Hemadenoreply。Hiseyes,fixedintentlyontheseaastern,suddenlyflashed。
"Sharkho,sir!"hecried。
"Heavein!Lively!Allhandstailon!"WolfLarsenshouted,springinghimselftotheropeinadvanceofthequickest。
MugridgehadheardtheKanaka’swarningcryandwasscreamingmadly。
Icouldseeablackfincuttingthewaterandmakingforhimwithgreaterswiftnessthanhewasbeingpulledaboard。Itwasaneventosswhetherthesharkorwewouldgethim,anditwasamatterofmoments。WhenMugridgewasdirectlybeneathus,thesterndescendedtheslopeofapassingwave,thusgivingtheadvantagetotheshark。Thefindisappeared。Thebellyflashedwhiteinaswiftupwardrush。Almostequallyswift,butnotquite,wasWolfLarsen。Hethrewhisstrengthintoonetremendousjerk。TheCockney’sbodyleftthewater;sodidpartoftheshark’s。Hedrewuphislegs,andtheman—eaterseemednomorethanbarelytotouchonefoot,sinkingbackintothewaterwithasplash。ButatthemomentofcontactThomasMugridgecriedout。Thenhecameinlikeafresh—caughtfishonaline,clearingtherailgenerouslyandstrikingthedeckinaheap,onhandsandknees,androllingover。
Butafountainofbloodwasgushingforth。Therightfootwasmissing,amputatedneatlyattheankle。IlookedinstantlytoMaudBrewster。Herfacewaswhite,hereyesdilatedwithhorror。Shewasgazing,notatThomasMugridge,butatWolfLarsen。Andhewasawareofit,forhesaid,withoneofhisshortlaughs:
"Man—play,MissBrewster。Somewhatrougher,Iwarrant,thanwhatyouhavebeenusedto,butstill——man—play。Thesharkwasnotinthereckoning。
It——"
Butatthisjuncture,Mugridge,whohadliftedhisheadandascertainedtheextentofhisloss,flounderedoveronthedeckandburiedhisteethinWolfLarsen’sleg。WolfLarsenstooped,coolly,totheCockney,andpressedwiththumbandfingerattherearofthejawsandbelowtheears。
Thejawsopenedwithreluctance,andWolfLarsensteppedfree。
"AsIwassaying,"hewenton,asthoughnothingunwontedhadhappened,"thesharkwasnotinthereckoning。Itwas——ahem——shallwesayProvidence?"
Shegavenosignthatshehadheard,thoughtheexpressionofhereyeschangedtooneofinexpressibleloathingasshestartedtoturnaway。Shenomorethanstarted,forsheswayedandtottered,andreachedherhandweaklyouttomine。Icaughtherintimetosaveherfromfalling,andhelpedhertoaseatonthecabin。Ithoughtshemustfaintoutright,butshecontrolledherself。
"Willyougetatourniquet,Mr。VanWeyden,"WolfLarsencalledtome。
Ihesitated。Herlipsmoved,andthoughtheyformednowords,shecommandedmewithhereyes,plainlyasspeech,togotothehelpoftheunfortunateman。
"Please,"shemanagedtowhisper,andIcouldbutobey。
BynowIhaddevelopedsuchskillatsurgerythatWolfLarsen,withafewwordsofadvice,leftmetomytaskwithacoupleofsailorsforassistants。Forhistaskheelectedavengeanceontheshark。Aheavyswivel—hook,baitedwithfatsalt—pork,wasdroppedoverside;andbythetimeIhadcompressedtheseveredveinsandarteries,thesailorsweresingingandheavingintheoffendingmonster。Ididnotseeitmyself,butmyassistants,firstoneandthentheother,desertedmeforafewmomentstorunamidshipsandlookatwhatwasgoingon。Theshark,asixteen—footer,washoistedupagainstthemain—rigging。Itsjawswerepriedaparttotheirgreatestextension,andastoutstake,sharpenedatbothends,wassoinsertedthatwhentheprieswereremovedthespreadjawswerefixeduponit。Thisaccomplished,thehookwascutout。Thesharkdroppedbackintothesea,helpless,yetwithitsfullstrength,doomedtolingeringstarvation——alivingdeathlessmeetforitthanforthemanwhodevisedthepunishment。TheSeaWolf:Chapter22CHAPTER22
Iknewwhatitwasasshecametowardme。Fortenminuteshadwatchedhertalkingearnestlywiththeengineer,andnow,withasignforsilence,Idrewheroutofearshotofthehelmsman。Herfacewaswhiteandset;
herlargeeyes,largerthanusualwhatofthepurposeinthem,lookedpenetratinglyintomine。Ifeltrathertimidandapprehensive,forshehadcometosearchHumphreyVanWeyden’ssoul,andHumphreyVanWeydenhadnothingofwhichtobeparticularlyproudsincehisadventontheGhost。
Wewalkedtothebreakofthepoop,wheresheturnedandfacedme。I
glancedaroundtoseethatnoonewaswithinhearingdistance。
"Whatisit?"Iaskedgently;buttheexpressionofdeterminationonherfacedidnotrelax。
"Icanreadilyunderstand,"shebegan,"thatthismorning’saffairwaslargelyanaccident;butIhavebeentalkingwithMr。Haskins。Hetellsmethatthedaywewererescued,evenwhileIwasinthecabin,twomenweredrowned,deliberatelydrowned——murdered。"
Therewasaqueryinhervoice,andshefacedmeaccusingly,asthoughIwereguiltyofthedeed,oratleastapartytoit。
"Theinformationisquitecorrect,"Ianswered。"Thetwomenweremurdered。"
"Andyoupermittedit!"shecried。
"Iwasunabletopreventit,isabetterwayofphrasingit,"replied,stillgently。
"Butyoutriedtopreventit?"Therewasanemphasisonthe"tried,"
andapleadinglittlenoteinhervoice。
"Oh,butyoudidn’t,"shehurriedon,diviningmyanswer。"Butwhydidn’tyou?"
Ishruggedmyshoulders。"Youmustremember,MissBrewster,thatyouareanewinhabitantofthislittleworld,andthatyoudonotyetunderstandthelawswhichoperatewithinit。Youbringwithyoucertainfineconceptionsofhumanity,manhood,conduct,andsuchthings;buthereyouwillfindthemmisconceptions。Ihavefounditso,"Iadded,withaninvoluntarysigh。
Sheshookherheadincredulously。
"Whatwouldyouadvise,then?"Iasked。"ThatIshouldtakeaknife,oragun,oranaxe,andkillthisman?"
Shehalfstartedback。
"No,notthat!"
"ThenwhatshouldIdo?Killmyself?"
"Youspeakinpurelymaterialisticterms,"sheobjected。"Thereissuchathingasmoralcourage,andmoralcourageisneverwithouteffect。"
"Ah,"Ismiled,"youadvisemetokillneitherhimnormyself,buttolethimkillme。"Iheldupmyhandasshewasabouttospeak。"Formoralcourageisaworthlessassetonthislittlefloatingworld。Leach,oneofthemenwhoweremurdered,hadmoralcouragetoanunusualdegree。Sohadtheotherman,Johnson。Notonlydiditnotstandthemingoodstead,butitdestroyedthem。AndsowithmeifIshouldexercisewhatlittlemoralcourageImaypossess。
"Youmustunderstand,MissBrewster,andunderstandclearly,thatthismanisamonster。Heiswithoutconscience。Nothingissacredtohim,nothingistooterribleforhimtodo。ItwasduetohiswhimthatIwasdetainedaboardinthefirstplace。ItisduetohiswhimthatIamstillalive。
Idonothing,candonothing,becauseIamaslavetothismonster,asyouarenowaslavetohim;becauseIdesiretolive,asyouwilldesiretolive;becauseIcannotfightandovercomehim,justasyouwillnotbeabletofightandovercomehim。"
Shewaitedformetogoon。
"Whatremains?Mineisther攍eoftheweak。Iremainsilentandsufferignominy,asyouwillremainsilentandsufferignominy。Anditiswell。
Itisthebestwecandoifwewishtolive。Thebattleisnotalwaystothestrong。Wehavenotthestrengthwithwhichtofightthisman;wemustdissimulate,andwin,ifwinwecan,bycraft。Ifyouwillbeadvisedbyme,thisiswhatyouwilldo。Iknowmypositionisperilous,andImaysayfranklythatyoursisevenmoreperilous。Wemuststandtogether,withoutappearingtodoso,insecretalliance。shallnotbeabletosidewithyouopenly,and,nomatterwhatindignitiesmaybeputuponme,youaretoremainlikewisesilent。Wemustprovokenosceneswiththisman,norcrosshiswill。Andwemustkeepsmilingfacesandbefriendlywithhimnomatterhowrepulsiveitmaybe。"
Shebrushedherhandacrossherforeheadinapuzzledway,saying,"StillIdonotunderstand。"
"YoumustdoasIsay,"Iinterruptedauthoritatively,forsawWolfLarsen’sgazewanderingtowardusfromwherehepacedupanddownwithLatimeramidships。"DoasIsay,anderelongyouwillfindamright。"
"WhatshallIdo,then?"sheasked,detectingtheanxiousglanceIhadshotattheobjectofourconversation,andimpressed,flattermyself,withtheearnestnessofmymanner。
"Dispensewithallthemoralcourageyoucan,"Isaidbriskly。"Don’tarousethisman’sanimosity。Bequitefriendlywithhim,talkwithhim,discussliteratureandartwithhim——heisfondofsuchthings。Youwillfindhimaninterestedlistenerandnofool。Andforyourownsaketrytoavoidwitnessing,asmuchasyoucan,thebrutalitiesoftheship。Itwillmakeiteasierforyoutoactyourpart。"
"Iamtolie,"shesaidinsteady,rebellioustones,"byspeechandactiontolie。"
WolfLarsenhadseparatedfromLatimerandwascomingtowardus。Iwasdesperate。
"Please,pleaseunderstandme,"Isaidhurriedly,loweringmyvoice。
"Allyourexperienceofmenandthingsisworthlesshere。Youmustbeginoveragain。Iknow,——Icanseeit,——youhave,amongotherways,beenusedtomanagingpeoplewithyoureyes,lettingyourmoralcouragespeakoutthroughthem,asitwere。Youhavealreadymanagedmewithyoureyes,commandedmewiththem。Butdon’ttryitonWolfLarsen。Youcouldaseasilycontrolalion,whilehewouldmakeamockofyou。Hewould——Ihavealwaysbeenproudofthefactthatdiscoveredhim,"Isaid,turningtheconversationasWolfLarsensteppedonthepoopandjoinedus。"Theeditorswereafraidofhimandthepublisherswouldhavenoneofhim。ButIknew,andhisgeniusandmyjudgmentwerevindicatedwhenhemadethatmagnificenthitwithhis`Forge。’"
"Anditwasanewspaperpoem,"shesaidglibly。
"Itdidhappentoseethelightinanewspaper,"Ireplied,"butnotbecausethemagazineeditorshadbeendeniedaglimpseatit。"
"WeweretalkingofHarris,"IsaidtoWolfLarsen。
"Oh,yes,"heacknowledged。"Irememberthe`Forge。’Filledwithprettysentimentsandanalmightyfaithinhumanillusions。Bytheway,Mr。VanWeyden,you’dbetterlookinonCooky。He’scomplainingandrestless。"
ThuswasIbluntlydismissedfromthepoop,onlytofindMugridgesleepingsoundlyfromthemorphineIhadgivenhim。Imadenohastetoreturnondeck,andwhenIdidIwasgratifiedtoseeMissBrewsterinanimatedconversationwithWolfLarsen。AsIsay,thesightgratifiedme。Shewasfollowingmyadvice。AndyetIwasconsciousofaslightshockorhurtinthatshewasabletodothethingIhadbeggedhertodoandwhichshehadnotablydisliked。TheSeaWolf:Chapter23CHAPTER23
Bravewinds,blowingfair,swiftlydrovetheGhostnorthwardintothesealherd。Weencountereditwelluptotheforty—fourthparallel,inarawandstormyseaacrosswhichthewindharriedthefog—banksineternalflight。Fordaysatatimewecouldneverseethesunnortakeanobservation;thenthewindwouldsweepthefaceoftheoceanclean,thewaveswouldrippleandflash,andwewouldlearnwherewewere。Adayofclearweathermightfollow,orthreedaysorfour,andthenthefogwouldsettledownuponus,seeminglythickerthanever。
Thehuntingwasperilous;yettheboats,lowereddayafterday,wereswallowedupinthegrayobscurity,andwereseennomoretillnightfall,andoftennottilllongafter,whentheywouldcreepinlikesea—wraiths,onebyone,outofthegray。Wainwright,——thehunterwhomWolfLarsenhadstolenwithboatandmen,——tookadvantageoftheveiledseaandescaped。
Hedisappearedonemorningintheencirclingfogwithhistwomen,andweneversawthemagain,thoughitwasnotmanydayswhenwelearnedthattheyhadpassedfromschoonertoschooneruntiltheyfinallyregainedtheirown。
ThiswasthethingIhadsetmymindupondoing,buttheopportunityneveroffered。Itwasnotinthemate’sprovincetogooutintheboats,andthoughIman渦vredcunninglyforit,WolfLarsennevergrantedmetheprivilege。Hadhedoneso,IshouldhavemanagedsomehowtocarryMissBrewsterawaywithme。Asitwas,thesituationwasapproachingastagewhichIwasafraidtoconsider。Iinvoluntarilyshunnedthethoughtofit,andyetthethoughtcontinuallyaroseinmymindlikeahauntingspectre。
Ihadreadsea—romancesinmytime,whereinfigured,asamatterofcourse,thelonewomaninthemidstofashiploadofmen;butIlearned,now,thatIhadnevercomprehendedthedeepersignificanceofsuchasituation——thethingthewritersharpeduponandexploitedsothoroughly。Andhereitwas,now,andIwasfacetofacewithit。Thatitshouldbeasvitalaspossible,itrequirednomorethanthatthewomanshouldbeMaudBrewster,whonowcharmedmeinpersonasshehadlongcharmedmethroughherwork。
Noonemoreoutofenvironmentcouldbeimagined。Shewasadelicate,etherealcreature,swayingandwillowy,lightandgracefulofmovement。
Itneverseemedtomethatshewalked,or,atleast,walkedaftertheordinarymannerofmortals。Herswasanextremelithesomeness,andshemovedwithacertainindefinableairiness,approachingoneasdownmightfloatorasabirdonnoiselesswings。
ShewaslikeabitofDresdenchina,andIwascontinuallyimpressedwithwhatImaycallherfragility。AsatthetimeIcaughtherarmwhenhelpingherbelow,soatanytimeIwasquiteprepared,shouldstressorroughhandlingbefallher,toseehercrumbleaway。haveneverseenbodyandspiritinsuchperfectaccord。Describeherverse,asthecriticshavedescribedit,assublimatedandspiritual,andyouhavedescribedherbody。
Itseemedtopartakeofhersoul,tohaveanalogousattributes,andtolinkittolifewiththeslenderestofchains。Indeed,shetrodtheearthlightly,andinherconstitutiontherewaslittleoftherobustclay。
ShewasinstrikingcontrasttoWolfLarsen。Eachwasnothingthattheotherwas,everythingthattheotherwasnot。Inotedthemwalkingthedecktogetheronemorning,andIlikenedthemtotheextremeendsofthehumanladderofevolution——theonetheculminationofallsavagery,theotherthefinishedproductofthefinestcivilization。True,WolfLarsenpossessedintellecttoanunusualdegree,butitwasdirectedsolelytotheexerciseofhissavageinstinctsandmadehimbutthemoreformidableasavage。Hewassplendidlymuscled,aheavyman,andthoughhestrodewiththecertitudeanddirectnessofthephysicalman,therewasnothingheavyabouthisstride。Thejungleandthewildernesslurkedintheupliftanddownputofhisfeet。Hewascat—footed,andlithe,andstrong,alwaysstrong。Ilikenedhimtosomegreattiger,abeastofprowessandprey。
Helookedit,andthepiercingglitterthataroseattimesinhiseyeswasthesamepiercingglitterIhadobservedintheeyesofcagedleopardsandotherpreyingcreaturesofthewild。
Butthisday,asInotedthempacingupanddown,Isawthatitwasshewhoterminatedthewalk。TheycameuptowhereIwasstandingbytheentrancetothecompanionway。Thoughshebetrayeditbynooutwardsign,Ifelt,somehow,thatshewasgreatlyperturbed。Shemadesomeidleremark,lookingatme,andlaughedlightlyenough;butIsawhereyesreturntohis,involuntarily,asthoughfascinated;thentheyfell,butnotswiftlyenoughtoveiltherushofterrorthatfilledthem。
ItwasinhiseyesthatIsawthecauseofherperturbation。Ordinarilygrayandcoldandharsh,theywerenowwarmandsoftandgolden,andalladancewithtinylightsthatdimmedandfaded,orwelleduptillthefullorbswerefloodedwithaglowingradiance。Perhapsitwastothisthatthegoldencolorwasdue;butgoldenhiseyeswere,enticingandmasterful,atthesametimeluringandcompelling,andspeakingademandandclamorofthebloodwhichnowoman,muchlessMaudBrewster,couldmisunderstand。
Herownterrorrusheduponme,andinthatmomentoffear,——themostterriblefearamancanexperience,——Iknewthatininexpressiblewaysshewasdeartome。TheknowledgethatIlovedherrusheduponmewiththeterror,andwithbothemotionsgrippingatmyheartandcausingmybloodatthesametimetochillandtoleapriotously,Ifeltmyselfdrawnbyapowerwithoutmeandbeyondme,andfoundmyeyesreturningagainstmywilltogazeintotheeyesofWolfLarsen。Buthehadrecoveredhimself。
Thegoldencolorandthedancinglightsweregone。Coldandgrayandglitteringtheywereashebowedbrusquelyandturnedaway。
"Iamafraid,"shewhispered,withashiver。"Iamsoafraid。"
I,too,wasafraid,andwhatofmydiscoveryofhowmuchshemeanttomemymindwasinaturmoil;butIsucceededinansweringquitecalmly:
"Allwillcomeright,MissBrewster。Trustme,itwillcomeright。"
Sheansweredwithagratefullittlesmilethatsentmyheartpounding,andstartedtodescendthecompanion—stairs。
ForalongwhileIremainedstandingwhereshehadleftme。Therewasimperativeneedtoadjustmyself,toconsiderthesignificanceofthechangedaspectofthings。Ithadcome,atlast,lovehadcome,whenIleastexpecteditandunderthemostforbiddingconditions。Ofcourse,myphilosophyhadalwaysrecognizedtheinevitablenessofthelove—callsoonerorlater;
butlongyearsofbookishsilencehadmademeinattentiveandunprepared。
Andnowithadcome!MaudBrewster!Mymemoryflashedbacktothatfirstthinlittlevolumeonmydesk,andIsawbeforeme,asthoughintheconcrete,therowofthinlittlevolumesonmylibraryshelf。HowIhadwelcomedeachofthem!Eachyearonehadcomefromthepress,andtomeeachwastheadventoftheyear。Theyhadvoicedakindredintellectandspirit,andassuchIhadreceivedthemintoacamaraderieofthemind;butnowtheirplacewasinmyheart。
Myheart?Arevulsionoffeelingcameoverme。Iseemedtostandoutsidemyselfandtolookatmyselfincredulously。MaudBrewster!HumphreyVanWeyden,the"cold—bloodedfish,"the"emotionlessmonster,"the"analyticaldemon,"ofCharleyFuruseth’schristening,inlove!Andthen,withoutrhymeorreason,allsceptical,mymindflewbacktoasmallbiographicalnoteinthered—bound"Who’sWho,"andIsaidtomyself,"ShewasborninCambridge,andsheistwenty—sevenyearsold。"AndthenIsaid,"Twenty—sevenyearsoldandstillfreeandfancyfree?"ButhowdidIknowshewasfancyfree?
Andthepangofnew—bornjealousyputallincredulitytoflight。Therewasnodoubtaboutit。Iwasjealous;thereforeIloved。AndthewomanlovedwasMaudBrewster。
I,HumphreyVanWeyden,wasinlove!Andagainthedoubtassailedme。
NotthatIwasafraidofit,however,orreluctanttomeetit。Onthecontrary,idealistthatIwastothemostpronounceddegree,myphilosophyhadalwaysrecognizedandguerdonedloveasthegreatestthingintheworld,theaimandthesummitofbeing,themostexquisitepitchofjoyandhappinesstowhichlifecouldthrill,thethingofallthingstobehailedandwelcomedandtakenintotheheart。ButnowthatithadcomeIcouldnotbelieve。
Icouldnotbesofortunate。Itwastoogood,toogoodtobetrue。Symons’slinescameintomyhead:
"IwanderedalltheseyearsamongAworldofwomen,seekingyou。"
AndthenIhadceasedseeking。Itwasnotforme,thisgreatestthingintheworld,Ihaddecided。Furusethwasright;Iwasabnormal,an"emotionlessmonster,"astrangebookishcreature,capableofpleasuringinsensationsonlyofthemind。AndthoughIhadbeensurroundedbywomenallmydays,myappreciationofthemhadbeenaestheticandnothingmore。Ihadactually,attimes,consideredmyselfoutsidethepale,amonkishfellowdeniedtheeternalorthepassingpassionsIsawandunderstoodsowellinothers。
Andnowithadcome!Undreamedofandunheralded,ithadcome。Inwhatcouldhavebeennolessthananecstasy,Ileftmypostattheheadofthecompanionwayandstartedalongthedeck,murmuringtomyselfthosebeautifullinesofMrs。Browning:
"IlivedwithvisionsformycompanyInsteadofmenandwomenyearsago,Andfoundthemgentlemates,northoughttoknowAsweetermusicthantheyplayedtome。"
Butthesweetermusicwasplayinginmyears,andIwasblindandoblivioustoallaboutme。ThesharpvoiceofWolfLarsenarousedme。
"Whatthehellareyouupto?"hewasdemanding。
Ihadstrayedforwardwherethesailorswerepainting,andcametomyselftofindmyadvancingfootonthevergeofoverturningapaint—pot。
"Sleep—walking,sunstroke,——what?"hebarked。
"No;indigestion,"Iretorted,andcontinuedmywalkasifnothinguntowardhadoccurred。TheSeaWolf:Chapter24CHAPTER24
AmongthemostvividmemoriesofmylifearethoseoftheeventsontheGhostwhichoccurredduringthefortyhourssucceedingthediscoveryofmyloveforMaudBrewster。I,whohadlivedmylifeinquietplaces,onlytoenterattheageofthirty—fiveuponacourseofthemostirrationaladventureIcouldhaveimagined,neverhadmoreincidentandexcitementcrammedintoanyfortyhoursofmyexperience。NorcanIquiteclosemyearstoasmallvoiceofpridewhichtellsmedidnotdosobadly,allthingsconsidered。
Tobeginwith,atthemiddaydinner,WolfLarseninformedthehuntersthattheyweretoeatthenceforthinthesteerage。Itwasanunprecedentedthingonsealingschooners,whereitisthecustomforthehunterstorankunofficiallyasofficers。Hegavenoreason,buthismotivewasobviousenough。HornerandSmokehadbeendisplayingagallantrytowardMaudBrewster,ludicrousinitselfandinoffensivetoher,buttohimevidentlydistasteful。
Theannouncementwasreceivedwithblacksilence,thoughtheotherfourhuntersglancedsignificantlyatthetwowhohadbeenthecauseoftheirbanishment。JockHorner,quietaswashisway,gavenosign;butthebloodsurgeddarklyacrossSmoke’sforehead,andhehalfopenedhismouthtospeak。WolfLarsenwaswatchinghim,waitingforhim,thesteelyglitterinhiseyes;butSmokeclosedhismouthagainwithouthavingsaidanything。
"Anythingtosay?"theotherdemandedaggressively。
Itwasachallenge,butSmokerefusedtoacceptit。
"Aboutwhat?"heasked,soinnocentlythatWolfLarsenwasdisconcerted,whiletheotherssmiled。
"Oh,nothing,"WolfLarsensaidlamely。"Ijustthoughtyoumightwanttoregisterakick。"
"Aboutwhat?"askedtheimperturbableSmoke。
Smoke’smateswerenowsmilingbroadly。Hiscaptaincouldhavekilledhim,andIdoubtnotthatbloodwouldhaveflowedhadnotMaudBrewsterbeenpresent。Forthatmatter,itwasherpresencewhichenabledSmoketoactashedid。HewastoodiscreetandcautiousamantoincurWolfLarsen’sangeratatimewhenthatangercouldbeexpressedintermsstrongerthanwords。Iwasinfearthatastrugglemighttakeplace,butacryfromthehelmsmanmadeiteasyforthesituationtosaveitself。
"Smokeho!"thecrycamedowntheopencompanionway。
"How’sitbear?"WolfLarsencalledup。
"Deadastern,sir。"
"Maybeit’saRussian,"suggestedLatimer。
Hiswordsbroughtanxietyintothefacesoftheotherhunters。ARussiancouldmeanbutonething——acruiser。Thehunters,nevermorethanroughlyawareofthepositionoftheship,neverthelessknewthatwewereclosetotheboundariesoftheforbiddensea,whileWolfLarsen’srecordasapoacherwasnotorious。Alleyescentreduponhim。
"We’redeadsafe,"heassuredthemwithalaugh。"Nosaltminesthistime,Smoke。ButI’lltellyouwhat——I’lllayoddsoffivetooneit’stheMacedonia。"
Nooneacceptedhisofferandhewenton。"Inwhichevent,I’lllaytentoonethere’stroublebreezingup。"
"No,thankyou,"Latimerspokeup。"Idon’tobjecttolosingmymoney,butIliketogetarunforit,anyway。Thereneverwasatimewhentherewasn’ttroublewhenyouandthatbrotherofyoursgottogether,andI’lllaytwentytooneonthat。"