"Numberfourboat!"Oofty—Ooftycried,hiskeeneyesreadingitsnumberintheonesecondwhenitliftedclearofthefoamandupsidedown。
ItwasHenderson’sboat,andwithhimhadbeenlostHoly—oakandWilliams,anotherofthedeep—watercrowd。Losttheyindubitablywere;buttheboatremained,andWolfLarsenmadeonemorerecklessefforttorecoverit。
Ihadcomedowntothedeck,andIsawHornerandKerfootvainlyprotestagainsttheattempt。
"ByGod,I’llnotberobbedofmyboatbyanystormthateverblewoutofhell!"heshouted,andthoughwefourstoodwithourheadstogetherthatwemighthear,hisvoiceseemedfaintandfar,asthoughremovedfromusanimmensedistance。
"Mr。VanWeyden!"hecried,andIheardthroughthetumultasonemighthearawhisper。"StandbythatjibwithJohnsonandOofty!Therestofyoutailafttothemainsheet!Livelynow!OrI’llsailyouallintoKingdomCome!Understand?"
AndwhenheputthewheelhardoverandtheGhost’sbowswungoff,therewasnothingforthehunterstodobutobeyandmakethebestofariskychance。HowgreattheriskIrealizedwhenIwasoncemoreburiedbeneaththepoundingseasandclingingforlifetothepin—railatthefootoftheforemast。Myfingersweretornloose,andsweptacrosstothesideandoverthesideintothesea。Icouldnotswim,butbeforeIcouldsinkIwassweptbackagain。Astronghandgrippedme,andwhentheGhostfinallyemerged,IfoundthatIowedmylifetoJohnson。Isawhimlookinganxiouslyabouthim,andnotedthatKelly,whohadcomeforwardatthelastmoment,wasmissing。
Thistime,havingmissedtheboatandnotbeinginthesamepositionasinthepreviousinstances,WolfLarsenwascompelledtoresorttoadifferentman渦vre。Runningoffbeforethewindwitheverythingtostarboard,hecameaboutandreturnedclose—hauledontheporttack。
"Grand!"Johnsonshoutedinmyear,aswesuccessfullycamethroughtheattendantdeluge,andIknewhereferred,nottoWolfLarsen’sseamanship,buttotheperformanceoftheGhostherself。
Itwasnowsodarkthattherewasnosignoftheboat;butWolfLarsenheldbackthroughthefrightfulturmoilasifguidedbyunerringinstinct。
Thistime,thoughwewerecontinuallyhalf—buried,therewasnotroughinwhichtobeswept,andwedriftedsquarelydownupontheup—turnedboat,badlysmashingitasitwasheavedinboard。
Twohoursofterribleworkfollowed,inwhichallhandsofus,——twohunters,threesailors,WolfLarsen,andI,——reefed,firstoneandthentheother,thejibandmainsail。Hovetounderthisshortcanvas,ourdeckswerecomparativelyfreeofwater,whiletheGhostbobbedandduckedamongstthecomberslikeacork。
Ihadburstopentheendsofmyfingersattheveryfirst,andduringthereefingIhadworkedwithtearsofpainrunningdownmycheeks。Andwhenallwasdone,Igaveuplikeawomanandrolleduponthedeckintheagonyofexhaustion。
InthemeantimeThomasMugridge,likeadrownedrat,wasbeingdraggedoutfromundertheforecastleheadwherehehadcravenlyensconcedhimself。
Isawhimpulledafttothecabinandnotedwithashockofsurprisethatthegalleyhaddisappeared。Acleanspaceofdeckshowedwhereithadstood。
InthecabinIfoundallhandsassembled,sailorsaswell,andwhilecoffeewasbeingcookedoverthesmallstovewedrankwhiskeyandcrunchedhardtack。Neverinmylifehadfoodbeensowelcome。Andneverhadhotcoffeetastedsogood。SoviolentlydidtheGhostpitchandtossandtumblethatitwasimpossibleforeventhesailorstomoveaboutwithoutholdingon,andseveraltimes,afteracryof"Nowshetakesit!"wewereheapeduponthewalloftheportcabinsasthoughithadbeenthedeck。
"Tohellwithalookout,"IheardWolfLarsensaywhenwehadeatenanddrunkourfill。"There’snothingcanbedoneondeck。Ifanything’sgoingtorunusdownwecouldn’tgetoutofitsway。Turnin,allhands,andgetsomesleep。"
Thesailorsslippedforward,settingtheside—lightsastheywent,whilethetwohuntersremainedtosleepinthecabin,itnotbeingdeemedadvisabletoopentheslidetothesteeragecompanionway。WolfLarsenandI,betweenus,cutoffKerfoot’scrushedfingerandsewedupthestump。Mugridge,who,duringallthetimehehadbeencompelledtocookandservecoffeeandkeepthefiregoing,hadcomplainedofinternalpains,nowsworethathehadabrokenribortwo。Onexaminationwefoundthathehadthree。
Buthiscasewasdeferredtonextday,principallyforthereasonthatIdidnotknowanythingaboutbrokenribsandwouldfirsthavetoreaditup。
"Idon’tthinkitwasworthit,"IsaidtoWolfLarsen,"abrokenboatforKelly’slife。"
"ButKellydidn’tamounttomuch,"wasthereply。"Goodnight。"
Afterallthathadpassed,sufferingintolerableanguishinmyfingerends,andwiththreeboatsmissing,tosaynothingofthewildcaperstheGhostwascutting,Ishouldhavethoughtitimpossibletosleep。
Butmyeyesmusthaveclosedtheinstantmyheadtouchedthepillow,andinutterexhaustionIsleptthroughoutthenight,thewhiletheGhost,lonelyandundirected,foughtherwaythroughthestorm。TheSeaWolf:Chapter18CHAPTER18
Thenextday,whilethestormwasblowingitselfout,WolfLarsenandIcrammedanatomyandsurgeryandsetMugridge’sribs。Then,whenthestormbroke,WolfLarsencruisedbackandforthoverthatportionoftheoceanwherewehadencounteredit,andsomewhatmoretothewestward,whiletheboatswerebeingrepairedandnewsailsmadeandbent。Sealingschooneraftersealingschoonerwesightedandboarded,mostofwhichwereinsearchoflostboats,andmostofwhichwerecarryingboatsandcrewstheyhadpickedupandwhichdidnotbelongtothem。Forthethickofthefleethadbeentothewestwardofus,andtheboats,scatteredfarandwide,hadheadedinmadflightforthenearestrefuge。
Twoofourboats,withmenallsafe,wetookofftheCisco,and,toWolfLarsen’shugedelightandmyowngrief,heculledSmoke,withNilsonandLeach,fromtheSanDiego。Sothat,attheendoffivedays,wefoundourselvesshortbutfourmen,——Henderson,Holyoak,Williams,andKelly,——andwereoncemorehuntingontheflanksoftheherd。
Aswefolloweditnorthwebegantoencounterthedreadedsea—fogs。
Dayafterdaytheboatsloweredandwereswallowedupalmosteretheytouchedthewater,whileweonboardpumpedthehornatregularintervalsandeveryfifteenminutesfiredthebombgun。Boatswerecontinuallybeinglostandfound,itbeingthecustomforaboattohunt,onlay,withwhateverschoonerpickeditup,untilsuchtimeitwasrecoveredbyitsownschooner。ButWolfLarsen,aswastobeexpected,beingaboatshort,tookpossessionofthefirststrayoneandcompelleditsmentohuntwiththeGhost,notpermittingthemtoreturntotheirownschoonerwhenwesightedit。
Irememberhowheforcedthehunterandhistwomenbelow,arifleattheirbreasts,whentheircaptainpassedbyatbiscuit—tossandhailedusforinformation。
ThomasMugridge,sostrangelyandpertinaciouslyclingingtolife,wassoonlimpingaboutagainandperforminghisdoubledutiesofcookandcabin—boy。
JohnsonandLeachwerebulliedandbeatenasmuchasever,andtheylookedfortheirlivestoendwiththeendofthehuntingseason;whiletherestofthecrewlivedthelivesofdogsandwereworkedlikedogsbytheirpitilessmaster。AsforWolfLarsenandmyself,wegotalongfairlywell;
thoughIcouldnotquiteridmyselfoftheideathatrightconduct,forme,layinkillinghim。Hefascinatedmeimmeasurably,andIfearedhimimmeasurably。Andyet,couldnotimaginehimlyingproneindeath。Therewasanendurance,asofperpetualyouth,abouthim,whichroseupandforbadethepicture。couldseehimonlyaslivingalways,anddominatingalways,fightinganddestroying,himselfsurviving。
Onediversionofhis,whenwewereinthemidstoftheherdandtheseawastooroughtolowertheboats,wastolowerwithtwoboatpullersandasteererandgoouthimself。Hewasagoodshot,too,andbroughtmanyaskinaboardunderwhatthehunterstermedImpossiblehuntingconditions。
Itseemedthebreathofhisnostrils,thiscarryinghislifeinhishandsandstrugglingforitagainsttremendousodds。
Iwaslearningmoreandmoreseamanship;andoneclearday,——athingwerarelyencounterednow,——IhadthesatisfactionofrunningandhandlingtheGhostandpickinguptheboatsmyself。WolfLarsenhadbeensmittenwithoneofhisheadaches,andIstoodatthewheelfrommorninguntilevening,sailingacrosstheoceanafterthelastleeboatandheavingtoandpickingitandtheotherfiveupwithoutcommandorsuggestionfromhim。
Galesweencounterednowandagain,foritwasarawandstormyregion,and,inthemiddleofJune,atyphoonmostmemorabletomeandmostimportantbecauseofthechangeswroughtthroughituponmyfuture。Wemusthavebeencaughtnearlyatthecentreofthiscircularstorm,andWolfLarsenranoutofitandtothesouthward,firstunderadouble—reefedjib,andfinallyunderbarepoles。NeverhadIimaginedsogreatasea。Theseaspreviouslyencounteredwereasripplescomparedwiththese,whichranahalfmilefromcresttocrestandwhichupreared,Iamconfident,aboveourmasthead。SogreatwasitthatWolfLarsenhimselfdidnotdareheaveto,thoughhewasbeingdrivenfartothesouthwardandoutofthesealherd。
Wemusthavebeenwellinthepathofthetrans—Pacificsteamshipswhenthetyphoonmoderated,andhere,tothesurpriseofthehunters,wefoundourselvesinthemidstofseals——asecondherd,orsortofrear—guard,theydeclared,andamostunusualthing。Butitwas"Boatsover!",theboom—boomofguns,andthepitifulslaughterthroughthelongday。
ItwasatthistimethatIwasapproachedbyLeach。Ihadjustfinishedtallyingtheskinsofthelastboataboard,whenhecametomyside,inthedarkness,andsaidinalowtone:
"Canyoutellme,Mr。VanWeyden,howfarweareoffthecoast,andwhatthebearingsofYokohamaare?"
Myheartleapedwithgladness,forIknewwhathehadinmind,andI
gavehimthebearings——west—northwestandfivehundredmilesaway。
"Thankyou,sir,"wasallhesaidasheslippedbackintothedarkness。
NextmorningNo。3boatandJohnsonandLeachweremissing。Thewater—breakersandgrubboxesfromalltheotherboatswerelikewisemissing,aswerethebedsandseabagsofthetwomen。WolfLarsenwasfurious。Hesetsailandboreawayintothewest—northwest,twohuntersconstantlyatthemastheadsandsweepingtheseawithglasses,himselfpacingthedecklikeanangrylion。Heknewtoowellmysympathyfortherunawaystosendmealoftaslookout。
Thewindwasfairbutfitful,anditwaslikelookingforaneedleinahaystacktoraisethattinyboatoutoftheblueimmensity。ButheputtheGhostthroughherbestpacessoastogetbetweenthedesertersandtheland。Thisaccomplished,hecruisedbackandforthacrosswhatheknewmustbetheircourse。
Onthemorningofthethirdday,shortlyaftereightbells,acrythattheboatwassightedcamedownfromSmokeatthemasthead。Allhandslinedtherail。Asnappybreezewasblowingfromthewestwiththepromiseofmorewindbehindit;andthere,toleeward,inthetroubledsilveroftherisingsun,appearedanddisappearedablackspeck。
Wesquaredawayandranforit。Myheartwasaslead。feltmyselfturningsickinanticipation;andasIlookedatthegleamoftriumphinWolfLarsen’seyes,hisformswambeforemeandIfeltalmostirresistiblyimpelledtoflingmyselfuponhim。SounnervedwasIbythethoughtofimpendingviolencetoLeachandJohnsonthatmyreasonmusthaveleftme。IknowthatIslippeddownintothesteerageinadaze,andthatIwasjustbeginningtheascenttothedeck,aloadedshot—guninmyhands,whenIheardthestartledcry:
"There’sfivemeninthatboat!"
Isupportedmyselfinthecompanionway,weakandtrembling,whiletheobservationwasbeingverifiedbytheremarksoftherestofthemen。ThenmykneesgavefromundermeandIsankdown,myselfagain,butovercomebyshockatknowledgeofwhatIhadsonearlydone。Also,IwasverythankfulasIputthegunawayandslippedbackondeck。
Noonehadremarkedmyabsence。Theboatwasnearenoughforustomakeoutthatitwaslargerthananysealingboatandbuiltondifferentlines。
Aswedrewcloser,thesailwastakeninandthemastunstepped。Oarswereshipped,anditsoccupantswaitedforustoheavetoandtakethemaboard。
Smoke,whohaddescendedtothedeckandwasnowstandingbymyside,begantochuckleinasignificantway。Ilookedathiminquiringly。
"Talkofamess!"hegiggled。
"What’swrong?"Idemanded。
Againhechuckled。
"Don’tyouseethere,inthestern—sheets,onthebottom。MayInevershootasealagainifthatain’tawoman!"
Ilookedclosely,butwasnotsureuntilexclamationsbrokeoutonallsides。Theboatcontainedfourmen,anditsfifthoccupantwascertainlyawoman。Wewereagogwithexcitement,allexceptWolfLarsen,whowastooevidentlydisappointedinthatitwasnothisownboatwiththetwovictimsofhismalice。
Werandowntheflyingjib,hauledthejib—sheetstowindwardandthemainsheetflat,andcameupintothewind。Theoarsstruckthewater,andwithafewstrokestheboatwasalongside。Inowcaughtmyfirstfairglimpseofthewoman。Shewaswrappedinalongulster,forthemorningwasraw;andIcouldseenothingbutherfaceandamassoflightbrownhairescapingfromundertheseaman’scaponherhead。Theeyeswerelargeandbrownandlustrous,themouthsweetandsensitive,andthefaceitselfadelicateoval,thoughsunandexposuretobrinywindhadburntthefacescarlet。
Sheseemedtomelikeabeingfromanotherworld。Iwasawareofahungryoutreachingforher,asofastarvingmanforbread。Butthen,Ihadnotseenawomanforaverylongtime。IknowthatIwaslostinagreatwonder,almostastupor,——this,then,wasawoman?——sothatIforgotmyselfandmymate’sduties,andtooknopartinhelpingthenewcomersaboard。
ForwhenoneofthesailorsliftedherintoWolfLarsen’sdown—stretchedarms,shelookedupintoourcuriousfacesandsmiledamusedlyandsweetly,asonlyawomancansmile,andasIhadseennoonesmileforsolongthatIhadforgottensuchsmilesexisted。
"Mr。VanWeyden!"
WolfLarsen’svoicebroughtmesharplybacktomyself。
"Willyoutaketheladybelowandseetohercomfort?Makeupthatspareportcabin。PutCookytoworkonit。Andseewhatyoucandoforthatface。
It’sburnedbadly。"
Heturnedbrusquelyawayfromusandbegantoquestionthenewmen。
Theboatwascastadrift,thoughoneofthemcalledita"bloodyshame"
withYokohamasonear。
IfoundmyselfstrangelyafraidofthiswomanIwasescortingaft。AlsoIwasawkward。ItseemedtomethatIwasrealizingforthefirsttimewhatadelicate,fragilecreatureawomanis;andasIcaughtherarmtohelpherdownthecompanionstairs,Iwasstartledbyitssmallnessandsoftness。Indeed,shewasaslender,delicatewomanaswomengo,buttomeshewassoethereallyslenderanddelicatethatwasquitepreparedforherarmtocrumbleinmygrasp。Allthis,infrankness,toshowmyfirstimpression,afterlongdenial,ofwomeningeneralandofMaudBrewsterinparticular。
"Noneedtogotoanygreattroubleforme,"sheprotested,whenIhadseatedherinWolfLarsen’sarm—chair,whichIhaddraggedhastilyfromhiscabin。"Themenwerelookingforlandatanymomentthismorning,andthevesselshouldbeinbynight;don’tyouthinkso?"
Hersimplefaithintheimmediatefuturetookmeaback。HowcouldI
explaintoherthesituation,thestrangemanwhostalkedthesealikeDestiny,allthatithadtakenmemonthstolearn?ButIansweredhonestly:
"Ifitwereanyothercaptainexceptours,IshouldsayyouwouldbeashoreinYokohamato—morrow。Butourcaptainisastrangeman,andIbegofyoutobepreparedforanything,understand?——foranything。"
"I——IconfessIhardlydounderstand,"shehesitated,aperturbedbutnotfrightenedexpressioninhereyes。"Orisitamisconceptionofminethatshipwreckedpeoplearealwaysshowneveryconsideration?Thisissuchalittlething,youknow。Wearesoclosetoland。"
"Candidly,Idonotknow,"Istrovetoreassureher。"Iwishedmerelytoprepareyoufortheworst,iftheworstistocome。Thisman,thiscaptain,isabrute,ademon,andonecannevertellwhatwillbehisnextfantasticact。"
Iwasgrowingexcited,butsheinterruptedmewithan"Oh,see,"andhervoicesoundedweary。Tothinkwaspatentlyaneffort。Shewasclearlyonthevergeofphysicalcollapse。
Sheaskednofurtherquestions,andIvouchsafednoremarks,devotingmyselftoWolfLarsen’scommand,whichwastomakehercomfortable。Ibustledaboutinquitehousewifelyfashion,procuringsoothinglotionsforhersunburn,raidingWolfLarsen’sprivatestoresforabottleofportIknewtobethere,anddirectingThomasMugridgeinthepreparationofthesparestate—room。
Thewindwasfresheningrapidly,theGhostheelingovermoreandmore,andbythetimethestate—roomwasreadyshewasdashingthroughthewateratalivelyclip。IhadquiteforgottentheexistenceofLeachandJohnson,whensuddenly,likeathunderclap,"Boatho!"camedowntheopencompanionway。ItwasSmoke’sunmistakablevoice,cryingfromthemasthead。
Ishotaglanceatthewoman,butshewasleaningbackinthearm—chair,hereyesclosed,unutterablytired。Idoubtedthatshehadheard,andI
resolvedtopreventherseeingthebrutalityknewwouldfollowthecaptureofthedeserters。Shewastired。Verygood。Sheshouldsleep。
Therewereswiftcommandsondeck,astampingoffeetandaslappingofreef—pointsastheGhostshotintothewindandaboutontheothertack。Asshefilledawayandheeled,thearm—chairbegantoslideacrossthecabinfloor,andIsprangforitjustintimetopreventtherescuedwomanfrombeingspilledout。
Hereyesweretooheavytosuggestmorethanahintofthesleepysurprisethatperplexedherasshelookedupatme,andshehalfstumbled,halftottered,asIledhertohercabin。MugridgegrinnedinsinuatinglyinmyfaceasIshovedhimoutandorderedhimbacktohisgalleywork;andhewonhisrevengebyspreadingglowingreportsamongthehuntersastowhatanexcellent"lydy’smyde"Iwasprovingmyselftobe。
Sheleanedheavilyagainstme,andIdobelievethatshehadfallenasleepagainbetweenthearm—chairandthestate—room。Thisdiscoveredwhenshenearlyfellintothebunkduringasuddenlurchoftheschooner。
Shearoused,smileddrowsily,andwasofftosleepagain;andasleepI
lefther,underaheavypairofsailor’sblankets,herheadrestingonapillowIhadappropriatedfromWolfLarsen’sbunk。TheSeaWolf:Chapter19CHAPTER19
IcameondecktofindtheGhostheadingupcloseontheporttackandcuttingintowindwardofafamiliarspritsailclose—hauledonthesametackaheadofus。Allhandswereondeck,fortheyknewthatsomethingwastohappenwhenLeachandJohnsonweredraggedaboard。
Itwasfourbells。Louiscameafttorelievethewheel。Therewasadampnessintheair,andInoticedhehadonhisoilskins。
"Whatarewegoingtohave?"Iaskedhim。
"Ahealthyyoungslipofagalefromthebreathivit,sir,"heanswered,"withasplatterivrainjusttowetourgillsan’nomore。"
"Toobadwesightedthem,"Isaid,astheGhost’sbowwasflungoffapointbyalargeseaandtheboatleapedforamomentpastthejibsandintoourlineofvision。
Louisgaveaspokeandtemporized。"They’dneverivmadetheland,sir,I’mthinkin’。"
"Thinknot?"Iqueried。
"No,sir。Didyoufeelthat?"(Apuffhadcaughttheschooner,andhewasforcedtoputthewheeluprapidlytokeepheroutofthewind。)"’Tisnoegg—shell’llfloatonthisseaanhourcome,an’it’sastrokeivluckforthemwe’reheretopick’emup。"
WolfLarsenstrodeaftfromamidships,wherehehadbeentalkingwiththerescuedmen。Thecatlikespringinessinhistreadwasalittlemorepronouncedthanusual,andhiseyeswerebrightandsnappy。
"Threeoilersandafourthengineer,"washisgreeting。"Butwe’llmakesailorsoutofthem,orboat—pullersatanyrate。Now,whatofthelady?"
Iknownotwhy,butIwasawareofatwingeorpang,likethecutofaknife,whenhementionedher。Ithoughtitacertainsillyfastidiousnessonmypart,butitpersistedinspiteofme,andImerelyshruggedmyshouldersinanswer。
WolfLarsenpursedhislipsinalong,quizzicalwhistle。
"What’shername,then?"hedemanded。
"Idon’tknow,"Ireplied。"Sheisasleep。Shewasverytired。Infact,Iamwaitingtohearthenewsfromyou。Whatvesselwasit?"
"Mailsteamer,"heansweredshortly。"TheCityofTokio,from’Frisco,boundforYokohama。Disabledinthattyphoon。Oldtub。Openeduptopandbottomlikeasieve。Theywereadriftfourdays。Andyoudon’tknowwhoorwhatsheis,eh?——maid,wife,orwidow?Well,well。"
Heshookhisheadinabanteringway,andregardedmewithlaughingeyes。
"Areyou——"Ibegan。ItwasonthevergeofmytonguetoaskifheweregoingtotakethecastawaysintoYokohama。
"AmIwhat?"heasked。
"WhatdoyouintenddoingwithLeachandJohnson?"
Heshookhishead。"Really,Hump,Idon’tknow。Yousee,withtheseadditionsI’veaboutallthecrewIwant。"
"Andthey’veaboutalltheescapingtheywant,"Isaid。"Whynotgivethemachangeoftreatment?Takethemaboard,anddealgentlywiththem。
Whatevertheyhavedonetheyhavebeenhoundedintodoing。"
"Byme?"
"Byyou,"Iansweredsteadily。"AndIgiveyouwarning,WolfLarsen,thatImayforgetloveofmyownlifeinthedesiretokillyouifyougotoofarinmaltreatingthosepoorwretches。"
"Bravo!"hecried。"Youdomeproud,Hump!You’vefoundyourlegswithavengeance。You’requiteanindividual。Youwereunfortunateinhavingyourlifecastineasyplaces,butyou’redeveloping,andIlikeyouthebetterforit。"
Hisvoiceandexpressionchanged。Hisfacewasserious。"Doyoubelieveinpromises?"heasked。"Aretheysacredthings?"
"Ofcourse,"Ianswered。
"Thenhere’sacompact,"hewenton,consummateactorthathewas。"IfIpromisenottolaymyhandsuponLeachandJohnson,willyoupromise,inturn,nottoattempttokillme?"
"Oh,notthatI’mafraidofyou,notthatI’mafraidofyou,"hehastenedtoadd。
Icouldhardlybelievemyears。Whatwascomingovertheman?
"Isitago?"heaskedimpatiently。
"Ago,"Ianswered。
Hishandwentouttomine,andasIshookitheartilyIcouldhaveswornIsawthemockingdevilshineupforamomentinhiseyes。
Westrolledacrossthepooptotheleeside。Theboatwascloseathandnow,andindesperateplight。Johnsonwassteering,Leachbailing。Weoverhauledthemabouttwofeettotheirone。WolfLarsenmotionedLouistokeepoffslightly,andwedashedabreastoftheboat,notascoreoffeettowindward。
TheGhostblanketedit。Thespritsailflappedemptilyandtheboatrightedtoanevenkeel,causingthetwomenswiftlytochangeposition。
Theboatlostheadway,and,asweliftedonahugesurge,toppledandfellintothetrough。
ItwasatthismomentthatLeachandJohnsonlookedupintothefacesoftheirshipmates,wholinedtherailamidships。Therewasnogreeting。
Theywereasdeadmenintheircomrades’eyes,andbetweenthemwasthegulfthatpartsthelivingandthedead。
Thenextinstanttheywereoppositethepoop,wherestoodWolfLarsenandI。Wewerefallinginthetrough,theywererisingonthesurge。Johnsonlookedatme,andIcouldseethathisfacewaswornandhaggard。Iwavedmyhandtohim,andheansweredthegreeting,butwithawavethatwashopelessanddespairing。Itwasasifheweresayingfarewell。IdidnotseeintotheeyesofLeach,forhewaslookingatWolfLarsen,theoldandimplacablesnarlofhatredstrongaseveronhisface。
Thentheyweregoneastern。Thespritsailfilledwiththewind,suddenly,careeningthefrailopencrafttillitseemeditwouldsurelycapsize。
Awhitecapfoamedaboveitandbrokeacrossinasnow—whitesmother。Thentheboatemerged,halfswamped,LeachflingingthewateroutandJohnsonclingingtothesteering—oar,hisfacewhiteandanxious。
WolfLarsenbarkedashortlaughinmyearandstrodeawaytotheweathersideofthepoop。IexpectedhimtogiveordersfortheGhosttoheaveto,butshekeptonhercourseandhemadenosign。Louisstoodimperturbablyatthewheel,butInoticedthegroupedsailorsforwardturningtroubledfacesinourdirection。StilltheGhosttorealong,tilltheboatdwindledtoaspeck,whenWolfLarsen’svoicerangoutincommandandhewentaboutonthestarboardtack。
Backweheld,twomilesandmoretowindwardofthestrugglingcockle—shell,whentheflyingjibwasrundownandtheschoonerhoveto。Thesealingboatsarenotmadeforwindwardwork。Theirhopeliesinkeepingaweatherpositionsothattheymayrunbeforethewindfortheschoonerwhenitbreezesup。ButinallthatwildwastetherewasnorefugeforLeachandJohnsonsaveontheGhost,andtheyresolutelybeganthewindwardbeat。Itwasslowworkintheheavyseathatwasrunning。Atanymomenttheywereliabletobeoverwhelmedbythehissingcombers。Timeandagainandcountlesstimeswewatchedtheboatluffintothebigwhitecaps,loseheadway,andbeflungbacklikeacork。
Johnsonwasasplendidseaman,andheknewasmuchaboutsmallboatsashedidaboutships。Attheendofanhourandahalfhewasnearlyalongside,standingpastoursternonthelastlegout,aimingtofetchusonthenextlegback。
"Soyou’vechangedyourmind?"IheardWolfLarsenmutter,halftohimself,halftothemasthoughtheycouldhear。"Youwanttocomeaboard,eh?Well,then,justkeepa—coming。"
"Hardupwiththathelm!"hecommandedOofty—Oofty,theKanaka,whohadinthemeantimerelievedLouisatthewheel。