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。"