat，Isaid，"herepeated，thistimeinsharpertonesastheyhesitatedtodohisbidding。
　　"Whoknows？youmayhavetosailwithmeforatime，"hesaid，quitesoftly，withasilkenthreatthatbeliedthesoftness，astheymovedslowlytocomply，"andwemightaswellstartwithafriendlyunderstanding。Livelynow！DeathLarsenmakesyoujumpbetterthanthat，andyouknowit！"
　　Theirmovementsperceptiblyquickenedunderhiscoaching，andastheboatswunginboardIwassentforwardtoletgothejibs。WolfLarsen，atthewheel，directedtheGhostaftertheMacedonia’ssecondweatherboat。
　　Underway，andwithnothingforthetimebeingtodo，Iturnedmyattentiontothesituationoftheboats。TheMacedonia’sthirdweatherboatwasbeingattackedbytwoofours，thefourthbyourremainingthree；andthefifth，turnabout，wastakingahandinthedefenceofitsnearestmate。Thefighthadopenedatlongdistance，andtherifleswerecrackingsteadily。Aquick，snappyseawasbeingkickedupbythewind，aconditionwhichpreventedfineshooting；andnowandagain，aswedrewcloser，wecouldseethebulletszip—zippingfromwavetowave。
　　Theboatwewerepursuinghadsquaredawayandwasrunningbeforethewindtoescapeus，and，inthecourseofitsflight，totakepartinrepulsingourgeneralboatattack。
　　Attendingtosheetsandtacksnowleftmelittletimetoseewhatwastakingplace，butIhappenedtobeonthepoopwhenWolfLarsenorderedthetwostrangesailorsforwardandintotheforecastle。Theywentsullenly，buttheywent。HenextorderedMissBrewsterbelow，andsmiledattheinstanthorrorthatleaptintohereyes。
　　"You’llfindnothinggrewsomedownthere，"hesaid，"onlyanunhurtmansecurelymadefasttothering—bolts。Bulletsareliabletocomeaboard，andIdon’twantyoukilled，youknow。"
　　Evenashespoke，abulletwasdeflectedbyabrass—cappedspokeofthewheelbetweenhishandsandscreechedoffthroughtheairtowindward。
　　"Yousee，"hesaidtoher；andthentome，"Mr。VanWeyden，willyoutakethewheel？"
　　MaudBrewsterhadsteppedinsidethecompanionwaysothatonlyherheadwasexposed。WolfLarsenhadprocuredarifleandwasthrowingacartridgeintothebarrel。Ibeggedherwithmyeyestogobelow，butshesmiledandsaid：
　　"Wemaybefeebleland—creatureswithoutlegs，butwecanshowCaptainLarsenthatweareatleastasbraveashe。"
　　Hegaveheraquicklookofadmiration。
　　"Ilikeyouahundredpercentbetterforthat，"hesaid。"Books，andbrains，andbravery。Youarewell—rounded，ablue—stockingfittobethewifeofapiratechief。Ahem，we’lldiscussthatlater，"hesmiled，asabulletstrucksolidlyintothecabinwall。
　　Isawhiseyesflashgoldenashespoke，andIsawtheterrormountinherown。
　　"Wearebraver，"Ihastenedtosay。"Atleast，speakingformyself，IknowIambraverthanCaptainLarsen。"
　　ItwasIwhowasnowfavoredbyaquicklook。HewaswonderingifI
　　weremakingfunofhim。IputthreeorfourspokesovertocounteractasheertowardthewindonthepartoftheGhost，andthensteadiedher。WolfLarsenwasstillwaitinganexplanation，andpointeddowntomyknees。
　　"Youwillobservethere，"Isaid，"aslighttrembling。ItisbecauseIamafraid，thefleshisafraid；andIamafraidinmymindbecauseI
　　donotwishtodie。Butmyspiritmastersthetremblingfleshandthequalmsofthemind。Iammorethanbrave。Iamcourageous。Yourfleshisnotafraid。
　　Youarenotafraid。Ontheonehand，itcostsyounothingtoencounterdanger；ontheotherhand，itevengivesyoudelight。Youenjoyit。Youmaybeunafraid，Mr。Larsen，butyoumustgrantthatthebraveryismine。"
　　"You’reright，"heacknowledgedatonce。"Ineverthoughtofitinthatwaybefore。Butistheoppositetrue？IfyouarebraverthanI，amImorecowardlythanyou？"
　　Webothlaughedattheabsurdity，andhedroppeddowntothedeckandrestedhisrifleacrosstherail。Thebulletswehadreceivedhadtravellednearlyamile，butbynowwehadcutthatdistanceinhalf。Hefiredthreecarefulshots。Thefirststruckfiftyfeettowindwardoftheboat，thesecondalongside，andatthethirdtheboat—steererletloosehissteering—oarandcrumpledupinthebottomoftheboat。
　　"Iguessthat’llfixthem，"WolfLarsensaid，risingtohisfeet。"I
　　couldn’taffordtoletthehunterhaveit，andthereisachancetheboat—pullerdoesn’tknowhowtosteer。Inwhichcase，thehuntercannotsteerandshootatthesametime。"
　　Hisreasoningwasjustified，fortheboatrushedatonceintothewindandthehuntersprangafttotaketheboat—steerer’splace。Therewasnomoreshooting，thoughtherifleswerestillcrackingmerrilyfromtheotherboats。
　　Thehunterhadmanagedtogettheboatbeforethewindagain，butwerandownuponit，goingatleasttwofeettoitsone。Ahundredyardsaway，Isawtheboat—pullerpassarifletothehunter。WolfLarsenwentamidshipsandtookthecoilofthethroat—halyardsfromitspin。Thenhepeeredovertherailwithlevelledrifle。TwiceIsawthehunterletgothesteering—oarwithonehand，reachforhisrifle，andhesitate。Wewerenowalongsideandfoamingpast。
　　"Here，you！"WolfLarsencriedsuddenlytotheboat—puller。"Takeaturn！"
　　Atthesametimeheflungthecoilofrope。Itstruckfairly，nearlyknockingthemanover，buthedidnotobey。Instead，helookedtohishunterfororders。Thehunter，inturn，wasinaquandary。Hisriflewasbetweenhisknees，butifheletgothesteering—oarinordertoshoot，theboatwouldsweeparoundandcollidewiththeschooner。AlsohesawWolfLarsen’sriflebearinguponhimandknewhewouldbeshoterehecouldgethisrifleintoplay。
　　"Takeaturn，"hesaidquietlytotheman。