"Yes，hewillhavesomebeef—tea，"shesaidquietly，lookingupatme。
　　"Untilhishearinggoesweshallbeabletocommunicatewithhim。Andafterthat——"
　　Shelookedatmequeerly。Isawherlipstremblingandthetearsswimmingupinhereyes。SheswayedtowardmeandIcaughtherinmyarms。
　　"Oh，Humphrey，"shesobbed，"whenwillitallend？Iamsotired，sotired。"
　　Sheburiedherheadonmyshoulder，herfrailformshakenwithastormofweeping。Shewaslikeafeatherinmyarms，soslender，soethereal。
　　"Shehasbrokendownatlast，"Ithought。"WhatcanIdowithoutherhelp？"
　　ButIsoothedandcomfortedher，tillshepulledherselfbravelytogetherandrecuperatedmentallyasquicklyasshewaswonttodophysically。
　　"Ioughttobeashamedofmyself，"shesaid。Thenadded，withthewhimsicalsmileIadored，"butIamonlyonesmallwoman。"
　　Thatphrase，the"onesmallwoman，"startledmelikeanelectricshock。
　　Itwasmyownphrase，mypet，secretphrase，mylovephraseforher。
　　"Wheredidyougetthatphrase？"Idemanded，withanabruptnessthatinturnstartledher。
　　"Whatphrase？"sheasked。
　　"Onesmallwoman。"
　　"Isityours？"sheasked。
　　"Yes，"Ianswered，"mine。Imadeit。"
　　"Thenyoumusthavetalkedinyoursleep，"shesmiled。
　　Thedancing，tremulouslightwasinhereyes。Mine，Iknew，werespeakingbeyondthewillofmyspeech。Ileanedtowardher。WithoutvolitionIleanedtowardher，asatreeisswayedbythewind。Ah，wewereveryclosetogetherinthatmoment。Butsheshookherhead，asonemightshakeoffsleeporadream，saying：
　　"Ihaveknownitallmylife。Itwasmyfather’snameformymother。"
　　"Itismyphrase，too，"Isaidstubbornly。
　　"Foryourmother？"
　　"No，"Ianswered，andshequestionednofurther，thoughIcouldhaveswornhereyesretainedforsometimeamocking，teasingexpression。
　　Withtheforemastin，theworknowwentonapace。AlmostbeforeIknewit，andwithoutoneserioushitch，Ihadthemainmaststepped。Aderrick—boom，riggedtotheforemast，hadaccomplishedthis；andseveraldaysmorefoundallstaysandshroudsinplace，andeverythingsetuptaut。Topsailswouldbeanuisanceandadangerforacrewoftwo，soIheavedthetopmastsondeckandlashedthemfast。
　　Severalmoredayswereconsumedinfinishingthesailsandputtingthemon。Therewereonlythree——thejib，foresail，andmainsail；and，patched，shortened，anddistorted，theywerearidiculouslyill—fittingsuitforsotrimacraftastheGhost。
　　"Butthey’llwork！"Maudcriedjubilantly。"We’llmakethemwork，andtrustourlivestothem！"
　　Certainly，amongmymanynewtrades，Ishoneleastasasail—maker。
　　Icouldsailthembetterthanmakethem，andIhadnodoubtofmypowertobringtheschoonertosomenorthernportofJapan。Infact，Ihadcrammednavigationfromtext—booksaboard；andbesides，therewasWolfLarsen’sstar—scale，sosimpleadevicethatachildcouldworkit。
　　Asforitsinventor，beyondanincreasingdeafnessandthemovementofthelipsgrowingfainterandfainter，therehadbeenlittlechangeinhisconditionforaweek。Butonthedaywefinishedbendingtheschooner’ssails，heheardhislast，andthelastmovementofhislipsdiedaway——
　　butnotbeforeIhadaskedhim，"Areyouallthere？"andthelipshadanswered，"Yes。"
　　Thelastlinewasdown。Somewherewithinthattombofthefleshstilldweltthesouloftheman。Walledbythelivingclay，thatfierceintelligencewehadknownburnedon；butitburnedoninsilenceanddarkness。Anditwasdisembodied。Tothatintelligencetherecouldbenoobjectiveknowledgeofabody。Itknewnobody。Theveryworldwasnot。Itknewonlyitselfandthevastnessandprofundityofthequietandthedark。TheSeaWolf：Chapter39CHAPTER39
　　Thedaycameforourdeparture。TherewasnolongeranythingtodetainusonEndeavorIsland。TheGhost’sstumpymastswereinplace，hercrazysailsbent。Allmyhandiworkwasstrong，noneofitbeautiful；butIknewthatitwouldwork，andIfeltmyselfamanofpowerasIlookedatit。
　　"Ididit！Ididit！WithmyownhandsIdidit！"Iwantedtocryaloud。
　　ButMaudandIhadawayofvoicingeachother’sthoughts，andshesaid，aswepreparedtohoistthemainsail：
　　"Tothink，Humphrey，youdiditallwithyourownhands！"
　　"Butthereweretwootherhands，"Ianswered。"Twosmallhands，anddon’tsaythatwasaphrase，also，ofyourfather。"
　　Shelaughedandshookherhead，andheldherhandsupforinspection。
　　"Icannevergetthemcleanagain，"shewailed，"norsoftentheweather—beat。"
　　"Thendirtandweather—beatshallbeyourguerdonofhonor，"said，holdingtheminmine；and，spiteofmyresolutions，Iwouldhavekissedthetwodearhandshadshenotswiftlywithdrawnthem。
　　Ourcomradeshipwasbecomingtremulous。Ihadmasteredmylovelongandwell，butnowitwasmasteringme。Wilfullyhaditdisobeyedandwonmyeyestospeech，andnowitwaswinningmytongue——ay，andmylips，fortheyweremadthismomenttokissthetwosmallhandswhichhadtoiledsofaithfullyandhard。AndI，too，wasmad。Therewasacryinmybeinglikebuglescallingmetoher。AndtherewasawindblowinguponmewhichIcouldnotresist，swayingtheverybodyofmetillIleanedtowardher，allunconsciousthatIleaned。Andsheknewit。Shecouldnotbutknowitassheswiftlydrewawayherhands，andyetcouldnotforbearonequick，searchinglookbeforesheturnedawayhereyes。
　　Bymeansofdeck—tacklesIhadarrangedtocarrythehalyardsforwardtothewindlass；andnowIhoistedthemainsail，peakandthroat，atthesametime。Itwasaclumsyway，butitdidnottakelong，andsoontheforesailaswellwasupandfluttering。
　　"Wecannevergetthatanchorupinthisnarrowplace，onceithasleftthebottom，"Isaid。"Weshouldbeontherocksfirst。"
　　"Whatcanyoudo？"sheasked。
　　"Slipit，"wasmyanswer。"AndwhenIdo，youmustdoyourfirstworkonthewindlass。Ishallhavetorunatoncetothewheel，andatthesametimeyoumustbehoistingthejib。"
　　Thisman渦vreofgettingunderwayIhadstudiedandworkedoutascoreoftimes；and，withthejib—halyardtothewindlass，IknewMaudwascapableofhoistingthatmostnecessarysail。Abriskwindwasblowingintothecove，andthoughthewaterwascalm，rapidworkwasrequiredtogetussafelyout。
　　WhenIknockedtheshackle—boltloose，thechainroaredoutthroughthehawse—holeandintothesea。Iracedaft，puttingthewheelup。TheGhostseemedtostartintolifeassheheeledtothefirstfillofhersails。Thejibwasrising。Asitfilled，theGhost’sbowswungoffandIhadtoputthewheeldownafewspokesandsteadyher。
　　Ihaddevisedanautomaticjib—sheetwhichpassedthejibacrossofitself，sotherewasnoneedforMaudtoattendtothat；butshewasstillhoistingthejibwhenIputthewheelharddown。Itwasamomentofanxiety，fortheGhostwasrushingdirectlyuponthebeach，astone’sthrowdistant。Butsheswungobedientlyonherheelintothewind。Therewasagreatflutteringandflappingofcanvasandreef—points，mostwelcometomyears，thenshefilledawayontheothertack。
　　Maudhadfinishedhertaskandcomeaft，whereshestoodbesideme，asmallcapperchedonherwind—blownhair，hercheeksflushedfromexertion，hereyeswideandbrightwiththeexcitement，hernostrilsquiveringtotherushandbiteofthefreshsaltair。Herbrowneyeswerelikeastartleddeer’s。Therewasawild，keenlookinthemIhadneverseenbefore，andherlipspartedandherbreathsuspendedastheGhost，charginguponthewallofrockattheentrancetotheinnercove，sweptintothewindandfilledawayintosafewater。
　　Myfirstmate’sberthonthesealinggroundsstoodmeingoodstead，andIclearedtheinnercoveandlaidalongtackalongtheshoreoftheoutercove。Onceagainabout，andtheGhostheadedouttoopensea。
　　Shehadnowcaughtthebosom—breathingoftheocean，andwasherselfa—breathwiththerhythmofitasshesmoothlymountedandslippeddowneachbroad—backedwave。Thedayhadbeendullandovercast，butthesunnowburstthroughtheclouds，awelcomeomen，andshoneuponthecurvingbeachwheretogetherwehaddaredthelordsoftheharemandslaintheholluschickie。AllEndeavorIslandbrightenedunderthesun。Eventhegrimsouthwesternpromontoryshowedlessgrim，andhereandthere，wherethesea—spraywetitssurface，highlightsflashedanddazzledinthesun。
　　"Ishallalwaysthinkofitwithpride，"IsaidtoMaud。
　　Shethrewherheadbackinaqueenlyway，butsaid，"Dear，dearEndeavorIsland！Ishallalwaysloveit。"
　　"AndI，"Isaidquickly。
　　Itseemedoureyesmustmeetinagreatunderstanding，andyet，loath，theystruggledawayanddidnotmeet。
　　TherewasasilenceImightalmostcallawkward，tillIbrokeit，saying：
　　"Seethoseblackcloudstowindward。Youremember，Itoldyoulastnightthebarometerwasfalling。"
　　"Andthesunisgone，"shesaid，hereyesstillfixeduponourisland，wherewehadprovedourmasteryovermatterandattainedtothetruestcomradeshipthatmayfalltomanandwoman。
　　"Andit’sslackoffthesheetsforJapan！"Icriedgayly。"Afairwindandaflowingsheet，youknow，orhoweveritgoes。"
　　Lashingthewheel，Iranforward，easedtheforeandmainsheets，tookinontheboom—tackles，andtrimmedeverythingforthequarteringbreezewhichwasours。Itwasafreshbreeze，veryfresh，butIresolvedtorunaslongasIdared。Unfortunately，whenrunningfree，itisimpossibletolashthewheel，soIfacedanall—nightwatch。Maudinsistedonrelievingme，butprovedthatshehadnotthestrengthtosteerinaheavysea，evenifshecouldhavegainedthewisdomonsuchshortnotice。Sheappearedquiteheart—brokenoverthediscovery，butrecoveredherspiritsbycoilingdowntacklesandhalyardsandallstrayropes。Thenthereweremealstobecookedinthegalley，bedstomake，WolfLarsentobeattendedupon，andshefinishedthedaywithagrandhouse—cleaningattackuponthecabinandsteerage。
　　AllnightIsteered，withoutrelief，thewindslowlyandsteadilyincreasingandthesearising。AtfiveinthemorningMaudbroughtmehotcoffeeandbiscuitsshehadbaked，andatsevenasubstantialandpipinghotbreakfastputnewlifeintome。
　　Throughouttheday，andasslowlyandsteadilyasever，thewindincreased。
　　Itimpressedonewithitssullendeterminationtoblow，andblowharder，andkeeponblowing。AndstilltheGhostfoamedalong，racingoffthemilestillIwascertainshewasmakingatleastelevenknots。Itwastoogoodtolose，butbynightfallIwasexhausted。Thoughinsplendidphysicaltrim，athirty—six—hourtrickatthewheelwasthelimitofmyendurance。Besides，Maudbeggedmetoheaveto，andIknew，ifthewindandseaincreasedatthesamerateduringthenight，thatitwouldsoonbeimpossibletoheaveto。So，astwilightdeepened，gladlyandatthesametimereluctantly，IbroughttheGhostuponthewind。
　　ButIhadnotreckoneduponthecolossaltaskthereefingofthreesailsmeantforoneman。WhilerunningawayfromthewindIhadnotappreciateditsforce，butwhenweceasedtorunIlearnedtomysorrow，andwell—nightomydespair，howfiercelyitwasreallyblowing。Thewindbalkedmyeveryeffort，rippingthecanvasoutofmyhandsandinaninstantundoingwhatIhadgainedbytenminutesofsevereststruggle。Ateighto’clockIhadsucceededonlyinputtingthesecondreefintotheforesail。Ateleveno’clockIwasnofartheralong。Blooddrippedfromeveryfingerend，whilethenailswerebrokentothequick。FrompainandsheerexhaustionIweptinthedarkness，secretly，sothatMaudshouldnotknow。
　　Then，indesperation，Iabandonedtheattempttoreefthemainsailandresolvedtotrytheexperimentofheavingtoundertheclose—reefedforesail。
　　Threehoursmorewererequiredtogasketthemainsailandjib，andattwointhemorning，nearlydead，thelifealmostbuffetedandworkedoutofme，Ihadbarelysufficientconsciousnesstoknowtheexperimentwasasuccess。Theclose—reefedforesailworked。TheGhostclungonclosetothewindandbetrayednoinclinationtofalloffbroadsidetothetrough。
　　Iwasfamished，butMaudtriedvainlytogetmetoeat。dozedwithmymouthfulloffood。Iwouldfallasleepintheactofcarryingfoodtomymouthandwakenintormenttofindtheactyetuncompleted。SosleepilyhelplesswasIthatshewascompelledtoholdmeinmychairtopreventmybeingflungtothefloorbytheviolentpitchingoftheschooner。
　　OfthepassagefromthegalleytothecabinIknewnothing。Itwasasleep—walkerMaudguidedandsupported。Infact，IwasawareofnothingtillIawoke，howlongafterIcouldnotimagine，inmybunkwithmybootsoff。Itwasdark。Iwasstiffandlame，andcriedoutwithpainwhenthebed—clothestouchedmypoorfinger—ends。
　　Morninghadevidentlynotcome，soIclosedmyeyesandwenttosleepagain。Ididnotknowit，butIhadslepttheclockaroundanditwasnightagain。
　　OncemoreIwoke，troubledbecauseIcouldsleepnobetter。struckamatchandlookedatmywatch。Itmarkedmidnight。AndIhadnotleftthedeckuntilthree！IshouldhavebeenpuzzledhadInotguessedthesolution。
　　NowonderIwassleepingbrokenly。Ihadslepttwenty—onehours。IlistenedforawhiletothebehavioroftheGhost，tothepoundingoftheseasandthemuffledroarofthewindondeck，andthenturnedoveronmysideandsleptpeacefullyuntilmorning。
　　WhenIaroseatsevenIsawnosignofMaudandconcludedshewasinthegalleypreparingbreakfast。OndeckIfoundtheGhostdoingsplendidlyunderherpatchofcanvas。Butinthegalley，thoughafirewasburningandwaterboiling，IfoundnoMaud。
　　Idiscoveredherinthesteerage，byWolfLarsen’sbunk。lookedathim，themanwhohadbeenhurleddownfromthetopmostpitchoflifetobeburiedaliveandbeworsethandead。Thereseemedarelaxationofhisexpressionlessfacewhichwasnew。MaudlookedatmeandIunderstood。
　　"Hislifeflickeredoutinthestorm，"Isaid。
　　"Buthestilllives，"sheanswered，infinitefaithinhervoice。
　　"Hehadtoogreatstrength。"
　　"Yes，"shesaid，"butnowitnolongershackleshim。Heisafreespirit。"
　　"Heisafreespiritsurely，"Ianswered；and，takingherhand，Iledherondeck。
　　Thestormbrokethatnight，whichistosaythatitdiminishedasslowlyasithadarisen。Afterbreakfastnextmorning，whenIhadhoistedWolfLarsen’sbodyondeckreadyforburial，itwasstillblowingheavilyandalargeseawasrunning。Thedeckwascontinuallyawashwiththeseawhichcameinboardovertherailandthroughthescuppers。Thewindsmotetheschoonerwithasuddengust，andsheheeledovertillherleerailwasburied，theroarinherriggingrisinginpitchtoashriek。WestoodinthewatertoourkneesasIbaredmyhead。
　　"Irememberonlyonepartoftheservice，"Isaid，"andthatis，`Andthebodyshallbecastintothesea。’"
　　Maudlookedatme，surprisedandshocked；butthespiritofsomethingIhadseenbeforewasstronguponme，impellingmetogiveservicetoWolfLarsenasWolfLarsenhadoncegivenservicetoanotherman。Iliftedtheendofthehatchcover，andthecanvas—shroudedbodyslippedfeetfirstintothesea。Theweightofirondraggeditdown。Itwasgone。
　　"Good—by，Lucifer，proudspirit，"Maudwhispered，solowthatitwasdrownedbytheshoutingofthewind；butIsawthemovementofherlipsandknew。
　　Asweclungtotheleerailandworkedourwayaft，Ihappenedtoglancetoleeward。TheGhost，atthemoment，wasuptossedonasea，andIcaughtaclearviewofasmallsteamshiptwoorthreemilesaway，rollingandpitching，headontothesea，asitsteamedtowardus。Itwaspaintedblack，andfromthetalkofthehuntersoftheirpoachingexploitsIrecognizeditasaUnitedStatesrevenuecutter。IpointeditouttoMaudandhurriedlyledherafttothesafetyofthepoop。
　　Istartedtorushbelowtotheflag—locker，thenrememberedthatinriggingtheGhostIhadforgottentomakeprovisionforaflag—halyard。
　　"Weneednodistresssignal，"Maudsaid。"Theyhaveonlytoseeus。"
　　"Wearesaved，"Isaid，soberlyandsolemnly。Andthen，inanexuberanceofjoy，"Ihardlyknowwhethertobegladornot。"
　　Ilookedather。Oureyeswerenotloathtomeet。Weleanedtowardeachother，andbeforeIknewitmyarmswereabouther。
　　"NeedI？"Iasked。
　　Andsheanswered，"Thereisnoneed，thoughthetellingofitwouldbesweet，sosweet。"
　　Herlipsmetthepressofmine，and，bywhatstrangetrickoftheimaginationIknownot，thesceneinthecabinoftheGhostflasheduponme，whenshehadpressedherfingerslightlyonmylipsandsaid，"Hush，hush。"
　　"Mywoman，myonesmallwoman，"Isaid，myfreehandpettinghershoulderinthewayallloversknowthoughneverlearninschool。
　　"Myman，"shesaid，lookingatmeforaninstantwithtremulouslidswhichfluttereddownandveiledhereyesasshesnuggledherheadagainstmybreastwithahappylittlesigh。
　　Ilookedtowardthecutter。Itwasveryclose。Aboatwasbeinglowered。
　　"Onekiss，dearlove，"Iwhispered。"Onekissmorebeforetheycome。"
　　"Andrescueusfromourselves，"shecompleted，withamostadorablesmile，whimsicalasIhadneverseenit，foritwaswhimsicalwithlove。