"IwishIhadthoughttobringWolfLarsen’schronometerandsextant，"
　　Isaid，stillgloomily。"Sailingonedirection，driftinganotherdirection，tosaynothingofthesetofthecurrentinsomethirddirection，makesaresultantwhichdeadreckoningcannevercalculate。Beforelongwewon’tknowwherewearebyfivehundredmiles。"
　　ThenIbeggedherpardonandpromisedIshouldnotbedisheartenedanymore。AthersolicitationIlethertakethewatchtillmidnight，——itwasthennineo’clock，butIwrappedherinblanketsandputanoilskinaboutherbeforeIlaydown。Isleptonlycat—naps。Theboatwasleapingandpoundingasitfelloverthecrests，Icouldheartheseasrushingpast，andspraywascontinuallybeingthrownaboard。Andstill，itwasnotabadnight，Imused——nothingtothenightsIhadbeenthroughontheGhost；nothing，perhaps，tothenightsweshouldgothroughinthiscockle—shell。Itsplankingwasthree—quartersofaninchthick。
　　Betweenusandthebottomoftheseawaslessthananinchofwood。
　　Andyet，Iaverit，andIaveritagain，Iwasunafraid。ThedeathwhichWolfLarsenandevenThomasMugridgehadmademefear，Inolongerfeared。
　　ThecomingofMaudBrewsterintomylifeseemedtohavetransformedme。
　　Afterall，Ithought，itisbetterandfinertolovethantobeloved，ifitmakessomethinginlifesoworthwhilethatoneisnotloathtodieforit。Iforgetmyownlifeintheloveofanotherlife；andyet，suchistheparadox，IneverwantedsomuchtoliveasrightnowwhenIplacetheleastvalueuponmyownlife。Ineverhadsomuchreasonforliving，wasmyconcludingthought；andafterthat，untilIdozed，IcontentedmyselfwithtryingtopiercethedarknesstowhereIknewMaudcrouchedlowinthestern—sheets，watchfulofthefoamingseaandreadytocallmeonaninstant’snotice。TheSeaWolf：Chapter28CHAPTER28
　　Thereisnoneedofgoingintoanextendedrecitalofoursufferinginthesmallboatduringthemanydaysweweredrivenanddrifted，hereandthere，willy—nilly，acrosstheocean。Thehighwindblewfromthenorthwestfortwenty—fourhours，whenitfellcalm，andinthenightsprangupfromthesouthwest。Thiswasdeadinourteeth，butItookinthesea—anchorandsetsail，haulingacourseonthewindwhichtookusinasouth—southeasterlydirection。Itwasanevenchoicebetweenthisandthewest—northwesterlycoursewhichthewindpermitted；butthewarmairsofthesouthfannedmydesireforawarmerseaandswayedmydecision。
　　Inthreehours，——itwasmidnight，Iwellremember，andasdarkasIhadeverseenitonthesea，——thewind，stillblowingoutofthesouthwest，rosefuriously，andonceagainIwascompelledtosetthesea—anchor。
　　Daybrokeandfoundmewan—eyedandtheoceanlashedwhite，theboatpitching，almostonend，toitsdrag。Wewereinimminentdangerofbeingswampedbythewhitecaps。Asitwas，sprayandspumecameaboardinsuchquantitiesthatIbailedwithoutcessation。Theblanketsweresoaking。
　　EverythingwaswetexceptMaud，andshe，inoilskins，rubberboots，andsou’wester，wasdry，allbutherfaceandhandsandastraywispofhair。
　　Sherelievedmeatthebailing—holefromtimetotime，andbravelyshethrewoutthewaterandfacedthestorm。Allthingsarerelative。Itwasnomorethanastiffblow，buttous，fightingforlifeinourfrailcraft，itwasindeedastorm。
　　Coldandcheerless，thewindbeatingonourfaces，thewhiteseasroaringby，westruggledthroughtheday。Nightcame，butneitherofusslept。
　　Daycame，andstillthewindbeatonourfacesandthewhiteseasroaredpast。BythesecondnightMaudwasfallingasleepfromexhaustion。Icoveredherwithoilskinsandatarpaulin。Shewascomparativelydry，butshewasnumbwiththecold。Ifearedgreatlythatshemightdieinthenight；butdaybroke，coldandcheerless，withthesamecloudedskyandbeatingwindandroaringseas。
　　Ihadhadnosleepforforty—eighthours。Iwaswetandchilledtothemarrow，tillIfeltmoredeadthanalive。Mybodywasstifffromexertionaswellasfromcold，andmyachingmusclesgavemetheseveresttorturewheneverIusedthem，andIusedthemcontinually。Andallthetimewewerebeingdrivenoffintothenortheast，directlyawayfromJapanandtowardbleakBeringSea。
　　Andstillwelived，andtheboatlived，andthewindblewunabated。
　　Infact，towardnightfallofthethirddayitincreasedatrifleandsomethingmore。Theboat’sbowplungedunderacrest，andwecamethroughquarter—fullofwater。Ibailedlikeamadman。Theliabilityofshippinganothersuchseawasenormouslyincreasedbythewaterthatweighedtheboatdownandrobbeditofitsbuoyancy。Andanothersuchseameanttheend。WhenIhadtheboatemptyagainIwasforcedtotakeawaythetarpaulinwhichcoveredMaud，inorderthatmightlashitdownacrossthebow。ItwaswellIdid，foritcoveredtheboatfullyathirdofthewayaft，andthreetimes，inthenextseveralhours，itflungoffthebulkofthedown—rushingwaterwhenthebowshovedundertheseas。
　　Maud’sconditionwaspitiable。Shesatcrouchedinthebottomoftheboat，herlipsblue，herfacegrayandplainlyshowingthepainshesuffered。
　　Buteverhereyeslookedbravelyatme，andeverherlipsutteredbravewords。
　　Theworstofthestormmusthaveblownthatnight，thoughlittleInoticedit。IhadsuccumbedandsleptwhereIsatinthestern—sheets。Themorningofthefourthdayfoundthewinddiminishedtoagentlewhisper，theseadyingdownandthesunshininguponus。Oh，theblessedsun！Howwebathedourpoorbodiesinitsdeliciouswarmth，revivinglikebugsandcrawlingthingsafterastorm。Wesmiledagain，saidamusingthings，andwaxedoptimisticoveroursituation。Yetitwas，ifanything，worsethanever。WewerefartherfromJapanthanthenightwelefttheGhost。NorcouldImorethanroughlyguessourlatitudeandlongitude。Atacalculationofatwo—miledriftperhour，duringtheseventyandoddhoursofthestorm，wehadbeendrivenatleastonehundredandfiftymilestothenortheast。Butwassuchcalculateddriftcorrect？ForallIknew，itmighthavebeenfourmilesperhourinsteadoftwo。Inwhichcasewewereanotherhundredandfiftymilestothebad。
　　WherewewereIdidnotknow，thoughtherewasquitealikelihoodthatwewereinthevicinityoftheGhost。Thereweresealsaboutus，andIwaspreparedtosightasealingschooneratanytime。Wedidsightone，intheafternoon，whenthenorthwestbreezehadsprungupfreshlyoncemore。Butthestrangeschoonerlostitselfonthesky—lineandwealoneoccupiedthecircleofthesea。
　　Camedaysoffog，whenevenMaud’sspiritdroopedandtherewerenomerrywordsuponherlips；daysofcalm，whenwefloatedonthelonelyimmensityofsea，oppressedbyitsgreatnessandyetmarvellingatthemiracleoftinylife，forwestilllivedandstruggledtolive；daysofsleetandwindandsnow—squalls，whennothingcouldkeepuswarm；ordaysofdrizzlingrain，whenwefilledourwater—breakersfromthedripofthewetsail。
　　AndeverIlovedMaudwithanincreasinglove。Shewassomany—sided，somany—mooded——"protean—mooded"Icalledher。Butcalledherthis，andotheranddearerthings，inmythoughtsonly。Thoughthedeclarationofmyloveurgedandtrembledonmytongueathousandtimes，Iknewthatitwasnotimeforsuchadeclaration。Iffornootherreason，itwasnotime，whenonewasprotectingandtryingtosaveawoman，toaskthatwomanforherlove。Delicateaswasthesituation，notaloneinthisbutinotherways，IflatteredmyselfthatIwasabletodealdelicatelywithit；andalsoIflatteredmyselfthatbylookorsignIgavenoadvertisementoftheloveIfeltforher。Wewerelikegoodcomrades，andwegrewbettercomradesasthedayswentby。
　　Onethingaboutherwhichsurprisedmewasherlackoftimidityandfear。Theterriblesea，thefrailboat，thestorms，thesuffering，thestrangenessandisolationofthesituation，——allthatshouldhavefrightenedarobustwoman，——seemedtomakenoimpressionuponherwhohadknownlifeonlyinitsmostshelteredandconsummatelyartificialaspects，andwhowasherselfallfireanddewandmist，sublimatedspirit，allthatwassoftandtenderandclinginginwoman。Andyetamwrong。Shewastimidandafraid，butshepossessedcourage。Thefleshandthequalmsofthefleshshewasheirto，butthefleshboreheavilyonlyontheflesh。
　　Andshewasspirit，firstandalwaysspirit，etherealizedessenceoflife，calmashercalmeyes，andsureofpermanenceinthechangingorderoftheuniverse。
　　Camedaysofstorm，daysandnightsofstorm，whentheoceanmenaceduswithitsroaringwhiteness，andthewindsmoteourstrugglingboatwithaTitan’sbuffets。Andeverwewereflungoff，fartherandfarther，tothenortheast。Itwasinsuchastorm，andtheworstthatwehadexperienced，thatIcastawearyglancetoleeward，notinquestofanything，butmorefromthewearinessoffacingtheelementalstrife，andinmuteappeal，almost，tothewrathfulpowerstoceaseandletusbe。WhatIsawIcouldnotatfirstbelieve。Daysandnightsofsleeplessnessandanxietyhaddoubtlessturnedmyhead。IlookedbackatMaud，toidentifymyself，asitwere，intimeandspace。Thesightofherdearwetcheeks，herflyinghair，andherbravebrowneyesconvincedmethatmyvisionwasstillhealthy。
　　AgainIturnedmyfacetoleeward，andagainIsawthejuttingpromontory，blackandhighandnaked，theragingsurfthatbrokeaboutitsbaseandbeatitsfronthighupwithspoutingfountains，theblackandforbiddingcoast—linerunningtowardthesoutheastandfringedwithatremendousscarfofwhite。
　　"Maud，"Isaid。"Maud。"
　　Sheturnedherheadandbeheldthesight。
　　"ItcannotbeAlaska！"shecried。
　　"Alas，no，"Ianswered，andasked，"Canyouswim？"
　　Sheshookherhead。
　　"NeithercanI，"Isaid。"Sowemustgetashorewithoutswimming，insomeopeningbetweentherocksthroughwhichwecandrivetheboatandclamberout。Butwemustbequick，mostquick——andsure。"
　　IspokewithaconfidencesheknewIdidnotfeel，forshelookedatmewiththatunfalteringgazeofhersandsaid：
　　"Ihavenotthankedyouyetforallyouhavedoneforme，but——"
　　Shehesitated，asifindoubthowbesttowordhergratitude。
　　"Well？"Isaid，brutally，forIwasnotquitepleasedwithherthankingme。
　　"Youmighthelpme，"shesmiled。
　　"Toacknowledgeyourobligationsbeforeyoudie？Notatall。Wearenotgoingtodie。Weshalllandonthatisland，andweshallbesnugandshelteredbeforethedayisdone。"
　　Ispokestoutly，butIdidnotbelieveaword。Norwaspromptedtoliethroughfear。Ifeltnofear，thoughIwassureofdeathinthatboilingsurgeamongsttherockswhichwasrapidlygrowingnearer。Itwasimpossibletohoistsailandclawoffthatshore。Thewindwouldinstantlycapsizetheboat；theseaswouldswampitthemomentitfellintothetrough；and，besides，thesail，lashedtothespareoars，draggedintheseaaheadofus。
　　AsIsay，Iwasnotafraidtomeetmyowndeath，there，afewhundredyardstoleeward；butIwasappalledatthethoughtthatMaudmustdie。
　　Mycursedimaginationsawherbeatenandmangledagainsttherocks，anditwastooterrible。Istrovetocompelmyselftothinkwewouldmakethelandingsafely，andsoIspoke，notwhatIbelieved，butwhatIpreferredtobelieve。
　　Irecoiledbeforecontemplationofthatfrightfuldeath，andforamomentIentertainedthewildideaofseizingMaudinmyarmsandleapingoverboard。
　　ThenIresolvedtowait，andatthelastmoment，whenweenteredonthefinalstretch，totakeherinmyarmsandproclaimmylove，and，withherinmyembrace，tomakethedesperatestruggleanddie。
　　Instinctivelywedrewclosertogetherinthebottomoftheboat。Ifelthermittenedhandcomeouttomine。Andthus，withoutspeech，wewaitedtheend。Wewerenotfaroffthelinethewindmadewiththewesternedgeofthepromontory，andIwatchedinthehopethatsomesetofthecurrentorsendoftheseawoulddriftuspastbeforewereachedthesurf。
　　"Weshallgoclear，"Isaid，withaconfidencewhichIknewdeceivedneitherofus。
　　"ByGod，wewillgoclear！"Icried，fiveminuteslater。
　　Theoathleftmylipsinmyexcitement——thefirst，Idobelieve，inmylife，unless"troubleit，"anexpletiveofmyyouth，beaccountedanoath。
　　"Ibegyourpardon，"Isaid。
　　"Youhaveconvincedmeofyoursincerity，"shesaid，withafaintsmile。
　　"Idoknow，now，thatweshallgoclear。"
　　Ihadseenadistantheadlandpasttheextremeedgeofthepromontory，andaswelookedwecouldseegrowtheinterveningcoast—lineofwhatwasevidentlyadeepcove。Atthesametimetherebrokeuponourearsacontinuousandmightybellowing。Itpartookofthemagnitudeandvolumeofdistantthunder，anditcametousdirectlyfromleeward，risingabovethecrashofthesurfandtravellingdirectlyintheteethofthestorm。
　　Aswepassedthepointthewholecoveburstuponourview，ahalf—moonofwhitesandybeachuponwhichbrokeahugesurf，andwhichwascoveredwithmyriadsofseals。Itwasfromthemthatthegreatbellowingwentup。
　　"Arookery！"Icried。"Nowareweindeedsaved。Theremustbemenandcruiserstoprotectthemfromtheseal—hunters。Possiblythereisastationashore。"
　　ButasIstudiedthesurfwhichbeatuponthebeach，Isaid，"Stillbad，butnotsobad。Andnow，ifthegodsbetrulykind，weshalldriftbythatnextheadlandandcomeuponaperfectlyshelteredbeach，wherewemaylandwithoutwettingourfeet。"
　　Andthegodswerekind。Thefirstandsecondheadlandsweredirectlyinlinewiththesouthwestwind；butoncearoundthesecond，——andwewentperilouslynear，——wepickedupthethirdheadland，stillinlinewiththewindandwiththeothertwo。Butthecovethatintervened！Itpenetrateddeepintotheland，andthetide，settingin，driftedusundertheshelterofthepoint。Heretheseawascalm，saveforaheavybutsmoothground—swell，andItookinthesea—anchorandbegantorow。Fromthepointtheshorecurvedaway，moreandmoretothesouthandwest，until，atlast，itdisclosedacovewithinthecove，alittleland—lockedharbor，thewaterlevelasapond，brokenonlybytinyrippleswherevagrantbreathsandwispsofthestormhurtleddownfromoverthefrowningwallofrockthatbackedthebeachahundredfeetinshore。
　　Herewerenosealswhatever。Theboat’sstemtouchedthehardshingle。
　　Isprangout，extendingmyhandtoMaud。Thenextmomentshewasbesideme。Asmyfingersreleasedhers，sheclutchedformyarmhastily。AtthesamemomentIswayed，asabouttofalltothesand。Thiswasthestartlingeffectofthecessationofmotion。Wehadbeensolonguponthemoving，rockingseathatthestablelandwasashocktous。Weexpectedthebeachtoliftupthiswayandthat，andtherockywallstoswingbackandforthlikethesidesofaship；andwhenwebracedourselves，automatically，forthesevariousexpectedmovements，theirnon—occurrencequiteovercameourequilibrium。
　　"Ireallymustsitdown，"Maudsaid，withanervouslaughandadizzygesture，andforthwithshesatdownonthesand。
　　Iattendedtomakingtheboatsecureandjoinedher。ThuswelandedonEndeavorIsland，aswecametoit，land—sickfromlongcustomofthesea。TheSeaWolf：Chapter29CHAPTER29
　　"Fool！"Icriedaloudinmyvexation。
　　Ihadunloadedtheboatandcarrieditscontentshighuponthebeach，whereIhadsetaboutmakingacamp。Therewasdriftwood，thoughnotmuch，onthebeach，andthesightofacoffeetinIhadtakenfromtheGhost’slarderhadgivenmetheideaofafire。
　　"Blitheringidiot！"Iwascontinuing。
　　ButMaudsaid，"Tut，tut，"ingentlereproval，andthenaskedwhyI
　　wasablitheringidiot。
　　"Nomatches，"Igroaned。"NotamatchdidIbring。Andnowweshallhavenohotcoffee，soup，tea，oranything！"
　　"Wasn’tit——er——Crusoewhorubbedstickstogether？"shedrawled。
　　"ButIhavereadthepersonalnarrativesofascoreofshipwreckedmenwhotried，andtriedinvain，"Ianswered。"IrememberWinters，anewspaperfellowwithanAlaskanandSiberianreputation。MethimattheBibelotonce，andhewastellingushowheattemptedtomakeafirewithacoupleofsticks。Itwasmostamusing。Hetolditinimitably，butitwasthestoryofafailure。Irememberhisconclusion，hisblackeyesflashingashesaid，`Gentlemen，theSouthSeaIslandermaydoit，theMalaymaydoit，buttakemywordit’sbeyondthewhiteman。’"
　　"Oh，well，we’vemanagedsofarwithoutit，"shesaidcheerfully。"Andthere’snoreasonwhywecannotstillmanagewithoutit。"
　　"Butthinkofthecoffee！"Icried。"It’sgoodcoffee，too。know。I
　　tookitfromLarsen’sprivatestores。Andlookatthatgoodwood。"
　　Iconfess，Iwantedthecoffeebadly；andIlearned，notlongafterward，thattheberrywaslikewisealittleweaknessofMaud’s。Besides，wehadbeensolongonacolddietthatwewerenumbinsideaswellasout。Anythingwarmwouldhavebeenmostgratifying。Butcomplainednomore，andsetaboutmakingatentofthesailforMaud。
　　Ihadlookeduponitasasimpletask，whatoftheoars，mast，boom，andsprit，tosaynothingofplentyoflines。ButasIwaswithoutexperience，andaseverydetailwasanexperimentandeverysuccessfuldetailaninvention，thedaywaswellgonebeforehershelterwasanaccomplishedfact。Andthen，thatnight，itrained，andshewasfloodedoutanddrivenbackintotheboat。
　　ThenextmorningIdugashallowditcharoundthetent，and，anhourlater，asuddengustofwind，whippingovertherockywallbehindus，pickedupthetentandsmasheditdownonthesandthirtyyardsaway。
　　Maudlaughedatmycrestfallenexpression，andIsaid，"AssoonasthewindabatesIintendgoingintheboattoexploretheisland。Theremustbeastationsomewhere，andmen。Andshipsmustvisitthestation。Somegovernmentmustprotectalltheseseals。ButIwishtohaveyoucomfortablebeforeIstart。"
　　"Ishouldliketogowithyou，"wasallshesaid。
　　"Itwouldbebetterifyouremained。Youhavehadenoughofhardship。
　　Itisamiraclethatyouhavesurvived。Anditwon’tbecomfortableintheboat，rowingandsailinginthisrainyweather。Whatyouneedisrest，andIshouldlikeyoutoremainandgetit。"
　　Somethingsuspiciouslyakintomoistnessdimmedherbeautifuleyesbeforeshedroppedthemandpartlyturnedawayherhead。
　　"Ishouldprefergoingwithyou，"shesaidinalowvoice，inwhichtherewasjustahintofappeal。
　　"Imightbeabletohelpyoua——"hervoicebroke，——"alittle。Andifanythingshouldhappentoyou，thinkofmeleftherealone。"
　　"Oh，Iintendbeingverycareful，"Ianswered。"AndIshallnotgosofarbutwhatIcangetbackbeforenight。Yes，allsaidanddone，Ithinkitvastlybetterforyoutoremain，andsleep，andrest，anddonothing。"
　　Sheturnedandlookedmeintheeyes。Hergazewasunfaltering，butsoft。
　　"Please，please，"shesaid，oh，sosoftly。
　　Istiffenedmyselftorefuse，andshookmyhead。Stillshewaitedandlookedatme。Itriedtowordmyrefusal，butwavered。IsawthegladlightspringintohereyesandknewthatIhadlost。Itwasimpossibletosaynoafterthat。
　　Thewinddieddownintheafternoon，andwewerepreparedtostartthefollowingmorning。Therewasnowayofpenetratingtheislandfromourcove，forthewallsroseperpendicularlyfromthebeach，and，oneithersideofthecove，rosefromthedeepwater。
　　Morningbrokedullandgray，butcalm，andIwasawakeearlyandhadtheboatinreadiness。
　　"Fool！Imbecile！Yahoo！"Ishouted，whenIthoughtitwasmeettoarouseMaud；butthistimeIshoutedinmerrimentasIdancedaboutthebeach，bareheaded，inmockdespair。
　　Herheadappearedundertheflapofthesail。
　　"Whatnow？"sheaskedsleepily，and，withal，curiously。
　　"Coffee！"Icried。"Whatdoyousaytoacupofcoffee？hotcoffee？
　　pipinghot？"
　　"My！"shemurmured，"youstartledme，andyouarecruel。HereIhavebeencomposingmysoultodowithoutit，andhereyouarevexingmewithyourvainsuggestions。"
　　"Watchme，"Isaid。
　　FromundercleftsamongtherocksIgatheredafewdrysticksandchips。
　　TheseIwhittledintoshavingsorsplitintokindling。Frommynote—bookItoreoutapage，andfromtheammunitionboxtookashotgunshell。Removingthewadsfromthelatterwithmyknife，emptiedthepowderonaflatrock。
　　NextIpriedtheprimer，orcap，fromtheshell，andlaiditontherockinthemidstofthescatteredpowder。Allwasready。Maudstillwatchedfromthetent。Holdingthepaperinmylefthand，Ismasheddownuponthecapwitharockheldinmyright。Therewasapuffofwhitesmoke，aburstofflame，andtheroughedgeofthepaperwasalight。
　　Maudclappedherhandsgleefully。"Prometheus！"shecried。
　　ButIwastoooccupiedtoacknowledgeherdelight。Thefeebleflamemustbecherishedtenderlyifitweretogatherstrengthandlive。Ifedit，shavingbyshaving，andsliverbysliver，tillatlastitwassnappingandcracklingasitlaidholdofthesmallerchipsandsticks。Tobecastawayonanislandhadnotenteredintomycalculations，sowewerewithoutakettleorcookingutensilsofanysort；butImadeshiftwiththetinusedforbailingtheboat，andlater，asweconsumedoursupplyofcannedgoods，weaccumulatedquiteanimposingarrayofcookingvessels。
　　Iboiledthewater，butitwasMaudwhomadethecoffee。Andhowgooditwas！Mycontributionwascannedbeeffriedwithcrumbledsea—biscuitandwater。Thebreakfastwasasuccess，andwesataboutthefiremuchlongerthanenterprisingexplorersshouldhavedone，sippingthehotblackcoffeeandtalkingoveroursituation。
　　Iwasconfidentthatweshouldfindastationinsomeoneofthecoves，forIknewthattherookeriesofBeringSeawerethusguarded；butMaudadvancedthetheory，——topreparemefordisappointment，Idobelieve，ifdisappointmentweretocome，——thatwehaddiscoveredanunknownrookery。
　　Shewasinverygoodspirits，however，andmadequitemerryinacceptingourplightasagraveone。
　　"Ifyouareright，"Isaid，"thenwemustpreparetowinterhere。Ourfoodwillnotlast，buttherearetheseals。Theygoawayinthefall，soImustsoonbegintolayinasupplyofmeat。Thentherewillbehutstobuildanddriftwoodtogather。Also，weshalltryoutsealfatforlightingpurposes。Altogether，we’llhaveourhandsfullifwefindtheislanduninhabited。
　　Whichweshallnot，Iknow。"
　　Butshewasright。Wesailedwithabeamwindalongtheshore，searchingthecoveswithourglassesandlandingoccasionally，withoutfindingasignofhumanlife。YetwelearnedthatwewerenotthefirstwhohadlandedonEndeavorIsland。Highuponthebeachofthesecondcovefromours，wediscoveredthesplinteredwreckofaboat——asealer’sboat，fortherowlockswereboundinsennit，agun—rackwasonthestarboardsideofthebow，andinwhiteletterswasfaintlyvisibleGazelleNo。2。Theboathadlainthereforalongtime，foritwashalffilledwithsand，andthesplinteredwoodhadthatweather—wornappearanceduetolongexposuretotheelements。Inthesternsheetsfoundarustyten—gaugeshotgunandasailor’ssheath—knifebrokenshortacrossandsorustedastobealmostunrecognizable。
　　"Theygotaway，"Isaidcheerfully；butIfeltasinkingattheheartandseemedtodivinethepresenceofbleachedbonessomewhereonthatbeach。
　　IdidnotwishMaud’sspiritstobedampenedbysuchafind，soIturnedseawardagainwithourboatandskirtedthenortheasternpointoftheisland。
　　Therewerenobeachesonthesouthernshore，andbyearlyafternoonweroundedtheblackpromontoryandcompletedthecircumnavigationoftheisland。Iestimateditscircumferenceattwenty—fivemiles，itswidthasvaryingfromtwotofivemiles；whilemymostconservativecalculationplacedonitsbeachestwohundredthousandseals。Theislandwashighestatitsextremesouthwesternpoint，theheadlandsandbackbonediminishingregularlyuntilthenortheasternportionwasonlyafewfeetabovethesea。Withtheexceptionofourlittlecove，theotherbeachesslopedgentlybackforadistanceofhalfamileorso，intowhatImightcallrockymeadows，withhereandtherepatchesofmossandtundragrass。Herethesealshauledout，andtheoldbullsguardedtheirharems，whiletheyoungbullshauledoutbythemselves。
　　ThisbriefdescriptionisallthatEndeavorIslandmerits。Dampandsoggywhereitwasnotsharpandrocky，buffetedbystormwindsandlashedbythesea，withtheaircontinuallya—tremblewiththebellowingoftwohundredthousandamphibians，itwasamelancholyandmiserablesojourningplace。Maud，whohadpreparedmefordisappointment，andwhohadbeensprightlyandvivaciousallday，brokedownaswelandedinourownlittlecove。
　　Shestrovebravelytohideitfromme，butwhileIwaskindlinganotherfireIknewshewasstiflinghersobsintheblanketsunderthesail—tent。
　　Itwasmyturntobecheerful，andIplayedtheparttothebestofmyability，andwithsuchsuccessthatIbroughtthelaughterbackintoherdeareyesandsongonherlips；forshesangtomebeforeshewenttoanearlybed。ItwasthefirsttimeIhadheardhersing，andIlaybythefire，listeningandtransported，forshewasnothingifnotanartistineverythingshedid，andhervoice，thoughnotstrong，waswonderfullysweetandexpressive。
　　Istillsleptintheboat，andIlayawakelongthatnight，gazingupatthefirststarsIhadseeninmanynightsandponderingthesituation。
　　Responsibilityofthissortwasanewthingtome。WolfLarsenhadbeenquiteright。Ihadstoodonmyfather’slegs。Mylawyersandagentshadtakencareofmymoneyforme。Ihadhadnoresponsibilitiesatall。Then，ontheGhostIhadlearnedtoberesponsibleformyself。Andnow，forthefirsttimeinmylife，foundmyselfresponsibleforsomeoneelse。