Istruckthedoorofthestate—roomwhichhadformerlybeenMugridge’s，splinteringandsmashingthepanelswiththeimpactofmybody。Istruggledtomyfeet，withdifficultydraggingmyselfclearofthewreckeddoor，unawareofanyhurtwhatever。Iwasconsciousonlyofanovermasteringrage。IthinkI，too，criedaloud，asIdrewtheknifeatmyhipandsprangforwardasecondtime。
　　Butsomethinghadhappened。Theywerereelingapart。Iwascloseuponhim，myknifeuplifted，butIwithheldtheblow。Iwaspuzzledbythestrangenessofit。Maudwasleaningagainstthewall，onehandoutforsupport；buthewasstaggering，hislefthandpressedagainsthisforeheadandcoveringhiseyes，andwiththerighthewasgropingabouthiminadazedsortofway。Itstruckagainstthewall，andhisbodyseemedtoexpressamuscularandphysicalreliefatthecontact，asthoughhehadfoundhisbearings，hislocationinspaceaswellassomethingagainstwhichtolean。
　　ThenIsawredagain。Allmywrongsandhumiliationsflasheduponmewithadazzlingbrightness，allthatIhadsufferedandothershadsufferedathishands，alltheenormityoftheman’sveryexistence。Ispranguponhim，blindly，insanely，anddrovetheknifeintohisshoulder。Iknew，then，thatitwasnomorethanafleshwound，——hadfeltthesteelgrateonhisshoulder—blade，——andIraisedtheknifetostrikeatamorevitalpart。
　　ButMaudhadseenmyfirstblow，andshecried，"Don’t！Pleasedon’t！"
　　Idroppedmyarmforamoment，andamomentonly。Againtheknifewasraised，andWolfLarsenwouldhavesurelydiedhadshenotsteppedbetween。
　　Herarmswerearoundme，herhairwasbrushingmyface。Mypulserushedupinanunwontedmanner，yetmyragemountedwithit。Shelookedmebravelyintheeyes。
　　"Formysake，"shebegged。
　　"Iwouldkillhimforyoursake！"Icried，tryingtofreemyarmwithouthurtingher。
　　"Hush！"shesaid，andlaidherfingerslightlyonmylips。couldhavekissedthem，hadIdared，eventhen，inmyrage，thetouchofthemwassosweet，soverysweet。"Please，please，"shepleaded，andshedisarmedmebythewords，asIwastodiscovertheywouldeverdisarmme。
　　Isteppedback，separatingfromher，andreplacedtheknifeinitssheath。
　　IlookedatWolfLarsen。Hestillpressedhislefthandagainsthisforehead。
　　Itcoveredhiseyes。Hisheadwasbowed。Heseemedtohavegrownlimp。
　　Hisbodywassaggingatthehips，hisgreatshouldersweredroopingandshrinkingforward。
　　"VanWeyden！"hecalledhoarsely，andwithanoteoffrightinhisvoice。
　　"Oh，VanWeyden！whereareyou？"
　　IlookedatMaud。Shedidnotspeak，butnoddedherhead。
　　"HereIam，"Ianswered，steppingtohisside。"Whatisthematter？"
　　"Helpmetoaseat，"hesaid，inthesamehoarse，frightenedvoice。
　　"Iamasickman，averysickman，Hump，"hesaid，asheleftmysustaininggripandsankintoachair。
　　Hisheaddroppedforwardonthetableandwasburiedinhishands。Fromtimetotimeitrockedbackandforwardaswithpain。Once，whenhehalfraisedit，Isawthesweatstandinginheavydropsonhisforeheadabouttherootsofhishair。
　　"Iamasickman，averysickman，"herepeatedagain，andyetonceagain。
　　"Whatisthematter？"Iasked，restingmyhandonhisshoulder。"WhatcanIdoforyou？"
　　Butheshookmyhandoffwithanirritatedmovement，andforalongtimeIstoodbyhissideinsilence。Maudwaslookingon，herfaceawedandfrightened。Whathadhappenedtohimwecouldnotimagine。
　　"Hump，"hesaidatlast，"Imustgetintomybunk。Lendmeahand。I’llbeallrightinalittlewhile。It’sthosedamnheadaches，Ibelieve。I
　　wasafraidofthem。Ihadafeeling——no，don’tknowwhatI’mtalkingabout。Helpmeintomybunk。"
　　ButwhenIgothimintohisbunkheagainburiedhisfaceinhishands，coveringhiseyes，andasIturnedtogoIcouldhearhimmurmuring，"I
　　amasickman，averysickman。"
　　MaudlookedatmeinquiringlyasIemerged。Ishookmyhead，saying：
　　"Somethinghashappenedtohim。What，Idon’tknow。Heishelpless，andfrightened，Iimagine，forthefirsttimeinhislife。Itmusthaveoccurredbeforehereceivedtheknife—thrust，whichmadeonlyasuperficialwound。Youmusthaveseenwhathappened。"
　　Sheshookherhead。"Isawnothing。Itisjustasmysterioustome。
　　Hesuddenlyreleasedmeandstaggeredaway。Butwhatshallwedo？WhatshallIdo？"
　　"Ifyouwillwait，please，untilIcomeback，"Ianswered。wentondeck。
　　Louiswasatthewheel。
　　"Youmaygofor’ardandturnin，"Isaid，takingitfromhim。
　　Hewasquicktoobey，andIfoundmyselfaloneonthedeckoftheGhost。
　　Asquietlyaswaspossible，Iclewedupthetopsails，loweredtheflyingjibandstaysail，backedthejibover，andflattenedthemainsail。ThenIwentbelowtoMaud。Iplacedmyfingeronmylipsforsilence，andenteredWolfLarsen’sroom。HewasinthesamepositioninwhichIhadlefthim，andhisheadwasrocking——almostwrithing——fromsidetoside。
　　"AnythingIcandoforyou？"Iasked。
　　Hemadenoreplyatfirst，butonmyrepeatingthequestionheanswered，"No，no；I’mallright。Leavemealonetillmorning。"
　　ButasIturnedtogoInotedthathisheadhadresumeditsrockingmotion。Maudwaswaitingpatientlyforme，andItooknotice，withathrillofjoy，ofthequeenlypoiseofherheadandherglorious，calmeyes。Calmandsuretheywereasherspirititself。
　　"Willyoutrustyourselftomeforajourneyofsixhundredmilesorso？"Iasked。
　　"Youmean——？"sheasked，andIknewshehadguessedaright。
　　"Yes，Imeanjustthat，"Ireplied。"Thereisnothingleftforusbuttheopenboat。"
　　"Forme，youmean，"shesaid。"Youarecertainlyassafehereasyouhavebeen。"
　　"No，thereisnothingleftforusbuttheopenboat，"iteratedstoutly。
　　"Willyoupleasedressaswarmlyasyoucan，atonce，andmakeintoabundlewhateveryouwishtobringwithyou。"
　　"Andmakeallhaste，"Iadded，assheturnedtowardherstate—room。
　　Thelazarettewasdirectlybeneaththecabin，and，openingthetrap—doorinthefloorandcarryingacandlewithme，Idroppeddownandbeganoverhaulingtheship’sstores。Iselectedmainlyfromthecannedgoods，andbythetimeIwasready，willinghandswereextendedfromabovetoreceivewhatIpassedup。
　　Weworkedinsilence。Ihelpedmyselfalsotoblankets，mittens，oilskins，caps，andsuchthings，fromtheslop—chest。Itwasnolightadventure，thistrustingourselvesinasmallboattosorawandstormyasea，anditwasimperativethatweshouldguardourselvesagainstthecoldandwet。
　　Weworkedfeverishlyatcarryingourplunderondeckanddepositingitamidships，sofeverishlythatMaud，whosestrengthwashardlyapositivequantity，hadtogiveover，exhausted，andsitonthestepsatthebreakofthepoop。Thisdidnotservetorecoverher，andshelayonherback，ontheharddeck，armsstretchedoutandwholebodyrelaxed。ItwasatrickIrememberedofmysister，andIknewshewouldsoonbeherselfagain。
　　Iknew，also，thatweaponswouldnotcomeinamiss，andIrenteredWolfLarsen’sstate—roomtogethisrifleandshotgun。Ispoketohim，buthemadenoanswer，thoughhisheadwasstillrockingfromsidetosideandhewasnotasleep。
　　"Good—bye，Lucifer，"IwhisperedtomyselfasIsoftlyclosedthedoor。
　　Nexttoobtainwasastockofammunition，——aneasymatter，thoughIhadtoenterthesteeragecompanionwaytodoit。Herethehuntersstoredtheammunitionboxestheycarriedintheboats，andhere，butafewfeetfromtheirnoisyrevels，Itookpossessionoftwoboxes。
　　Next，toloweraboat。Notsosimpleataskforoneman。Havingcastoffthelashings，Ihoistedfirstontheforwardtackle，thenontheaft，tilltheboatclearedtherail，whenIloweredaway，onetackleandthentheother，foracoupleoffeet，tillithungsnugly，abovethewater，againsttheschooner’sside。Imadecertainthatitcontainedtheproperequipmentofoars，rowlocks，andsail。Waterwasaconsideration，andI
　　robbedeveryboataboardofitsbreaker。Astherewerenineboatsalltold，itmeantthatweshouldhaveplentyofwater，andballastaswell，thoughtherewasthechancethattheboatwouldbeoverloaded，whatofthegeneroussupplyofotherthingsIwastaking。
　　WhileMaudwaspassingmetheprovisionsandIwasstoringthemintheboat，asailorcameondeckfromthefore—castle。Hestoodbytheweatherrailforatime，（wewereloweringovertheleerail），andthensaunteredslowlyamidships，whereheagainpausedandstoodfacingthewind，withhisbacktowardus。Icouldhearmyheartbeatingascrouchedlowintheboat。Maudhadsunkdownuponthedeckandwas，knew，lyingmotionless，herbodyintheshadowofthebulwark。Butthemanneverturned，and，afterstretchinghisarmsabovehisheadandyawningaudibly，heretracedhisstepstotheforecastlescuttleanddisappeared。
　　Afewminutessufficedtofinishtheloading，andIloweredtheboatintothewater。AsIhelpedMaudovertherailandfeltherformclosetomine，itwasallIcoulddotokeepfromcryingout，"Iloveyou！I
　　loveyou！"TrulyHumphreyVanWeydenwasatlastinlove，thought，asherfingersclungtominewhileIloweredherdowntotheboat。Iheldontotherailwithonehandandsupportedherweightwiththeother，andIwasproudatthemomentofthefeat。ItwasastrengthIhadnotpossessedafewmonthsbefore，onthedayIsaidgood—bytoCharleyFurusethandstartedforSanFranciscoontheill—fatedMartinez。
　　Astheboatascendedonasea，herfeettouchedandIreleasedherhands。
　　Icastoffthetacklesandleapedafterher。Ihadneverrowedinmylife，butIputouttheoarsandattheexpenseofmucheffortgottheboatclearoftheGhost。ThenIexperimentedwiththesail。Ihadseentheboat—steerersandhunterssettheirspritsailsmanytimes，yetthiswasmyfirstattempt。Whattookthempossiblytwominutestookmetwenty，butintheendIsucceededinsettingandtrimmingit，andwiththesteering—oarinmyhandshauledonthewind。
　　"ThereliesJapan，"Iremarked，"straightbeforeus。"
　　"HumphreyVanWeyden，"shesaid，"youareabraveman。"
　　"Nay，"Ianswered，"itisyouwhoareabravewoman。"
　　Weturnedourheads，swayedbyacommonimpulsetoseethelastoftheGhost。Herlowhullliftedandrolledtowindwardonasea；hercanvasloomeddarklyinthenight；herlashedwheelcreakedastherudderkicked；thensightandsoundofherfadedawayandwewerealoneonthedarksea。TheSeaWolf：Chapter27CHAPTER27
　　Daybroke，grayandchill。Theboatwasclose—hauledonafreshbreezeandthecompassindicatedthatwewerejustmakingthecoursewhichwouldbringustoJapan。Thoughstoutlymittened，myfingerswerecold，andtheypainedfromthegriponthesteering—oar。Myfeetwerestingingfromthebiteofthefrost，andIhopedferventlythatthesunwouldshine。
　　Beforeme，inthebottomoftheboat，layMaud。She，atleast，waswarm，forunderherandoverherwerethickblankets。Thetoponehaddrawnoverherfacetoshelteritfromthenight，soIcouldseenothingbutthevagueshapeofher，andherlight—brownhair，escapedfromthecoveringandjewelledwithmoisturefromtheair。
　　LongIlookedather，dwellinguponthatonevisiblebitofherasonlyamanwouldwhodeemeditthemostpreciousthingintheworld。Soinsistentwasmygazethatatlastshestirredundertheblankets，thetopfoldwasthrownbackandshesmiledoutonme，hereyesyetheavywithsleep。
　　"Goodmorning，Mr。VanWeyden，"shesaid。"Haveyousightedlandyet？"
　　"No，"Ianswered，"butweareapproachingitatarateofsixmilesanhour。"
　　Shemadeamoueofdisappointment。
　　"Butthatisequivalenttoonehundredandforty—fourmilesintwenty—fourhours，"Iaddedreassuringly。
　　Herfacebrightened。"Andhowfarhavewetogo？"
　　"Siberialiesoffthere，"Isaid，pointingtothewest。"Buttothesouthwest，somesixhundredmiles，isJapan。Ifthiswindshouldhold，we’llmakeitinfivedays。"
　　"Andifitstorms？Theboatcouldnotlive？"
　　Shehadawayoflookingoneintheeyesanddemandingthetruth，andthusshelookedatmeassheaskedthequestion。
　　"Itwouldhavetostormveryhard，"Itemporized。
　　"Andifitstormsveryhard？"
　　Inoddedmyhead。"Butwemaybepickedupanymomentbyasealingschooner。
　　Theyareplentifullydistributedoverthispartoftheocean。"
　　"Why，youarechilledthrough！"shecried。"Look！Youareshivering。
　　Don’tdenyit；youare。AndhereIhavebeenlyingwarmastoast。"
　　"Idon’tseethatitwouldhelpmatters，ifyou，too，satupandwerechilled，"Ilaughed。
　　"Itwill，though，whenIlearntosteer，whichIcertainlyshall。"
　　Shesatupandbeganmakinghersimpletoilet。Sheshookdownherhair，anditfellaboutherinabrowncloud，hidingherfaceandshoulders。
　　Dear，dampbrownhair！Iwantedtokissit，torippleitthroughmyfingers，toburymyfaceinit。Igazedentranced，tilltheboatranintothewindandtheflappingsailwarnedmeIwasnotattendingtomyduties。IdealistandromanticistthatIwasandalwayshadbeeninspiteofmyanalyticalnature，yetIhadfailedtillnowingraspingmuchofthephysicalcharacteristicsoflove。Theloveofmanandwoman，Ihadalwaysheld，wasasublimatedsomethingrelatedtospirit，aspiritualbondthatlinkedanddrewtheirsoulstogether。Thebondsofthefleshhadlittlepartinmycosmosoflove。ButIwaslearningthesweetlessonformyselfthatthesoultransmuteditself，expresseditself，throughtheflesh；thatthesightandsenseandtouchofthelovedone’shairwasasmuchbreathandvoiceandessenceofthespiritasthelightthatshonefromtheeyesandthethoughtsthatfellfromthelips。Afterall，purespiritwasunknowable，athingtobesensedanddivinedonly；norcoulditexpressitselfintermsofitself。
　　JehovahwasanthropomorphicbecausehecouldaddresshimselftotheJewsonlyintermsoftheirunderstanding；sohewasconceivedasintheirownimage，asacloud，apillaroffire，atangible，physicalsomethingwhichthemindoftheIsraelitescouldgrasp。
　　AndsoIgazeduponMaud’slight—brownhair，andlovedit，andlearnedmoreoflovethanallthepoetsandsingershadtaughtmewithalltheirsongsandsonnets。Sheflungitbackwithasuddenadroitmovement，andherfaceemerged，smiling。
　　"Whydon’twomenweartheirhairdownalways？"Iasked。"Itissomuchmorebeautiful。"
　　"Ifitdidn’ttanglesodreadfully，"shelaughed。"There！I’velostoneofmyprecioushair—pins！"
　　Ineglectedtheboatandhadthesailspillingthewindagainandagain，suchwasmydelightinfollowinghereverymovementasshesearchedthroughtheblanketsforthepin。Iwassurprised，andjoyfully，thatshewassomuchthewoman，andthedisplayofeachtraitandmannerismthatwascharacteristicallyfemininegavemekeenerjoy。ForIhadbeenelevatinghertoohighlyinmyconceptsofher，removinghertoofarfromtheplaneofthehuman，andtoofarfromme。Ihadbeenmakingofheracreaturegoddess—likeandunapproachable。
　　Sohailedwithdelightthelittletraitsthatproclaimedheronlywomanafterall，suchasthetossoftheheadwhichflungbackthecloudofhair，andthesearchforthepin。Shewaswoman，mykind，onmyplane，andthedelightfulintimacyofkind，ofmanandwoman，waspossible，aswellasthereverenceandaweinwhichIknewIshouldalwaysholdher。
　　Shefoundthepinwithanadorablelittlecry，andIturnedmyattentionmorefullytomysteering。Iproceededtoexperiment，lashingandwedgingthesteering—oaruntiltheboatheldonfairlywellbythewindwithoutmyassistance。Occasionallyitcameuptooclose，orfellofftoofreely；
　　butitalwaysrecovereditselfandinthemainbehavedsatisfactorily。
　　"Andnowweshallhavebreakfast，"Isaid。"Butfirstyoumustbemorewarmlyclad。"
　　Igotoutaheavyshirt，newfromtheslop—chestandmadefromblanketgoods。Iknewthekind，sothickandsocloseoftexturethatitcouldresisttherainandnotbesoakedthroughafterhoursofwetting。Whenshehadslippedthisonoverherhead，Iexchangedtheboy’scapsheworeforaman’scap，largeenoughtocoverherhair，and，whentheflapwasturneddown，tocompletelycoverherneckandears。Theeffectwascharming。
　　Herfacewasofthesortthatcannotbutlookwellunderallcircumstances。
　　Nothingcoulddestroyitsexquisiteoval，itswell—nighclassiclines，itsdelicatelystencilledbrows，itslargebrowneyes，clear—seeingandcalm，gloriouslycalm。
　　Apuff，slightlystrongerthanusual，struckusjustthen。Theboatwascaughtasitobliquelycrossedthecrestofawave。Itwentoversuddenly，buryingitsgunwalelevelwiththeseaandshippingabucketfulorsoofwater。Iwasopeningacanoftongueatthemoment，andIsprangtothesheetandcastitoffjustintime。Thesailflappedandfluttered，andtheboatpaidoff。Afewminutesofregulatingsufficedtoputitonitscourseagain，whenIreturnedtothepreparationofbreakfast。
　　"Itdoesverywell，itseems，thoughIamnotversedinthingsnautical，"
　　shesaid，noddingherheadwithgraveapprovalatmysteeringcontrivance。
　　"Butitwillserveonlywhenwearesailingbythewind，"explained。
　　"Whenrunningmorefreely，withthewindastern，abeam，oronthequarter，itwillbenecessaryformetosteer。"
　　"ImustsayIdon’tunderstandyourtechnicalities，"shesaid，"butIdoyourconclusion，andIdon’tlikeit。Youcannotsteernightanddayandforever。SoIshallexpect，afterbreakfast，toreceivemyfirstlesson。
　　Andthenyoushallliedownandsleep。We’llstandwatchesjustastheydoonships。"
　　"Idon’tseehowIamtoteachyou，"Imadeprotest。"Iamjustlearningformyself。YoulittlethoughtwhenyoutrustedyourselftomethatIhadhadnoexperiencewhateverwithsmallboats。ThisisthefirsttimeIhaveeverbeeninone。"
　　"Thenwe’lllearntogether，sir。Andsinceyou’vehadanight’sstartyoushallteachmewhatyouhavelearned。Andnow，breakfast。My！thisairdoesgiveoneanappetite！"
　　"Nocoffee，"Isaidregretfully，passingherbutteredsea—biscuitsandasliceofcannedtongue。"Andtherewillbenotea，nosoups，nothinghot，tillwehavemadelandsomewhere，somehow。"
　　Afterthesimplebreakfast，cappedwithacupofcoldwater，Maudtookherlessoninsteering。InteachingherIlearnedquiteadealmyself，thoughIwasapplyingtheknowledgealreadyacquiredbysailingtheGhostandbywatchingtheboat—steererssailthesmallboats。Shewasanaptpupil，andsoonlearnedtokeepthecourse，toluffinthepuffsandtocastoffthesheetinanemergency。
　　Havinggrowntired，apparently，ofthetask，sherelinquishedtheoartome。Ihadfoldeduptheblankets，butshenowproceededtospreadthemoutonthebottom。Whenallwasarrangedsnugly，shesaid：
　　"Now，sir，tobed。Andyoushallsleepuntilluncheon。Tilldinner—time，"
　　shecorrected，rememberingthearrangementontheGhost。
　　WhatcouldIdo？Sheinsisted，andsaid，"Please，please，"whereuponIturnedtheoarovertoherandobeyed。IexperiencedapositivesensuousdelightasIcrawledintothebedshehadmadewithherhands。Thecalmandcontrolwhichweresomuchapartofherseemedtohavebeencommunicatedtotheblankets，sothatIwasawareofasoftdreaminessandcontent，andofanovalfaceandbrowneyesframedinafisherman’scapandtossingagainstabackgroundnowofgraycloud，nowofgraysea，andthenIwasawarethatIhadbeenasleep。
　　Ilookedatmywatch。Itwasoneo’clock。Ihadsleptsevenhours！Andshehadbeensteeringsevenhours！WhenItookthesteering—oarIhadfirsttounbendhercrampedfingers。Hermodicumofstrengthhadbeenexhausted，andshewasunableeventomovefromherposition。IwascompelledtoletgothesheetwhileIhelpedhertothenestofblanketsandchafedherhandsandarms。
　　"Iamsotired，"shesaid，withaquickintakeofthebreathandasigh，droopingherheadwearily。
　　Butshestraighteneditthenextmoment。"Nowdon’tscold，don’tyoudarescold，"shecriedwithmockdefiance。
　　"Ihopemyfacedoesnotappearangry，"Iansweredseriously；"forI
　　assureyouIamnotintheleastangry。"
　　"N——no，"sheconsidered。"Itlooksonlyreproachful。"
　　"Thenitisanhonestface，foritlookswhatIfeel。Youwerenotfairtoyourself，nortome。HowcanIevertrustyouagain？"
　　Shelookedpenitent。"I’llbegood，"shesaid，asanaughtychildmightsayit。"Ipromise——"
　　"Toobeyasasailorwouldobeyhiscaptain？"
　　"Yes，"sheanswered。"Itwasstupidofme，Iknow。"
　　"Thenyoumustpromisesomethingelse，"Iventured。
　　"Readily。"
　　"Thatyouwillnotsay，`Please，please，’toooften；forwhenyoudoyouaresuretooverridemyauthority。"
　　Shelaughedwithamusedappreciation。She，too，hadnoticedthepoweroftherepeated"please。"
　　"Itisagoodword——"Ibegan。
　　"ButImustnotoverworkit，"shebrokein。
　　Butshelaughedweakly，andherheaddroopedagain。Ilefttheoarlongenoughtotucktheblanketsaboutherfeetandtopullasinglefoldacrossherface。Alas！shewasnotstrong。Ilookedwithmisgivingtowardthesouthwestandthoughtofthesixhundredmilesofhardshipbeforeus——
　　ay，ifitwerenoworsethanhardship。Onthisseaastormmightblowupatanymomentanddestroyus。AndyetIwasunafraid。Iwaswithoutconfidenceinthefuture，extremelydoubtful，andyetIfeltnounderlyingfear。Itmustcomeright，itmustcomeright，Irepeatedtomyself，overandoveragain。
　　Thewindfreshenedintheafternoon，raisingastifferseaandtryingtheboatandmeseverely。Butthesupplyoffoodandtheninebreakersofwaterenabledtheboattostanduptotheseaandwind，andIheldonaslongasIdared。ThenIremovedthesprit，tightlyhaulingdownthepeakofthesail，andweracedalongunderwhatsailorscallaleg—of—mutton。
　　LateintheafternoonIsightedasteamer’ssmokeonthehorizontoleeward，andIknewiteitherforaRussiancruiser，or，morelikely，theMacedoniastillseekingtheGhost。Thesunhadnotshoneallday，andithadbeenbittercold。Asnightdrewon，thecloudsdarkenedandthewindfreshened，sothatwhenMaudandIatesupperitwaswithourmittensonandwithmestillsteeringandeatingmorselsbetweenpuffs。
　　Bythetimeitwasdark，windandseahadbecometoostrongfortheboat，andIreluctantlytookinthesailandsetaboutmakingadragorsea—anchor。Ihadlearnedofthedevicefromthetalkofthehunters，anditwasasimplethingtomanufacture。Furlingthesailandlashingitsecurelyaboutthemast，boom，sprit，andtwopairsofspareoars，Ithrewitoverboard。
　　Alineconnecteditwiththebow，andasitfloatedlowinthewater，practicallyunexposedtothewind，itdriftedlessrapidlythantheboat。Inconsequenceitheldtheboatbowontotheseaandwind——thesafestpositioninwhichtoescapebeingswampedwhentheseaisbreakingintowhitecaps。
　　"Andnow？"Maudaskedcheerfully，whenthetaskwasaccomplishedandIpulledonmymittens。
　　"AndnowwearenolongertravellingtowardJapan，"Ianswered。"Ourdriftistothesoutheast，orsouth—southeast，attherateofatleasttwomilesanhour。"
　　"Thatwillbeonlytwenty—fourmiles，"sheurged，"ifthewindremainshighallnight。"
　　"Yes，andonlyonehundredandfortymilesifitcontinuesforthreedaysandnights。"
　　"Butitwon’tcontinue，"shesaid，witheasyconfidence。"Itwillturnaroundandblowfair。"
　　"Theseaisthegreatfaithlessone。"
　　"Butthewind！"sheretorted。"Ihaveheardyougroweloquentoverthebravetrade—wind。"