Buthestoodmotionlessandstaringasbefore。AndasIfacedhim，withlevelledgunshakinginmyhands，Ihadtimetonotethewornandhaggardappearanceofhisface。Itwasasifsomestronganxietyhadwastedit。
　　Thecheeksweresunken，andtherewasawearied，puckeredexpressiononthebrow。Anditseemedtomethathiseyeswerestrange，notonlytheexpression，butthephysicalseeming，asthoughtheopticnervesandsupportingmuscleshadsufferedstrainandslightlytwistedtheeyeballs。
　　AllthisIsaw，andmybrainnowworkingrapidly，Ithoughtathousandthoughts；andyetIcouldnotpullthetriggers。Iloweredthegunandsteppedtothecornerofthecabin，primarilytorelievethetensiononmynervesandtomakeanewstart，andincidentallytobecloser。AgainIraisedthegun。Hewasalmostatarm’slength。Therewasnohopeforhim。Iwasresolved。Therewasnopossiblechanceofmissinghim，nomatterhowpoormymarksmanship。AndyetIwrestledwithmyselfandcouldnotpullthetriggers。
　　"Well？"hedemandedimpatiently。
　　Istrovevainlytoforcemyfingersdownonthetriggers，andvainlyIstrovetosaysomething。
　　"Whydon’tyoushoot？"heasked。
　　Iclearedmythroatofahuskinesswhichpreventedspeech。
　　"Hump，"hesaidslowly，"youcan’tdoit。Youarenotexactlyafraid。
　　Youareimpotent。Yourconventionalmoralityisstrongerthanyou。Youaretheslavetotheopinionswhichhavecredenceamongthepeopleyouhaveknownandhavereadabout。Theircodehasbeendrummedintoyourheadfromthetimeyoulisped，andinspiteofyourphilosophy，andofwhatIhavetaughtyou，itwon’tletyoukillanunarmed，unresistingman。"
　　"Iknowit，"Isaidhoarsely。
　　"AndyouknowthatIwouldkillanunarmedmanasreadilyaswouldsmokeacigar，"hewenton。"YouknowmeforwhatIam，——myworthintheworldbyyourstandard。Youhavecalledmesnake，tiger，shark，monster，andCaliban。Andyet，youlittleragpuppet，youlittleechoingmechanism，youareunabletokillmeasyouwouldasnakeorashark，becauseIhavehands，feet，andabodyshapedsomewhatlikeyours。Bah！Ihadhopedbetterthingsofyou，Hump。"
　　Hesteppedoutofthecompanionwayandcameuptome。
　　"Putdownthatgun。Iwanttoaskyousomequestions。haven’thadachancetolookaroundyet。Whatplaceisthis？HowistheGhostlying？Howdidyougetwet？Where’sMaud？——Ibegyourpardon，MissBrewster——orshouldIsay，`Mrs。VanWeyden’？"
　　Ihadbackedawayfromhim，almostweepingatmyinabilitytoshoothim，butnotfoolenoughtoputdownthegun。Ihoped，desperately，thathemightcommitsomehostileact，attempttostrikemeorchokeme；forinsuchwayonlyIknewIcouldbestirredtoshoot。
　　"ThisisEndeavorIsland，"Isaid。
　　"Neverheardofit，"hebrokein。
　　"Atleast，that’sournameforit，"Iamended。
　　"Our？"hequeried。"Who’sour？"
　　"MissBrewsterandmyself。AndtheGhostislying，asyoucanseeforyourself，bowontothebeach。"
　　"Therearesealshere，"hesaid。"Theywokemeupwiththeirbarking，orI’dbesleepingyet。IheardthemwhenIdroveinlastnight。TheywerethefirstwarningthatIwasonaleeshore。It’sarookery，thekindofathingI’vehuntedforyears。ThankstomybrotherDeath，I’velightedonafortune。It’samint。What’sitsbearings？"
　　"Haven’ttheleastidea，"Isaid。"Butyououghttoknowquiteclosely。
　　Whatwereyourlastobservations？"
　　Hesmiledinscrutably，butdidnotanswer。
　　"Well，where’sallhands？"Iasked。"Howdoesitcomethatyouarealone？"
　　Iwaspreparedforhimagaintosetasidemyquestion，andwassurprisedatthereadinessofhisreply。
　　"Mybrothergotmeinsideforty—eighthours，andthroughnofaultofmine。Boardedmeinthenightwithonlythewatchondeck。Hunterswentbackonme。Hegavethemabiggerlay。Heardhimofferingit。Diditrightbeforeme。Ofcoursethecrewgavemethego—by。Thatwastobeexpected。
　　Allhandswentovertheside，andthereIwas，maroonedonmyownvessel。
　　ItwasDeath’sturn，andit’sallinthefamilyanyway。"
　　"Buthowdidyoulosethemasts？"Iasked。
　　"Walkoverandexaminethoselanyards，"hesaid，pointingtowherethemizzenriggingshouldhavebeen。
　　"Theyhavebeencutwithaknife！"Iexclaimed。
　　"Notquite，"helaughed。"Itwasaneaterjob。Lookagain。"
　　Ilooked。Thelanyardshadbeenalmostsevered，withjustenoughlefttoholdtheshroudstillsomeseverestrainshouldbeputuponthem。
　　"Cookydidthat，"helaughedagain。"Iknow，thoughIdidn’tspothimatit。Kindofevenedupthescoreabit。"
　　"GoodforMugridge！"Icried。
　　"Yes，that’swhatIthoughtwheneverythingwentovertheside。OnlyIsaiditontheothersideofmymouth。"
　　"Butwhatwereyoudoingwhileallthiswasgoingon？"Iasked。
　　"Mybest，youmaybesure，whichwasn’tmuchunderthecircumstances。"
　　IturnedtorexamineThomasMugridge’swork。
　　"IguessI’llsitdownandtakethesunshine，"IheardWolfLarsensaying。
　　Therewasahint，justaslighthint，ofphysicalfeeblenessinhisvoice，anditwassostrangethatIlookedquicklyathim。Hishandwassweepingnervouslyacrosshisface，asthoughhewerebrushingawaycobwebs。
　　Iwaspuzzled。ThewholethingwassounliketheWolfLarsenIhadknown。
　　"Howareyourheadaches？"Iasked。
　　"Theystilltroubleme，"washisanswer。"IthinkIhaveonecomingonnow。"
　　Heslippeddownfromhissittingposturetillhelayonthedeck。Thenherolledoveronhisside，hisheadrestingonthebicepsoftheunderarm，theforearmshieldinghiseyesfromthesun。Istoodregardinghimwonderingly。
　　"Now’syourchance，Hump，"hesaid。
　　"Idon’tunderstand，"Ilied，forIthoroughlyunderstood。
　　"Oh，nothing，"headdedsoftly，asifheweredrowsing；"onlyyou’vegotmewhereyouwantme。"
　　"No，Ihaven’t，"Iretorted；"forIwantyouafewthousandmilesawayfromhere。"
　　Hechuckled，andthereafterspokenomore。HedidnotstirasIpassedbyhimandwentdownintothecabin。Iliftedthetrapinthefloor，butforsomemomentsgazeddubiouslyintothedarknessofthelazarettebeneath。
　　Ihesitatedtodescend。Whatifhislyingdownwerearuse？Pretty，indeed，tobecaughttherelikearat。Icreptsoftlyupthecompanionwayandpeepedathim。HewaslyingasIhadlefthim。AgainIwentbelow；butbeforeIdroppedintothelazaretteItooktheprecautionofcastingdownthedoorinadvance。Atleasttherewouldbenolidtothetrap。Butitwasallneedless。Iregainedthecabinwithastoreofjams，sea—biscuits，cannedmeats，andsuchthings，——allcouldcarry，——andreplacedthetrap—door。
　　ApeepatWolfLarsenshowedmethathehadnotmoved。Abrightthoughtstruckme。Istoleintohisstate—roomandpossessedmyselfofhisrevolvers。
　　Therewerenootherweapons，thoughthoroughlyransackedthethreeremainingstate—rooms。Tomakesure，returnedandwentthroughthesteerageandforecastle，andinthegalleygatheredupallthesharpmeatandvegetableknives。
　　ThenIbethoughtmeofthegreatyachtsman’sknifehealwayscarried，andIcametohimandspoketohim，firstsoftly，thenloudly。Hedidnotmove。
　　Ibentoverandtookitfromhispocket。Ibreathedmorefreely。Hehadnoarmswithwhichtoattackmefromadistance；whileI，armed，couldalwaysforestallhimshouldheattempttograpplemewithhisterriblegorillaarms。
　　Fillingacoffee—potandfrying—panwithpartofmyplunder，andtakingsomechinawarefromthecabinpantry，IleftWolfLarsenlyinginthesunandwentashore。
　　Maudwasstillasleep。Iblewuptheembers，（wehadnotyetarrangedawinterkitchen），andquitefeverishlycookedthebreakfast。Towardtheend，Iheardhermovingaboutwithinthehut，makinghertoilet。Justasallwasreadyandthecoffeepoured，thedooropenedandshecameforth。
　　"It’snotfairofyou，"washergreeting。"Youareusurpingoneofmyprerogatives。Youknowyouagreedthatthecookingshouldbemine，and——"
　　"Butjustthisonce，"Ipleaded。
　　"Ifyoupromisenottodoitagain，"shesmiled。"Unless，ofcourse，youhavegrowntiredofmypoorefforts。"
　　Tomydelightsheneveroncelookedtowardthebeach，andmaintainedthebanterwithsuchsuccessthatallunconsciouslyshesippedcoffeefromthechinacup，atefriedevaporatedpotatoes，andspreadmarmaladeonherbiscuit。Butitcouldnotlast。Isawthesurprisethatcameoverher。
　　Shehaddiscoveredthechinaplatefromwhichshewaseating。Shelookedoverthebreakfast，notingdetailafterdetail。Thenshelookedatme，andherfaceturnedslowlytowardthebeach。
　　"Humphrey！"shesaid。
　　Theoldunnamableterrormountedintohereyes。
　　"Is——he——？"shequavered。
　　Inoddedmyhead。TheSeaWolf：Chapter33CHAPTER33
　　WewaitedalldayforWolfLarsentocomeashore。Itwasanintolerableperiodofanxiety。EachmomentoneortheotherofuscastexpectantglancestowardtheGhost。Buthedidnotcome。Hedidnotevenappearondeck。
　　"Perhapsitishisheadache，"Isaid。"Ilefthimlyingonthepoop。
　　Hemayliethereallnight。IthinkI’llgoandsee。"
　　Maudlookedentreatyatme。
　　"Itisallright，"Iassuredher。"Ishalltaketherevolvers。YouknowIcollectedeveryweapononboard。"
　　"Buttherearehisarms，hishands，histerrible，terriblehands！"sheobjected。Andthenshecried，"Oh，Humphrey，Iamafraidofhim！Don’tgo——pleasedon’tgo！"
　　Sherestedherhandappealinglyonmine，andsentmypulsefluttering。
　　Myheartwassurelyinmyeyesforamoment。Thedearandlovelywoman！
　　Andshewassomuchthewoman，clingingandappealing，sunshineanddewtomymanhood，rootingitdeeperandsendingthroughitthesapofanewstrength。Iwasforputtingmyarmaroundher，aswheninthemidstofthesealherd；butIconsidered，andrefrained。
　　"Ishallnottakeanyrisks，"Isaid。"I’llmerelypeepoverthebowandsee。"
　　Shepressedmyhandearnestlyandletmego。ButthespaceondeckwhereIhadlefthimlyingwasvacant。Hehadevidentlygonebelow。Thatnightwestoodalternatewatches，oneofussleepingatatime；fortherewasnotellingwhatWolfLarsenmightdo。Hewascertainlycapableofanything。
　　Thenextdaywewaited，andthenext，andstillhemadenosign。
　　"Theseheadachesofhis，theseattacks，"Maudsaid，ontheafternoonofthefourthday；"perhapsheisill，veryill。Hemaybedead。"
　　"Ordying，"washerafterthought，whenshehadwaitedsometimeformetospeak。
　　"Betterso，"Ianswered。
　　"Butthink，Humphrey，afellow—creatureinhislastlonelyhour。"
　　"Perhaps，"Isuggested。
　　"Yes，evenperhaps，"sheacknowledged。"Butwedonotknow。Itwouldbeterribleifhewere。Icouldneverforgivemyself。Wemustdosomething。"
　　"Perhaps，"Isuggestedagain。
　　Iwaited，smilinginwardlyatthewomanofherwhichcompelledasolicitudeforWolfLarsen，ofallcreatures。Wherewashersolicitudeforme，Ithought，——formewhomshehadbeenafraidtohavemerelypeepaboard？
　　Shewastoosubtlenottofollowthetrendofmysilence。Andshewasasdirectasshewassubtle。
　　"Youmustgoaboard，Humphrey，andfindout，"shesaid。"Andifyouwanttolaughatme，youhavemyconsentandforgiveness。"
　　Iaroseobedientlyandwentdownthebeach。
　　"Dobecareful，"shecalledafterme。
　　Iwavedmyarmfromtheforecastleheadanddroppeddowntothedeck。
　　AftIwalkedtothecabincompanion，whereIcontentedmyselfwithhailingbelow。WolfLarsenanswered，andashestartedtoascendthestairsIcockedmyrevolver。Idisplayeditopenlyduringourconversation，buthetooknonoticeofit。Heappearedthesame，physically，aswhenlastIsawhim，buthewasgloomyandsilent。Infact，thefewwordswespokecouldhardlybecalledaconversation。didnotinquirewhyhehadnotbeenashore，nordidheaskwhyIhadnotcomeaboard。Hisheadwasallrightagain，hesaid，andso，withoutfurtherparley，Ilefthim。
　　Maudreceivedmyreportwithobviousrelief，andthesightofsmokewhichlaterroseinthegalleyputherinamorecheerfulmood。Thenextday，andthenext，wesawthegalleysmokerising，andsometimeswecaughtglimpsesofhimonthepoop。Butthatwasall。Hemadenoattempttocomeashore。Thisweknew，forwestillmaintainedournight—watches。Wewerewaitingforhimtodosomething，toshowhishand，sotosay，andhisinactionpuzzledandworriedus。
　　Aweekofthispassedby。WehadnootherinterestthanWolfLarsen，andhispresenceweighedusdownwithanapprehensionwhichpreventedusfromdoinganyofthelittlethingswehadplanned。
　　Butattheendoftheweekthesmokeceasedrisingfromthegalley，andhenolongershowedhimselfonthepoop。IcouldseeMaud’ssolicitudeagaingrowing，thoughshetimidly，——andevenproudly，think，——foreborearepetitionofherrequest。Afterall，whatcensurecouldbeputuponher？Shewasdivinelyaltruistic，andshewasawoman。Besides，IwasmyselfawareofhurtatthoughtofthismanwhomIhadtriedtokill，dyingalonewithhisfellow—creaturessonear。Hewasright。ThecodeofmygroupwasstrongerthanI。Thefactthathehadhands，feet，andabodyshapedsomewhatlikemine，constitutedaclaimwhichIcouldnotignore。
　　SoIdidnotwaitasecondtimeforMaudtosendme。discoveredthatwestoodinneedofcondensedmilkandmarmalade，andannouncedthatI
　　wasgoingaboard。Icouldseethatshewavered。Sheevenwentsofarastomurmurthattheywerenon—essentialsandthatmytripafterthemmightbeinexpedient。Andasshehadfollowedthetrendofmysilence，shenowfollowedthetrendofmyspeech，andsheknewthatIwasgoingaboard，notbecauseofcondensedmilkandmarmalade，butbecauseofherandofheranxiety，whichsheknewshehadfailedtohide。
　　ItookoffmyshoeswhenIgainedtheforecastlehead，andwentnoiselesslyaftinmystockingfeet。NordidIcallthistimefromthetopofthecompanionway。
　　Cautiouslydescending，Ifoundthecabindeserted。Thedoortohisstate—roomwasclosed。AtfirstIthoughtofknocking，thenIrememberedmyostensibleerrandandresolvedtocarryitout。Carefullyavoidingnoise，Iliftedthetrap—doorinthefloorandsetittooneside。Theslop—chest，aswellastheprovisions，wasstoredinthelazarette，andItookadvantageoftheopportunitytolayinastockofunderclothing。
　　AsIemergedfromthelazaretteIheardsoundsinWolfLarsen’sstate—room。
　　Icrouchedandlistened。Thedoor—knobrattled。Furtively，instinctively，Islunkbackbehindthetableanddrewandcockedmyrevolver。Thedoorswungopenandhecameforth。NeverhadseensoprofoundadespairasthatwhichIsawonhisface，——thefaceofWolfLarsenthefighter，thestrongman，theindomitableone。Foralltheworldlikeawomanwringingherhands，heraisedhisclenchedfistsandgroaned。Onefistunclosed，andtheopenpalmsweptacrosshiseyesasthoughbrushingawaycobwebs。
　　"God！God！"hegroaned，andtheclenchedfistswereraisedagaintotheinfinitedespairwithwhichhisthroatvibrated。
　　Itwashorrible。Iwastremblingallover，andIcouldfeeltheshiversrunningupanddownmyspineandthesweatstandingoutonmyforehead。
　　Surelytherecanbelittleinthisworldmoreawfulthanthespectacleofastrongmaninthemomentwhenheisutterlyweakandbroken。
　　ButWolfLarsenregainedcontrolofhimselfbyanexertionofhisremarkablewill。Anditwasexertion。Hiswholeframeshookwiththestruggle。Heresembledamanonthevergeofafit。Hisfacestrovetocomposeitself，writhingandtwistingintheefforttillhebrokedownagain。Oncemoretheclenchedfistswentupwardandhegroaned。Hecaughthisbreathonceortwiceandsobbed。Thenhewassuccessful。IcouldhavethoughthimtheoldWolfLarsen，andyettherewasinhismovementsavaguesuggestionofweaknessandindecision。Hestartedforthecompanionway，andsteppedforwardquiteasIhadbeenaccustomedtoseehimdo；andyetagain，inhisverywalk，thereseemedthatsuggestionofweaknessandindecision。
　　Iwasnowconcernedwithfearformyself。Theopentraplaydirectlyinhispath，andhisdiscoveryofitwouldleadinstantlytohisdiscoveryofme。Iwasangrywithmyselfforbeingcaughtinsocowardlyaposition，crouchingonthefloor。Therewasyettime。roseswiftlytomyfeet，and，Iknow，quiteunconsciouslyassumedadefiantattitude。Hetooknonoticeofme。Nordidhenoticetheopentrap。BeforeIcouldgraspthesituation，oract，hehadwalkedrightintothetrap。Onefootwasdescendingintotheopening，whiletheotherfootwasjustonthevergeofbeginningtheuplift。Butwhenthedescendingfootmissedthesolidflooringandfeltvacancybeneath，itwastheoldWolfLarsenandthetigermusclesthatmadethefallingbodyspringacrosstheopening，evenasitfell，sothathestruckonhischestandstomach，witharmsoutstretched，ontheflooroftheoppositeside。Thenextinstanthehaddrawnuphislegsandrolledclear。Butherolledintomymarmaladeandunderclothesandagainstthetrap—door。
　　Theexpressiononhisfacewasoneofcompletecomprehension。ButbeforeIcouldguesswhathehadcomprehended，hehaddroppedthetrap—doorintoplace，closingthelazarette。ThenIunderstood。Hethoughthehadmeinside。
　　Also，hewasblind，blindasabat。watchedhim，breathingcarefullysothatheshouldnothearme。Hesteppedquicklytohisstate—room。Isawhishandmissthedoor—knobbyaninch，quicklyfumbleforit，andfindit。Thiswasmychance。tiptoedacrossthecabinandtothetopofthestairs。Hecameback，draggingaheavysea—chest，whichhedepositedontopofthetrap。Notcontentwiththis，hefetchedasecondchestandplaceditontopofthefirst。Thenhegatheredupthemarmaladeandunderclothesandputthemonthetable。Whenhestartedupthecompanionway，Iretreated，silentlyrollingoverontopofthecabin。
　　Heshovedtheslidepartwaybackandrestedhisarmsonit，hisbodystillinthecompanionway。Hisattitudewasofonelookingforwardthelengthoftheschooner，orstaring，rather，forhiseyeswerefixedandunblinking。Iwasonlyfivefeetawayanddirectlyinwhatshouldhavebeenhislineofvision。Itwasuncanny。Ifeltmyselfaghost，whatofmyinvisibility。Iwavedmyhandbackandforth，ofcoursewithouteffect；
　　butwhenthemovingshadowfellacrosshisfaceIsawatoncethathewassusceptibletotheimpression。Hisfacebecamemoreexpectantandtenseashetriedtoanalyzeandidentifytheimpression。Heknewthathehadrespondedtosomethingfromwithout，thathissensibilityhadbeentouchedbyachangingsomethinginhisenvironment；butwhatitwashecouldnotdiscover。Iceasedwavingmyhand，sothattheshadowremainedstationary。
　　Heslowlymovedhisheadbackandforthunderitandturnedfromsidetoside，nowinthesunshine，nowintheshade，feelingtheshadow，asitwere，testingitbysensation。
　　I，too，wasbusy，tryingtoreasonouthowhewasawareoftheexistenceofsointangibleathingasashadow。Ifitwerehiseyeballsonlythatwereaffected，orifhisopticnervewerenotwhollydestroyed，theexplanationwassimple。Ifotherwise，thentheonlyconclusionIcouldreachwasthatthesensitiveskinrecognizedthedifferenceoftemperaturebetweenshadeandsunshine。Or，perhaps，——whocantell？——itwasthatfabledsixthsensewhichconveyedtohimtheloomandfeelofanobjectcloseathand。
　　Givingoverhisattempttodeterminetheshadow，hesteppedondeckandstartedforward，walkingwithaswiftnessandconfidencewhichsurprisedme。Andstilltherewasthathintofthefeeblenessoftheblindinhiswalk。Iknewitnowforwhatitwas。
　　Tomyamusedchagrin，hediscoveredmyshoesontheforecastleheadandbroughtthembackwithhimintothegalley。Iwatchedhimbuildthefireandsetaboutcookingfoodforhimself；thenIstoleintothecabinformymarmaladeandunderclothes，slippedbackpastthegalley，andclimbeddowntothebeachtodelivermybarefootreport。TheSeaWolf：Chapter34CHAPTER34
　　"It’stoobadtheGhosthaslosthermasts。Why，wecouldsailawayinher。Don’tyouthinkwecould，Humphrey？"
　　Isprangexcitedlytomyfeet。
　　"Iwonder，Iwonder，"Irepeated，pacingupanddown。
　　Maud’seyeswereshiningwithanticipationastheyfollowedme。Shehadsuchfaithinme！Andthethoughtofitwassomuchaddedpower。I
　　rememberedMichelet’s"Toman，womanisastheearthwastoherlegendaryson；hehasbuttofalldownandkissherbreastandheisstrongagain。"
　　ForthefirsttimeIknewthewonderfultruthofhiswords。Why，Iwaslivingthem。Maudwasallthistome，anunfailingsourceofstrengthandcourage。Ihadbuttolookather，orthinkofher，andbestrongagain。
　　"Itcanbedone，itcanbedone，"Iwasthinkingandassertingaloud。
　　"Whatmenhavedone，Icando；andiftheyhaveneverdonethisbefore，stillIcandoit。"
　　"What？forgoodnesssake，"Mauddemanded。"Dobemerciful。Whatisityoucando？"
　　"Wecandoit，"Iamended。"Why，nothingelsethanputthemastsbackintotheGhostandsailaway。"
　　"Humphrey！"sheexclaimed。
　　AndIfeltasproudofmyconceptionasifitwerealreadyafactaccomplished。
　　"Buthowisitpossibletobedone？"sheasked。
　　"Idon’tknow，"wasmyanswer。"IknowonlythatIamcapableofdoinganythingthesedays。"
　　Ismiledproudlyather——tooproudly，forshedroppedhereyesandwasforthemomentsilent。
　　"ButthereisCaptainLarsen，"sheobjected。
　　"Blindandhelpless，"Iansweredpromptly，wavinghimasideasastraw。
　　"Butthoseterriblehandsofhis！Youknowhowheleapedacrosstheopeningofthelazarette。"
　　"AndyouknowalsohowIcreptaboutandavoidedhim，"contendedgayly。
　　"Andlostyourshoes。"
　　"You’dhardlyexpectthemtoavoidWolfLarsenwithoutmyfeetinsideofthem。"
　　Webothlaughed，andthenwentseriouslytoworkconstructingtheplanwherebyweweretostepthemastsoftheGhostandreturntotheworld。Irememberedhazilythephysicsofmyschooldays，whilethelastfewmonthshadgivenmepracticalexperiencewithmechanicalpurchases。
　　Imustsay，though，whenwewalkeddowntotheGhosttoinspectmorecloselythetaskbeforeus，thatthesightofthegreatmastslyinginthewateralmostdisheartenedme。Wherewerewetobegin？Iftherehadbeenonemaststanding，somethinghighuptowhichtofastenblocksandtackles！Buttherewasnothing。Itremindedmeoftheproblemofliftingoneselfbyone’sboot—straps。Iunderstoodthemechanicsoflevers；butwherewasItogetafulcrum？
　　Therewasthemainmast，fifteeninchesindiameteratwhatwasnowthebutt，stillsixty—fivefeetinlength，andweighing，Iroughlycalculated，atleastthreethousandpounds。Andthencametheforemast，largerindiameterandweighingsurelythirty—fivehundredpounds。WherewasItobegin？Maudstoodsilentlybymyside，whileIevolvedinmymindthecontrivanceknownamongsailorsas"shears。"But，thoughknowntosailors，IinventeditthereonEndeavorIsland。Bycrossingandlashingtheendsoftwospars，andthenelevatingthemintheairlikeaninverted"V，"Icouldgetapointabovethedecktowhichtomakefastmyhoistingtackle。TothishoistingtackleIcould，ifnecessary，attachasecondhoistingtackle。
　　Andthentherewasthewindlass！
　　MaudsawthatIhadachievedasolution，andhereyeswarmedsympathetically。
　　"Whatareyougoingtodo？"sheasked。
　　"Clearthatraffle，"Ianswered，pointingtothetangledwreckageoverside。
　　Ah，thedecisiveness，theverysoundofthewords，wasgoodinmyears。
　　"Clearthatraffle！"ImaginesosaltyaphraseonthelipsoftheHumphreyVanWeydenofafewmonthsgone！
　　Theremusthavebeenatouchofthemelodramaticinmyposeandvoice，forMaudsmiled。Herappreciationoftheridiculouswaskeen，andinallthingssheunerringlysawandfelt，whereitexisted，thetouchofsham，theovershading，theovertone。Itwasthiswhichhadgivenpoiseandpenetrationtoherownworkandmadeherofworthtotheworld。Theseriouscritic，withthesenseofhumorandthepowerofexpression，mustinevitablycommandtheworld’sear。Andsoitwasthatshehadcommanded。Hersenseofhumorwasreallytheartist’sinstinctforproportion。
　　"I’msureI’vehearditbefore，somewhere，inbooks，"shemurmuredgleefully。
　　Ihadaninstinctforproportionmyself，andIcollapsedforthwith，descendingfromthedominantposeofamasterofmattertoastateofhumbleconfusionwhichwas，tosaytheleast，verymiserable。
　　Herhandleaptoutatoncetomine。
　　"I’msosorry，"shesaid。
　　"Noneedtobe，"Igulped。"Itdoesmegood。There’stoomuchoftheschoolboyinme。Allofwhichisneitherherenorthere。Whatwe’vegottodoisactuallyandliterallytoclearthatraffle。Ifyou’llcomewithmeintheboat，we’llgettoworkandstraightenthingsout。"
　　"`Whenthetopmencleartherafflewiththeirclasp—knivesintheirteeth，’"shequotedatme；andfortherestoftheafternoonwemademerryoverourlabor。
　　HertaskwastoholdtheboatinpositionwhileIworkedatthetangle。
　　Andsuchatangle——halyards，sheets，guys，downhauls，shrouds，stays，allwashedaboutandbackandforthandthrough，andtwinedandknottedbythesea。Icutnomorethanwasnecessary，andwhatwithpassingthelongropesunderandaroundtheboomsandmasts，ofunreevingthehalyardsandsheets，ofcoilingdownintheboatanduncoilinginordertopassthroughanotherknotinthebight，Iwassoonwettotheskin。
　　Thesailsdidrequiresomecutting，andthecanvas，heavywithwater，triedmystrengthseverely；butIsucceededbeforenightfallingettingitallspreadoutonthebeachtodry。Wewerebothverytiredwhenweknockedoffforsupper，andwehaddonegoodwork，too，thoughtotheeyeitappearedinsignificant。
　　Nextmorning，withMaudasableassistant，IwentintotheholdoftheGhosttoclearthestepsofthemast—butts。WehadnomorethanbegunworkwhenthesoundofmyknockingandhammeringbroughtWolfLarsen。
　　"Hellobelow！"hecrieddowntheopenhatch。
　　ThesoundofhisvoicemadeMaudquicklydrawclosetome，asforprotection，andsherestedonehandonmyarmwhileweparleyed。
　　"Helloondeck，"Ireplied。"Goodmorningtoyou。"
　　"Whatareyoudoingdownthere？"hedemanded。"Tryingtoscuttlemyshipforme？"
　　"Quitetheopposite；I’mrepairingher，"wasmyanswer。
　　"Butwhatinthunderareyourepairing？"Therewaspuzzlementinhisvoice。
　　"Why，I’mgettingeverythingreadyforresteppingthemasts，"repliedeasily，asthoughitwerethesimplestprojectimaginable。
　　"Itseemsasthoughyou’restandingonyourownlegsatlast，Hump，"
　　weheardhimsay；andthenforsometimehewassilent。
　　"ButIsay，Hump，"hecalleddown，"youcan’tdoit。"
　　"Oh，yes，Ican，"Iretorted。"I’mdoingitnow。"
　　"Butthisismyvessel，myparticularproperty。Whatifforbidyou？"
　　"Youforget，"Ireplied。"Youarenolongerthebiggestbitoftheferment。
　　Youwere，once，andabletoeatme，asyouwerepleasedtophraseit；buttherehasbeenadiminishing，andIamnowabletoeatyou。Theyeasthasgrownstale。"
　　Hegaveashort，disagreeablelaugh。"Iseeyou’reworkingmyphilosophybackonmeforallitisworth。Butdon’tmakethemistakeofunderestimatingme。ForyourowngoodIwarnyou。"
　　"Sincewhenhaveyoubecomeaphilanthropist？"Iqueried。"Confess，now，inwarningmeformyowngood，thatyouareveryinconsistent。"
　　Heignoredmysarcasm，saying，"SupposeIclapthehatchon，now？Youwon’tfoolmeasyoudidinthelazarette。"
　　"WolfLarsen，"Isaidsternly，forthefirsttimeaddressinghimbythishismostfamiliarname，"Iamunabletoshootahelpless，unresistingman。Youhaveprovedthattomysatisfactionaswellasyours。ButIwarnyounow，andnotsomuchforyourowngoodasformine，thatIshallshootyouthemomentyouattemptahostileact。Icanshootyounow，asIstandhere；andifyouaresominded，justgoaheadandtrytoclaponthehatch。"
　　"Nevertheless，Iforbidyou，Idistinctlyforbidyourtamperingwithmyship。"
　　"But，man！"Iexpostulated，"youadvancethefactthatitisyourshipasthoughitwereamoralright。Youhaveneverconsideredmoralrightsinyourdealingswithothers。YousurelydonotdreamthatI’llconsiderthemindealingwithyou？"
　　IhadsteppedunderneaththeopenhatchwaysothatIcouldseehim。
　　Thelackofexpressiononhisface，sodifferentfromwhenIhadwatchedhimunseen，wasenhancedbytheunblinking，staringeyes。Itwasnotapleasantfacetolookupon。