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？"