Shenoddedherhead；andIcouldseesympathywarminhereyes。
　　Wewentuptohim，butheseemedunconscious，breathingspasmodically。
　　Shetookchargeofhim，liftinghisheadtokeepthebloodoutofitanddespatchingmetothecabinforapillow。Ialsobroughtblankets，andwemadehimcomfortable。Itookhispulse。Itbeatsteadilyandstrong，andwasquitenormal。Thispuzzledme。becamesuspicious。
　　"Whatifheshouldbefeigningthis？"Iasked，stillholdinghiswrist。
　　Maudshookherhead，andtherewasreproofinhereyes。ButjustthenthewristIheldleapedfrommyhand，andthehandclaspedlikeasteeltrapaboutmywrist。Icriedaloudinawfulfear，awildinarticulatecry；
　　andIcaughtoneglimpseofhisface，malignantandtriumphant，ashisotherhandcompassedmybodyandIwasdrawndowntohiminaterriblegrip。
　　Mywristwasreleased，buthisotherarm，passedaroundmyback，heldbothmyarmssothatIcouldnotmove。Hisfreehandwenttomythroat，andinthatmomentIknewthebitterestforetasteofdeathearnedbyone’sownidiocy。WhyhadItrustedmyselfwithinreachofthoseterriblearms？
　　Icouldfeelotherhandsatmythroat。TheywereMaud’shands，strivingvainlytotearloosethehandthatwasthrottlingme。Shegaveitup，andIheardherscreaminawaythatcutmetothesoul，foritwasawoman’sscreamoffearandheart—breakingdespair。Ihadhearditbefore，duringthesinkingoftheMartinez。
　　MyfacewasagainsthischestandIcouldnotsee，butIheardMaudturnandrunswiftlyawayalongthedeck。Everythingwashappeningquickly。
　　Ihadnotyethadaglimmeringofunconsciousness，anditseemedthataninterminableperiodoftimewaslapsingbeforeIheardherfeetflyingback。AndjustthenIfeltthewholemansinkunderme。Thebreathwasleavinghislungsandhischestwascollapsingundermyweight。Whetheritwasmerelytheexpelledbreath，orhisconsciousnessofhisgrowingimpotence，Iknownot，buthisthroatvibratedwithadeepgroan。Thehandatmythroatrelaxed。Ibreathed。Itflutteredandtightenedagain。Butevenhistremendouswillcouldnotovercomethedissolutionthatassailedit。Thatwillofhiswasbreakingdown。Hewasfainting。
　　Maud’sfootstepswereverynearashishandflutteredforthelasttimeandmythroatwasreleased。Irolledoffandovertothedeckonmyback，gaspingandblinkinginthesunshine。Maudwaspalebutcomposed，——myeyeshadgoneinstantlytoherface，——andshewaslookingatmewithmingledalarmandrelief。Aheavyseal—clubinherhandcaughtmyeyes，andatthatmomentshefollowedmygazedowntoit。Theclubdroppedfromherhandasthoughithadsuddenlystungher，andatthesamemomentmyheartsurgedwithagreatjoy。Trulyshewasmywoman，mymate—woman，fightingwithmeandformeasthemateofacavemanwouldhavefought，alltheprimitiveinheraroused，forgetfulofherculture，hardunderthesofteningcivilizationoftheonlylifeshehadeverknown。
　　"Dearwoman！"Icried，scramblingtomyfeet。
　　Thenextmomentshewasinmyarms，weepingconvulsivelyonmyshoulderwhileIclaspedherclose。Ilookeddownatthebrowngloryofherhair，glintinggemsinthesunshinefarmoreprecioustomethanthoseinthetreasure—chestsofkings。AndIbentmyheadandkissedherhairsoftly，sosoftlythatshedidnotknow。
　　Thensoberthoughtcametome。Afterall，shewasonlyawoman，cryingherrelief，nowthatthedangerwaspast，inthearmsofherprotectororoftheonewhohadbeenendangered。HadIbeenfatherorbrother，thesituationwouldhavebeeninnowisedifferent。Besides，timeandplacewerenotmeet，andIwishedtoearnabetterrighttodeclaremylove。
　　SoonceagainIsoftlykissedherhairasfeltherrecedingfrommyclasp。
　　"Itwasarealattackthistime，"Isaid；"anothershockliketheonethatmadehimblind。Hefeignedatfirst，andindoingsobroughtiton。"
　　Maudwasalreadyrearranginghispillow。
　　"No，"Isaid，"notyet。NowthatIhavehimhelpless，helplessheshallremain。Fromthisdayweliveinthecabin。WolfLarsenshallliveinthesteerage。"
　　Icaughthimundertheshouldersanddraggedhimtothecompanionway。
　　AtmydirectionMaudfetchedarope。Placingthisunderhisshoulders，Ibalancedhimacrossthethresholdandloweredhimdownthestepstothefloor。Icouldnotlifthimdirectlyintoabunk，butwithMaud’shelpIliftedfirsthisshouldersandhead，thenhisbody，balancedhimacrosstheedge，androlledhimintoalowerbunk。
　　Butthiswasnottobeall。Irecollectedthehandcuffsinhisstateroom，whichhepreferredtouseonsailorsinsteadoftheancientandclumsyship—irons。So，whenwelefthim，helayhandcuffedhandandfoot。ForthefirsttimeinmanydaysIbreathedfreely。IfeltstrangelylightasIcameondeck，asthoughaweighthadbeenliftedfrommyshoulders。I
　　felt，also，thatMaudandIhaddrawnmorecloselytogether；andIwonderedifshe，too，feltitaswewalkedalongthedecksidebysidetowherethestalledforemasthungintheshears。TheSeaWolf：Chapter37CHAPTER37
　　AtoncewemovedaboardtheGhost，occupyingouroldstate—roomsandcookinginthegalley。TheimprisonmentofWolfLarsenhadhappenedmostopportunely，forwhatmusthavebeentheIndiansummerofthishighlatitudewasgoneanddrizzlingstormyweatherhadsetin。Wewereverycomfortable，andtheinadequateshears，withtheforemastsuspendedfromthem，gaveabusinesslikeairtotheschoonerandapromiseofdeparture。
　　AndnowthatwehadWolfLarseninirons，howlittledidweneedit！
　　Likehisfirstattack，hissecondhadbeenaccompaniedbyseriousdisablement。
　　Maudmadethediscoveryintheafternoonwhiletryingtogivehimnourishment。
　　Hehadshownsignsofconsciousness，andshehadspokentohim，elicitingnoresponse。Hewaslyingonhisleftsideatthetime，andinevidentpain。Witharestlessmovementherolledhisheadaround，clearinghisleftearfromthepillowagainstwhichithadbeenpressed。Atonceheheardandansweredher，andatonceshecametome。
　　Pressingthepillowagainsthisleftear，Iaskedhimifheheardme，buthegavenosign。Removingthepillowandrepeatingthequestion，heansweredpromptlythathedid。
　　"Doyouknowyouaredeafintherightear？"Iasked。
　　"Yes，"heansweredinalow，strongvoice，"andworsethanthat。Mywholerightsideisaffected。Itseemsasleep。Icannotmovearmorleg。"
　　"Feigningagain？"Idemandedangrily。
　　Heshookhishead，hissternmouthshapingthestrangest，twistedsmile。
　　Itwasindeedatwistedsmile，foritwasontheleftsideonly，thefacialmusclesoftherightsidemovingnotatall。
　　"ThatwasthelastplayoftheWolf，"hesaid。"Iamparalyzed。Ishallneverwalkagain。Oh，onlyontheotherside，"headded，asthoughdiviningthesuspiciousglanceIflungathisleftleg，thekneeofwhichhadjustthendrawnupandelevatedtheblankets。
　　"It’sunfortunate，"hecontinued。"I’dlikedtohavedoneforyoufirst，Hump。AndIthoughtIhadthatmuchleftinme。"
　　"Butwhy？"Iasked，partlyinhorror，partlyoutofcuriosity。
　　Againhissternmouthframedthetwistedsmile，ashesaid：
　　"Oh，justtobealive，tobelivinganddoing，tobethebiggestbitofthefermenttotheend，toeatyou。Buttodiethisway——"
　　Heshruggedhisshoulders，orattemptedtoshrugthem，rather，fortheleftshoulderalonemoved。Likethesmile，theshrugwastwisted。
　　"Buthowcanyouaccountforit？"Iasked。"Whereistheseatofyourtrouble？"
　　"Thebrain，"hesaidatonce。"Itwasthosecursedheadachesbroughtiton。"
　　"Symptoms，"Isaid。
　　Henoddedhishead。"Thereisnoaccountingforit。Iwasneversickinmylife。Something’sgonewrongwithmybrain。Acancer，atumor，orsomethingofthatnature，——athingthatdevoursanddestroys。It’sattackingmynerve—centres，eatingthemup，bitbybit，cellbycell——fromthepain。"
　　"Themotor—centres，too，"Isuggested。
　　"Soitwouldseem；andthecurseofitisthatImustliehere，conscious，mentallyunimpaired，knowingthatthelinesaregoingdown，breakingbitbybitcommunicationwiththeworld。Icannotsee，hearingandfeelingareleavingme，atthisrateIshallsoonceasetospeak；yetallthetimeIshallbehere，alive，active，andpowerless。"
　　"Whenyousayyouarehere，I’dsuggestthelikelihoodofthesoul，"Isaid。
　　"Bosh！"washisretort。"Itsimplymeansthatintheattackonmybrainthehigherpsychicalcentresareuntouched。Icanremember，canthinkandreason。Whenthatgoes，Igo。Iamnot。Thesoul？"
　　Hebrokeoutinmockinglaughter，thenturnedhislefteartothepillowasasignthathewishednofurtherconversation。
　　MaudandIwentaboutourworkoppressedbythefearfulfatewhichhadovertakenhim，——howfearfulwewereyetfullytorealize。Therewastheawfulnessofretributionaboutit。Ourthoughtsweredeepandsolemn，andwespoketoeachotherscarcelyabovewhispers。
　　"Youmightremovethehandcuffs，"hesaidthatnight，aswestoodinconsultationoverhim。"It’sdeadsafe。I’maparalyticnow。Thenextthingtowatchoutforisbedsores。"
　　Hesmiledhistwistedsmile，andMaud，hereyeswidewithhorror，wascompelledtoturnawayherhead。
　　"Doyouknowthatyoursmileiscrooked？"Iaskedhim；forknewthatshemustattendhim，andIwishedtosaveherasmuchaspossible。
　　"ThenIshallsmilenomore，"hesaidcalmly。"Ithoughtsomethingwaswrong。Myrightcheekhasbeennumballday。Yes，andI’vehadwarningsofthisforthelastthreedays；byspells，myrightsideseemedgoingtosleep，sometimesarmorhand，sometimeslegorfoot。"
　　"Somysmileiscrooked？"hequeriedashortwhileafter。"Well，considerhenceforththatIsmileinternally，withmysoul，ifyouplease，mysoul。
　　ConsiderthatIamsmilingnow。"
　　Andforthespaceofseveralminuteshelaythere，quiet，indulginghisgrotesquefancy。
　　Themanofhimwasnotchanged。Itwastheold，indomitable，terribleWolfLarsen，imprisonedsomewherewithinthatfleshwhichhadoncebeensoinvincibleandsplendid。Nowitboundhimwithinsentientfetters，wallinghissoulindarknessandsilence，blockingitfromtheworldwhichtohimhadbeenariotofaction。Nomorewouldheconjugatetheverb"todo"
　　ineverymoodandtense。"Tobe"wasallthatremainedtohim——tobe，ashehaddefineddeath，withoutmovement；towill，butnottoexecute；
　　tothinkandreasonandinthespiritofhimtobeasaliveasever，butinthefleshtobedead，quitedead。
　　Andyet，thoughIevenremovedthehandcuffs，wecouldnotadjustourselvestohiscondition。Ourmindsrevolted。Toushewasfullofpotentiality。
　　Weknewnotwhattoexpectofhimnext，whatfearfulthing，risingabovetheflesh，hemightbreakoutanddo。Ourexperiencewarrantedthisstateofmind，andwewentaboutourworkwithanxietyalwaysuponus。
　　Ihadsolvedtheproblemwhichhadarisenthroughtheshortnessoftheshears。Bymeansofthewatch—tackle，（Ihadmadeanewone），Iheavedthebuttoftheforemastacrosstherailandthenloweredittothedeck。
　　Next，bymeansoftheshears，Ihoistedthemainboomonboard。Itsfortyfeetoflengthwouldsupplytheheightnecessaryproperlytoswingthemast。BymeansofasecondarytackleIhadattachedtotheshears，Iswungtheboomtoanearlyperpendicularposition，thenloweredthebutttothedeck，where，topreventslipping，Ispikedgreatcleatsaroundit。Thesingleblockofmyoriginalshears—tackleIhadattachedtotheendoftheboom。Thus，bycarryingthistackletothewindlass，Icouldraiseandlowertheendoftheboomatwill，thebuttalwaysremainingstationary，and，bymeansofguys，couldswingtheboomfromsidetoside。TotheendoftheboomIhadlikewiseriggedahoistingtackle；andwhenthewholearrangementwascompletedIcouldnotbutbestartledbythepowerandlatitudeitgaveme。
　　Ofcourse，twodays’workwasrequiredfortheaccomplishmentofthispartofmytask，anditwasnottillthemorningofthethirddaythatIswungtheforemastfromthedeckandproceededtosquareitsbutttofitthestep。HereIwasespeciallyawkward。Isawedandchoppedandchiselledtheweatheredwoodtillithadtheappearanceofhavingbeengnawedbysomegiganticmouse。Butitfitted。
　　"Itwillwork，Iknowitwillwork，"Icried。
　　"DoyouknowDr。Jordan’sfinaltestoftruth？"Maudasked。
　　Ishookmyheadandpausedintheactofdislodgingtheshavingswhichhaddrifteddownmyneck。
　　"`Canwemakeitwork？Canwetrustourlivestoit？’isthetest。"
　　"Heisafavoriteofyours，"Isaid。
　　"WhenIdismantledmyoldPantheonandcastoutNapoleonandCaesarandtheirfellows，IstraightwayerectedanewPantheon，"sheansweredgravely，"andthefirstIinstalledwasDr。Jordan。"
　　"Amodernhero。"
　　"Andagreaterbecausemodern，"sheadded。"HowcantheOldWorldheroescomparewithours！"
　　Ishookmyhead。Weweretoomuchalikeinmanythingsforargument。
　　Ourpointsofviewandoutlookonlifeatleastwereverylike。
　　"Forapairofcriticsweagreefamously，"Ilaughed。
　　"Andasshipwrightandableassistant，"shelaughedback。
　　Buttherewaslittletimeforlaughterinthosedays，whatofourheavyworkandoftheawfulnessofWolfLarsen’slivingdeath。
　　Hehadreceivedanotherstroke。Hehadlosthisvoice，orhewaslosingit。Hehadonlyintermittentuseofit。Ashephrasedit，thewireswerelikethestockmarket，nowup，nowdown。Occasionallythewireswereupandhespokeaswellasever，thoughslowlyandheavily。Thenspeechwouldsuddenlydeserthim，inthemiddleofasentenceperhaps，andforhours，sometimes，wewouldwaitfortheconnectiontoberestablished。Hecomplainedofgreatpaininhishead，anditwasduringthisperiodthathearrangedasystemofcommunicationagainstthetimewhenspeechshouldleavehimaltogether——onepressureofthehandfor"yes，"twofor"no。"Itwaswellthatitwasarranged，forbyeveninghisvoicehadgonefromhim。
　　Byhandpressures，afterthat，heansweredourquestions，andwhenhewishedtospeakhescrawledhisthoughtswithhislefthand，quitelegibly，onasheetofpaper。
　　Thefiercewinterhadnowdescendeduponus。Galefollowedgale，withsnowandsleetandrain。Thesealshadstartedontheirgreatsouthernmigration，andtherookerywaspracticallydeserted。workedfeverishly。
　　Inspiteofthebadweather，andofthewindwhichespeciallyhinderedme，Iwasondeckfromdaylighttilldarkandmakingsubstantialprogress。
　　Iprofitedbymylessonlearnedthroughraisingtheshearsandthenclimbingthemtoattachtheguys。Tothetopoftheforemast，whichwasjustliftedconvenientlyfromthedeck，Iattachedtherigging，stays，andthroatandpeakhalyards。Asusual，Ihadunderratedtheamountofworkinvolvedinthisportionofthetask，andtwolongdayswerenecessarytocompleteit。Andtherewassomuchyettobedone——thesails，forinstance，whichpracticallyhadtobemadeover。
　　WhileItoiledatriggingtheforemast，Maudsewedoncanvas，readyalwaystodropeverythingandcometomyassistancewhenmorehandsthantwowererequired。Thecanvaswasheavyandhard，andshesewedwiththeregularsailor’spalmandthree—corneredsail—needle。Herhandsweresoonsadlyblistered，butshestruggledbravelyon，andinadditiondoingthecookingandtakingcareofthesickman。
　　"Afigforsuperstition，"IsaidonFridaymorning。"Thatmastgoesinto—day。"
　　Everythingwasreadyfortheattempt。Carryingtheboom—tackletothewindlass，Ihoistedthemastnearlyclearofthedeck。Makingthistacklefast，Itooktothewindlasstheshears—tackle，（whichwasconnectedwiththeendoftheboom），andwithafewturnshadthemastperpendicularandclear。
　　Maudclappedherhandstheinstantshewasrelievedfromholdingtheturn，crying：
　　"Itworks！Itworks！We’lltrustourlivestoit！"
　　Thensheassumedaruefulexpression。
　　"It’snotoverthehole，"shesaid。"Willyouhavetobeginallover？"
　　Ismiledinsuperiorfashion，and，slackingoffononeoftheboom—guysandtakinginontheother，swungthemastperfectlyinthecentreofthedeck。Stillitwasnotoverthehole。Againtheruefulexpressioncameonherface，andagainIsmiledinasuperiorway。Slackingawayontheboom—tackleandhoistinganequivalentamountontheshears—tackle，Ibroughtthebuttofthemastintopositiondirectlyovertheholeinthedeck。
　　ThenIgaveMaudcarefulinstructionsforloweringawayandwentintotheholdtothestepontheschooner’sbottom。
　　Icalledtoher，andthemastmovedeasilyandaccurately。Straighttowardthesquareholeofthestepthesquarebuttdescended；butasitdescendeditslowlytwistedsothatsquarewouldnotfitintosquare。ButIhadnotevenamoment’sindecision。CallingtoMaudtoceaselowering，Iwentondeckandmadethewatch—tacklefasttothemastwitharollinghitch。IleftMaudtopullonitwhileIwentbelow。BythelightofthelanternIsawthebutttwistslowlyaroundtillitssidescoincidedwiththesidesofthestep。Maudmadefastandreturnedtothewindlass。Slowlythebuttdescendedtheseveralinterveninginches，atthesametimeslightlytwistingagain。AgainMaudrectifiedthetwistwiththewatch—tackle，andagainsheloweredawayfromthewindlass。Squarefittedintosquare。Themastwasstepped。
　　Iraisedashout，andsherandowntosee。Intheyellowlanternlightwepeeredatwhatwehadaccomplished。Welookedateachother，andourhandsfelttheirwayandclasped。Theeyesofbothus，think，weremoistwiththejoyofsuccess。
　　"Itwasdonesoeasilyafterall，"Iremarked。"Alltheworkwasinthepreparation。"
　　"Andallthewonderinthecompletion，"Maudadded。
　　"Icanscarcelybringmyselftorealizethatthatgreatmastisreallyupandin；thatyouhavelifteditfromthewater，swungitthroughtheair，anddepositeditherewhereitbelongs。ItisaTitan’stask。"
　　"Andtheymadethemselvesmanyinventions，"Ibeganmerrily，thenpausedtosnifftheair。
　　Ilookedhastilyatthelantern。Itwasnotsmoking。Againsniffed。
　　"Somethingisburning，"Maudsaid，withsuddenconviction。
　　Wesprangtogetherfortheladder，butIracedpasthertothedeck。
　　Adensevolumeofsmokewaspouringoutofthesteeragecompanionway。
　　"TheWolfisnotyetdead，"ImutteredtomyselfasIsprangdownthroughthesmoke。
　　ItwassothickintheconfinedspacethatIwascompelledtofeelmyway；andsopotentwasthespellofWolfLarsenonmyimagination，Iwasquitepreparedforthehelplessgianttogripmyneckinastranglehold。
　　Ihesitated，thedesiretoracebackandupthestepstothedeckalmostoverpoweringme。ThenIrecollectedMaud。Thevisionofher，asIhadlastseenher，inthelanternlightoftheschooner’shold，herbrowneyeswarmandmoistwithjoy，flashedbeforeme，andIknewthatIcouldnotgoback。
　　IwaschokingandsuffocatingbythetimeIreachedWolfLarsen’sbunk。
　　Ireachedmyhandandfeltforhis。Hewaslyingmotionless，butmovedslightlyatthetouchofmyhand。Ifeltoverandunderhisblankets。Therewasnowarmth，nosignoffire。Yetthatsmokewhichblindedmeandmademecoughandgaspmusthaveasource。lostmyheadtemporarilyanddashedfranticallyaboutthesteerage。Acollisionwiththetablepartiallyknockedthewindfrommybodyandbroughtmetomyself。Ireasonedthatahelplessmancouldstartafireonlyneartowherehelay。
　　IreturnedtoWolfLarsen’sbunk。ThereIencounteredMaud。HowlongshehadbeenthereinthatsuffocatingatmosphereIcouldnotguess。
　　"Goupondeck！"Icommandedperemptorily。
　　"But，Humphrey——"shebegantoprotestinaqueer，huskyvoice。
　　"Please！please！"Ishoutedatherharshly。
　　Shedrewawayobediently，andthenIthought，Whatifshecannotfindthesteps？Istartedafterher，tostopatthefootofthecompanionway。
　　Perhapsshehadgoneup。AsIstoodthere，hesitant，heardhercrysoftly：
　　——
　　"Oh，Humphrey，Iamlost。"
　　Ifoundherfumblingatthewalloftheafterbulkhead，and，halfleadingher，halfcarryingher，Itookherupthecompanionway。Thepureairwaslikenectar。Maudwasonlyfaintanddizzy，andIleftherlyingonthedeckwhenItookmysecondplungebelow。
　　ThesourceofthesmokemustbeveryclosetoWolfLarsen——mymindwasmadeuptothis，andIwentstraighttohisbunk。AsIfeltaboutamonghisblankets，somethinghotfellonthebackofmyhand。Itburnedme，andIjerkedmyhandaway。ThenIunderstood。Throughthecracksinthebottomoftheupperbunkhehadsetfiretothemattress。Hestillretainedsufficientuseofhisleftarmtodothis。Thedampstrawofthemattress，firedfrombeneathanddeniedair，hadbeensmoulderingallthewhile。
　　AsIdraggedthemattressoutofthebunkitseemedtodisintegrateinmid—air，atthesametimeburstingintoflames。Ibeatouttheburningremnantsofstrawinthebunk，thenmadeadashforthedeckforfreshair。
　　Severalbucketsofwatersufficedtoputouttheburningmattressinthemiddleofthesteeragefloor；andtenminuteslater，whenthesmokehadfairlycleared，IallowedMaudtocomebelow。WolfLarsenwasunconscious，butitwasamatterofminutesforthefreshairtorestorehim。Wewereworkingoverhim，however，whenhesignedforpaperandpencil。
　　"Praydonotinterruptme，"hewrote。"Iamsmiling。"
　　"Iamstillabitoftheferment，yousee，"hewrotealittlelater。
　　"Iamgladyouareassmallabitasyouare，"Isaid。
　　"Thankyou，"hewrote。"ButjustthinkofhowmuchsmallershallbebeforeIdie。"
　　"AndyetIamallhere，Hump，"hewrotewithafinalflourish。"Icanthinkmoreclearlythaneverinmylifebefore。Nothingtodisturbme。
　　Concentrationisperfect。Iamallhereandmorethanhere。"
　　Itwaslikeamessagefromthenightofthegrave；forthisman’sbodyhadbecomehismausoleum。Andthere，insostrangesepulture，hisspiritflutteredandlived。Itwouldflutterandlivetillthelastlineofcommunicationwasbroken，andafterthatwhowastosayhowmuchlongeritmightcontinuetoflutterandlive？TheSeaWolf：Chapter38CHAPTER38
　　Ithinkmyleftsideisgoing，"WolfLarsenwrote，themorningafterhisattempttofiretheship。"Thenumbnessisgrowing。Icanhardlymovemyhand。Youwillhavetospeaklouder。Thelastlinesaregoingdown。"
　　"Areyouinpain？"Iasked。
　　Iwascompelledtorepeatmyquestionloudlybeforeheanswered。
　　"Notallthetime。"
　　Thelefthandstumbledslowlyandpainfullyacrossthepaper，anditwaswithextremedifficultythatwedecipheredthescrawl。Itwaslikea"spiritmessage，"suchasaredeliveredatsancesofspiritualistsforadollaradmission。
　　"ButIamstillhere，allhere，"thehandscrawledmoreslowlyandpainfullythanever。
　　Thepencildropped，andwehadtoreplaceitinthehand。
　　"WhenthereisnopainIhaveperfectpeaceandquiet。Ihaveneverthoughtsoclearly。IcanponderlifeanddeathlikeaHindoosage。"
　　"Andimmortality？"Maudqueriedloudlyintheear。
　　Threetimesthehandessayedtowritebutfumbledhopelessly。Thepencilfell。Invainwetriedtoreplaceit。Thefingerscouldnotcloseonit。
　　ThenMaudpressedandheldthefingersaboutthepencilwithherownhand，andthehandwrote，inlargeletters，andsoslowlythattheminutestickedofftoeachletter：
　　"B——O——S——H。"
　　ItwasWolfLarsen’slastword，"bosh，"scepticalandinvincibletotheend。Thearmandhandrelaxed。Thetrunkofthebodymovedslightly。
　　Thentherewasnomovement。Maudreleasedthehand。Thefingersspreadslightly，fallingapartoftheirownweight，andthepencilrolledaway。
　　"Doyoustillhear？"Ishouted，holdingthefingersandwaitingforthesinglepressurewhichwouldsignify"Yes。"Therewasnoresponse。Thehandwasdead。
　　"Inoticedthelipsslightlymove，"Maudsaid。
　　Irepeatedthequestion。Thelipsmoved。Sheplacedthetipsofherfingersonthem。AgainIrepeatedthequestion。"Yes，"Maudannounced。
　　Welookedateachotherexpectantly。
　　"Whatgoodisit？"Iasked。"Whatcanwesaynow？"
　　"Oh，askhim——"
　　Shehesitated。
　　"Askhimsomethingthatrequires`no’forananswer，"suggested。"Thenwewillknowwithcertainty。"
　　"Areyouhungry？"shecried。
　　Thelipsmovedunderherfingers，andsheanswered，"Yes。"
　　"Willyouhavesomebeef？"washernextquery。
　　"No，"sheannounced。
　　"Beef—tea？"