\"Numberfourboat！\"Oofty—Ooftycried，hiskeeneyesreadingitsnumberintheonesecondwhenitliftedclearofthefoamandupsidedown。
ItwasHenderson’sboat，andwithhimhadbeenlostHoly—oakandWilliams，anotherofthedeep—watercrowd。Losttheyindubitablywere；buttheboatremained，andWolfLarsenmadeonemorerecklessefforttorecoverit。
Ihadcomedowntothedeck，andIsawHornerandKerfootvainlyprotestagainsttheattempt。
\"ByGod，I’llnotberobbedofmyboatbyanystormthateverblewoutofhell！\"heshouted，andthoughwefourstoodwithourheadstogetherthatwemighthear，hisvoiceseemedfaintandfar，asthoughremovedfromusanimmensedistance。
\"Mr。VanWeyden！\"hecried，andIheardthroughthetumultasonemighthearawhisper。\"StandbythatjibwithJohnsonandOofty！Therestofyoutailafttothemainsheet！Livelynow！OrI’llsailyouallintoKingdomCome！Understand？\"
AndwhenheputthewheelhardoverandtheGhost’sbowswungoff，therewasnothingforthehunterstodobutobeyandmakethebestofariskychance。HowgreattheriskIrealizedwhenIwasoncemoreburiedbeneaththepoundingseasandclingingforlifetothepin—railatthefootoftheforemast。Myfingersweretornloose，andsweptacrosstothesideandoverthesideintothesea。Icouldnotswim，butbeforeIcouldsinkIwassweptbackagain。Astronghandgrippedme，andwhentheGhostfinallyemerged，IfoundthatIowedmylifetoJohnson。Isawhimlookinganxiouslyabouthim，andnotedthatKelly，whohadcomeforwardatthelastmoment，wasmissing。
Thistime，havingmissedtheboatandnotbeinginthesamepositionasinthepreviousinstances，WolfLarsenwascompelledtoresorttoadifferentman渦vre。Runningoffbeforethewindwitheverythingtostarboard，hecameaboutandreturnedclose—hauledontheporttack。
\"Grand！\"Johnsonshoutedinmyear，aswesuccessfullycamethroughtheattendantdeluge，andIknewhereferred，nottoWolfLarsen’sseamanship，buttotheperformanceoftheGhostherself。
Itwasnowsodarkthattherewasnosignoftheboat；butWolfLarsenheldbackthroughthefrightfulturmoilasifguidedbyunerringinstinct。
Thistime，thoughwewerecontinuallyhalf—buried，therewasnotroughinwhichtobeswept，andwedriftedsquarelydownupontheup—turnedboat，badlysmashingitasitwasheavedinboard。
Twohoursofterribleworkfollowed，inwhichallhandsofus，——twohunters，threesailors，WolfLarsen，andI，——reefed，firstoneandthentheother，thejibandmainsail。Hovetounderthisshortcanvas，ourdeckswerecomparativelyfreeofwater，whiletheGhostbobbedandduckedamongstthecomberslikeacork。
Ihadburstopentheendsofmyfingersattheveryfirst，andduringthereefingIhadworkedwithtearsofpainrunningdownmycheeks。Andwhenallwasdone，Igaveuplikeawomanandrolleduponthedeckintheagonyofexhaustion。
InthemeantimeThomasMugridge，likeadrownedrat，wasbeingdraggedoutfromundertheforecastleheadwherehehadcravenlyensconcedhimself。
Isawhimpulledafttothecabinandnotedwithashockofsurprisethatthegalleyhaddisappeared。Acleanspaceofdeckshowedwhereithadstood。
InthecabinIfoundallhandsassembled，sailorsaswell，andwhilecoffeewasbeingcookedoverthesmallstovewedrankwhiskeyandcrunchedhardtack。Neverinmylifehadfoodbeensowelcome。Andneverhadhotcoffeetastedsogood。SoviolentlydidtheGhostpitchandtossandtumblethatitwasimpossibleforeventhesailorstomoveaboutwithoutholdingon，andseveraltimes，afteracryof\"Nowshetakesit！\"wewereheapeduponthewalloftheportcabinsasthoughithadbeenthedeck。
\"Tohellwithalookout，\"IheardWolfLarsensaywhenwehadeatenanddrunkourfill。\"There’snothingcanbedoneondeck。Ifanything’sgoingtorunusdownwecouldn’tgetoutofitsway。Turnin，allhands，andgetsomesleep。\"
Thesailorsslippedforward，settingtheside—lightsastheywent，whilethetwohuntersremainedtosleepinthecabin，itnotbeingdeemedadvisabletoopentheslidetothesteeragecompanionway。WolfLarsenandI，betweenus，cutoffKerfoot’scrushedfingerandsewedupthestump。Mugridge，who，duringallthetimehehadbeencompelledtocookandservecoffeeandkeepthefiregoing，hadcomplainedofinternalpains，nowsworethathehadabrokenribortwo。Onexaminationwefoundthathehadthree。
Buthiscasewasdeferredtonextday，principallyforthereasonthatIdidnotknowanythingaboutbrokenribsandwouldfirsthavetoreaditup。
\"Idon’tthinkitwasworthit，\"IsaidtoWolfLarsen，\"abrokenboatforKelly’slife。\"
\"ButKellydidn’tamounttomuch，\"wasthereply。\"Goodnight。\"
Afterallthathadpassed，sufferingintolerableanguishinmyfingerends，andwiththreeboatsmissing，tosaynothingofthewildcaperstheGhostwascutting，Ishouldhavethoughtitimpossibletosleep。
Butmyeyesmusthaveclosedtheinstantmyheadtouchedthepillow，andinutterexhaustionIsleptthroughoutthenight，thewhiletheGhost，lonelyandundirected，foughtherwaythroughthestorm。TheSeaWolf：Chapter18CHAPTER18
Thenextday，whilethestormwasblowingitselfout，WolfLarsenandIcrammedanatomyandsurgeryandsetMugridge’sribs。Then，whenthestormbroke，WolfLarsencruisedbackandforthoverthatportionoftheoceanwherewehadencounteredit，andsomewhatmoretothewestward，whiletheboatswerebeingrepairedandnewsailsmadeandbent。Sealingschooneraftersealingschoonerwesightedandboarded，mostofwhichwereinsearchoflostboats，andmostofwhichwerecarryingboatsandcrewstheyhadpickedupandwhichdidnotbelongtothem。Forthethickofthefleethadbeentothewestwardofus，andtheboats，scatteredfarandwide，hadheadedinmadflightforthenearestrefuge。
Twoofourboats，withmenallsafe，wetookofftheCisco，and，toWolfLarsen’shugedelightandmyowngrief，heculledSmoke，withNilsonandLeach，fromtheSanDiego。Sothat，attheendoffivedays，wefoundourselvesshortbutfourmen，——Henderson，Holyoak，Williams，andKelly，——andwereoncemorehuntingontheflanksoftheherd。
Aswefolloweditnorthwebegantoencounterthedreadedsea—fogs。
Dayafterdaytheboatsloweredandwereswallowedupalmosteretheytouchedthewater，whileweonboardpumpedthehornatregularintervalsandeveryfifteenminutesfiredthebombgun。Boatswerecontinuallybeinglostandfound，itbeingthecustomforaboattohunt，onlay，withwhateverschoonerpickeditup，untilsuchtimeitwasrecoveredbyitsownschooner。ButWolfLarsen，aswastobeexpected，beingaboatshort，tookpossessionofthefirststrayoneandcompelleditsmentohuntwiththeGhost，notpermittingthemtoreturntotheirownschoonerwhenwesightedit。
Irememberhowheforcedthehunterandhistwomenbelow，arifleattheirbreasts，whentheircaptainpassedbyatbiscuit—tossandhailedusforinformation。
ThomasMugridge，sostrangelyandpertinaciouslyclingingtolife，wassoonlimpingaboutagainandperforminghisdoubledutiesofcookandcabin—boy。
JohnsonandLeachwerebulliedandbeatenasmuchasever，andtheylookedfortheirlivestoendwiththeendofthehuntingseason；whiletherestofthecrewlivedthelivesofdogsandwereworkedlikedogsbytheirpitilessmaster。AsforWolfLarsenandmyself，wegotalongfairlywell；
thoughIcouldnotquiteridmyselfoftheideathatrightconduct，forme，layinkillinghim。Hefascinatedmeimmeasurably，andIfearedhimimmeasurably。Andyet，couldnotimaginehimlyingproneindeath。Therewasanendurance，asofperpetualyouth，abouthim，whichroseupandforbadethepicture。couldseehimonlyaslivingalways，anddominatingalways，fightinganddestroying，himselfsurviving。
Onediversionofhis，whenwewereinthemidstoftheherdandtheseawastooroughtolowertheboats，wastolowerwithtwoboatpullersandasteererandgoouthimself。Hewasagoodshot，too，andbroughtmanyaskinaboardunderwhatthehunterstermedImpossiblehuntingconditions。
Itseemedthebreathofhisnostrils，thiscarryinghislifeinhishandsandstrugglingforitagainsttremendousodds。
Iwaslearningmoreandmoreseamanship；andoneclearday，——athingwerarelyencounterednow，——IhadthesatisfactionofrunningandhandlingtheGhostandpickinguptheboatsmyself。WolfLarsenhadbeensmittenwithoneofhisheadaches，andIstoodatthewheelfrommorninguntilevening，sailingacrosstheoceanafterthelastleeboatandheavingtoandpickingitandtheotherfiveupwithoutcommandorsuggestionfromhim。
Galesweencounterednowandagain，foritwasarawandstormyregion，and，inthemiddleofJune，atyphoonmostmemorabletomeandmostimportantbecauseofthechangeswroughtthroughituponmyfuture。Wemusthavebeencaughtnearlyatthecentreofthiscircularstorm，andWolfLarsenranoutofitandtothesouthward，firstunderadouble—reefedjib，andfinallyunderbarepoles。NeverhadIimaginedsogreatasea。Theseaspreviouslyencounteredwereasripplescomparedwiththese，whichranahalfmilefromcresttocrestandwhichupreared，Iamconfident，aboveourmasthead。SogreatwasitthatWolfLarsenhimselfdidnotdareheaveto，thoughhewasbeingdrivenfartothesouthwardandoutofthesealherd。
Wemusthavebeenwellinthepathofthetrans—Pacificsteamshipswhenthetyphoonmoderated，andhere，tothesurpriseofthehunters，wefoundourselvesinthemidstofseals——asecondherd，orsortofrear—guard，theydeclared，andamostunusualthing。Butitwas\"Boatsover！\"，theboom—boomofguns，andthepitifulslaughterthroughthelongday。
ItwasatthistimethatIwasapproachedbyLeach。Ihadjustfinishedtallyingtheskinsofthelastboataboard，whenhecametomyside，inthedarkness，andsaidinalowtone：
\"Canyoutellme，Mr。VanWeyden，howfarweareoffthecoast，andwhatthebearingsofYokohamaare？\"
Myheartleapedwithgladness，forIknewwhathehadinmind，andI
gavehimthebearings——west—northwestandfivehundredmilesaway。
\"Thankyou，sir，\"wasallhesaidasheslippedbackintothedarkness。
NextmorningNo。3boatandJohnsonandLeachweremissing。Thewater—breakersandgrubboxesfromalltheotherboatswerelikewisemissing，aswerethebedsandseabagsofthetwomen。WolfLarsenwasfurious。Hesetsailandboreawayintothewest—northwest，twohuntersconstantlyatthemastheadsandsweepingtheseawithglasses，himselfpacingthedecklikeanangrylion。Heknewtoowellmysympathyfortherunawaystosendmealoftaslookout。
Thewindwasfairbutfitful，anditwaslikelookingforaneedleinahaystacktoraisethattinyboatoutoftheblueimmensity。ButheputtheGhostthroughherbestpacessoastogetbetweenthedesertersandtheland。Thisaccomplished，hecruisedbackandforthacrosswhatheknewmustbetheircourse。
Onthemorningofthethirdday，shortlyaftereightbells，acrythattheboatwassightedcamedownfromSmokeatthemasthead。Allhandslinedtherail。Asnappybreezewasblowingfromthewestwiththepromiseofmorewindbehindit；andthere，toleeward，inthetroubledsilveroftherisingsun，appearedanddisappearedablackspeck。
Wesquaredawayandranforit。Myheartwasaslead。feltmyselfturningsickinanticipation；andasIlookedatthegleamoftriumphinWolfLarsen’seyes，hisformswambeforemeandIfeltalmostirresistiblyimpelledtoflingmyselfuponhim。SounnervedwasIbythethoughtofimpendingviolencetoLeachandJohnsonthatmyreasonmusthaveleftme。IknowthatIslippeddownintothesteerageinadaze，andthatIwasjustbeginningtheascenttothedeck，aloadedshot—guninmyhands，whenIheardthestartledcry：
\"There’sfivemeninthatboat！\"
Isupportedmyselfinthecompanionway，weakandtrembling，whiletheobservationwasbeingverifiedbytheremarksoftherestofthemen。ThenmykneesgavefromundermeandIsankdown，myselfagain，butovercomebyshockatknowledgeofwhatIhadsonearlydone。Also，IwasverythankfulasIputthegunawayandslippedbackondeck。
Noonehadremarkedmyabsence。Theboatwasnearenoughforustomakeoutthatitwaslargerthananysealingboatandbuiltondifferentlines。
Aswedrewcloser，thesailwastakeninandthemastunstepped。Oarswereshipped，anditsoccupantswaitedforustoheavetoandtakethemaboard。
Smoke，whohaddescendedtothedeckandwasnowstandingbymyside，begantochuckleinasignificantway。Ilookedathiminquiringly。
\"Talkofamess！\"hegiggled。
\"What’swrong？\"Idemanded。
Againhechuckled。
\"Don’tyouseethere，inthestern—sheets，onthebottom。MayInevershootasealagainifthatain’tawoman！\"
Ilookedclosely，butwasnotsureuntilexclamationsbrokeoutonallsides。Theboatcontainedfourmen，anditsfifthoccupantwascertainlyawoman。Wewereagogwithexcitement，allexceptWolfLarsen，whowastooevidentlydisappointedinthatitwasnothisownboatwiththetwovictimsofhismalice。
Werandowntheflyingjib，hauledthejib—sheetstowindwardandthemainsheetflat，andcameupintothewind。Theoarsstruckthewater，andwithafewstrokestheboatwasalongside。Inowcaughtmyfirstfairglimpseofthewoman。Shewaswrappedinalongulster，forthemorningwasraw；andIcouldseenothingbutherfaceandamassoflightbrownhairescapingfromundertheseaman’scaponherhead。Theeyeswerelargeandbrownandlustrous，themouthsweetandsensitive，andthefaceitselfadelicateoval，thoughsunandexposuretobrinywindhadburntthefacescarlet。
Sheseemedtomelikeabeingfromanotherworld。Iwasawareofahungryoutreachingforher，asofastarvingmanforbread。Butthen，Ihadnotseenawomanforaverylongtime。IknowthatIwaslostinagreatwonder，almostastupor，——this，then，wasawoman？——sothatIforgotmyselfandmymate’sduties，andtooknopartinhelpingthenewcomersaboard。
ForwhenoneofthesailorsliftedherintoWolfLarsen’sdown—stretchedarms，shelookedupintoourcuriousfacesandsmiledamusedlyandsweetly，asonlyawomancansmile，andasIhadseennoonesmileforsolongthatIhadforgottensuchsmilesexisted。
\"Mr。VanWeyden！\"
WolfLarsen’svoicebroughtmesharplybacktomyself。
\"Willyoutaketheladybelowandseetohercomfort？Makeupthatspareportcabin。PutCookytoworkonit。Andseewhatyoucandoforthatface。
It’sburnedbadly。\"
Heturnedbrusquelyawayfromusandbegantoquestionthenewmen。
Theboatwascastadrift，thoughoneofthemcalledita\"bloodyshame\"
withYokohamasonear。
IfoundmyselfstrangelyafraidofthiswomanIwasescortingaft。AlsoIwasawkward。ItseemedtomethatIwasrealizingforthefirsttimewhatadelicate，fragilecreatureawomanis；andasIcaughtherarmtohelpherdownthecompanionstairs，Iwasstartledbyitssmallnessandsoftness。Indeed，shewasaslender，delicatewomanaswomengo，buttomeshewassoethereallyslenderanddelicatethatwasquitepreparedforherarmtocrumbleinmygrasp。Allthis，infrankness，toshowmyfirstimpression，afterlongdenial，ofwomeningeneralandofMaudBrewsterinparticular。
\"Noneedtogotoanygreattroubleforme，\"sheprotested，whenIhadseatedherinWolfLarsen’sarm—chair，whichIhaddraggedhastilyfromhiscabin。\"Themenwerelookingforlandatanymomentthismorning，andthevesselshouldbeinbynight；don’tyouthinkso？\"
Hersimplefaithintheimmediatefuturetookmeaback。HowcouldI
explaintoherthesituation，thestrangemanwhostalkedthesealikeDestiny，allthatithadtakenmemonthstolearn？ButIansweredhonestly：
\"Ifitwereanyothercaptainexceptours，IshouldsayyouwouldbeashoreinYokohamato—morrow。Butourcaptainisastrangeman，andIbegofyoutobepreparedforanything，understand？——foranything。\"
\"I——IconfessIhardlydounderstand，\"shehesitated，aperturbedbutnotfrightenedexpressioninhereyes。\"Orisitamisconceptionofminethatshipwreckedpeoplearealwaysshowneveryconsideration？Thisissuchalittlething，youknow。Wearesoclosetoland。\"
\"Candidly，Idonotknow，\"Istrovetoreassureher。\"Iwishedmerelytoprepareyoufortheworst，iftheworstistocome。Thisman，thiscaptain，isabrute，ademon，andonecannevertellwhatwillbehisnextfantasticact。\"
Iwasgrowingexcited，butsheinterruptedmewithan\"Oh，see，\"andhervoicesoundedweary。Tothinkwaspatentlyaneffort。Shewasclearlyonthevergeofphysicalcollapse。
Sheaskednofurtherquestions，andIvouchsafednoremarks，devotingmyselftoWolfLarsen’scommand，whichwastomakehercomfortable。Ibustledaboutinquitehousewifelyfashion，procuringsoothinglotionsforhersunburn，raidingWolfLarsen’sprivatestoresforabottleofportIknewtobethere，anddirectingThomasMugridgeinthepreparationofthesparestate—room。
Thewindwasfresheningrapidly，theGhostheelingovermoreandmore，andbythetimethestate—roomwasreadyshewasdashingthroughthewateratalivelyclip。IhadquiteforgottentheexistenceofLeachandJohnson，whensuddenly，likeathunderclap，\"Boatho！\"camedowntheopencompanionway。ItwasSmoke’sunmistakablevoice，cryingfromthemasthead。
Ishotaglanceatthewoman，butshewasleaningbackinthearm—chair，hereyesclosed，unutterablytired。Idoubtedthatshehadheard，andI
resolvedtopreventherseeingthebrutalityknewwouldfollowthecaptureofthedeserters。Shewastired。Verygood。Sheshouldsleep。
Therewereswiftcommandsondeck，astampingoffeetandaslappingofreef—pointsastheGhostshotintothewindandaboutontheothertack。Asshefilledawayandheeled，thearm—chairbegantoslideacrossthecabinfloor，andIsprangforitjustintimetopreventtherescuedwomanfrombeingspilledout。
Hereyesweretooheavytosuggestmorethanahintofthesleepysurprisethatperplexedherasshelookedupatme，andshehalfstumbled，halftottered，asIledhertohercabin。MugridgegrinnedinsinuatinglyinmyfaceasIshovedhimoutandorderedhimbacktohisgalleywork；andhewonhisrevengebyspreadingglowingreportsamongthehuntersastowhatanexcellent\"lydy’smyde\"Iwasprovingmyselftobe。
Sheleanedheavilyagainstme，andIdobelievethatshehadfallenasleepagainbetweenthearm—chairandthestate—room。Thisdiscoveredwhenshenearlyfellintothebunkduringasuddenlurchoftheschooner。
Shearoused，smileddrowsily，andwasofftosleepagain；andasleepI
lefther，underaheavypairofsailor’sblankets，herheadrestingonapillowIhadappropriatedfromWolfLarsen’sbunk。TheSeaWolf：Chapter19CHAPTER19
IcameondecktofindtheGhostheadingupcloseontheporttackandcuttingintowindwardofafamiliarspritsailclose—hauledonthesametackaheadofus。Allhandswereondeck，fortheyknewthatsomethingwastohappenwhenLeachandJohnsonweredraggedaboard。
Itwasfourbells。Louiscameafttorelievethewheel。Therewasadampnessintheair，andInoticedhehadonhisoilskins。
\"Whatarewegoingtohave？\"Iaskedhim。
\"Ahealthyyoungslipofagalefromthebreathivit，sir，\"heanswered，\"withasplatterivrainjusttowetourgillsan’nomore。\"
\"Toobadwesightedthem，\"Isaid，astheGhost’sbowwasflungoffapointbyalargeseaandtheboatleapedforamomentpastthejibsandintoourlineofvision。
Louisgaveaspokeandtemporized。\"They’dneverivmadetheland，sir，I’mthinkin’。\"
\"Thinknot？\"Iqueried。
\"No，sir。Didyoufeelthat？\"（Apuffhadcaughttheschooner，andhewasforcedtoputthewheeluprapidlytokeepheroutofthewind。）\"’Tisnoegg—shell’llfloatonthisseaanhourcome，an’it’sastrokeivluckforthemwe’reheretopick’emup。\"
WolfLarsenstrodeaftfromamidships，wherehehadbeentalkingwiththerescuedmen。Thecatlikespringinessinhistreadwasalittlemorepronouncedthanusual，andhiseyeswerebrightandsnappy。
\"Threeoilersandafourthengineer，\"washisgreeting。\"Butwe’llmakesailorsoutofthem，orboat—pullersatanyrate。Now，whatofthelady？\"
Iknownotwhy，butIwasawareofatwingeorpang，likethecutofaknife，whenhementionedher。Ithoughtitacertainsillyfastidiousnessonmypart，butitpersistedinspiteofme，andImerelyshruggedmyshouldersinanswer。
WolfLarsenpursedhislipsinalong，quizzicalwhistle。
\"What’shername，then？\"hedemanded。
\"Idon’tknow，\"Ireplied。\"Sheisasleep。Shewasverytired。Infact，Iamwaitingtohearthenewsfromyou。Whatvesselwasit？\"
\"Mailsteamer，\"heansweredshortly。\"TheCityofTokio，from’Frisco，boundforYokohama。Disabledinthattyphoon。Oldtub。Openeduptopandbottomlikeasieve。Theywereadriftfourdays。Andyoudon’tknowwhoorwhatsheis，eh？——maid，wife，orwidow？Well，well。\"
Heshookhisheadinabanteringway，andregardedmewithlaughingeyes。
\"Areyou——\"Ibegan。ItwasonthevergeofmytonguetoaskifheweregoingtotakethecastawaysintoYokohama。
\"AmIwhat？\"heasked。
\"WhatdoyouintenddoingwithLeachandJohnson？\"
Heshookhishead。\"Really，Hump，Idon’tknow。Yousee，withtheseadditionsI’veaboutallthecrewIwant。\"
\"Andthey’veaboutalltheescapingtheywant，\"Isaid。\"Whynotgivethemachangeoftreatment？Takethemaboard，anddealgentlywiththem。
Whatevertheyhavedonetheyhavebeenhoundedintodoing。\"
\"Byme？\"
\"Byyou，\"Iansweredsteadily。\"AndIgiveyouwarning，WolfLarsen，thatImayforgetloveofmyownlifeinthedesiretokillyouifyougotoofarinmaltreatingthosepoorwretches。\"
\"Bravo！\"hecried。\"Youdomeproud，Hump！You’vefoundyourlegswithavengeance。You’requiteanindividual。Youwereunfortunateinhavingyourlifecastineasyplaces，butyou’redeveloping，andIlikeyouthebetterforit。\"
Hisvoiceandexpressionchanged。Hisfacewasserious。\"Doyoubelieveinpromises？\"heasked。\"Aretheysacredthings？\"
\"Ofcourse，\"Ianswered。
\"Thenhere’sacompact，\"hewenton，consummateactorthathewas。\"IfIpromisenottolaymyhandsuponLeachandJohnson，willyoupromise，inturn，nottoattempttokillme？\"
\"Oh，notthatI’mafraidofyou，notthatI’mafraidofyou，\"hehastenedtoadd。
Icouldhardlybelievemyears。Whatwascomingovertheman？
\"Isitago？\"heaskedimpatiently。
\"Ago，\"Ianswered。
Hishandwentouttomine，andasIshookitheartilyIcouldhaveswornIsawthemockingdevilshineupforamomentinhiseyes。
Westrolledacrossthepooptotheleeside。Theboatwascloseathandnow，andindesperateplight。Johnsonwassteering，Leachbailing。Weoverhauledthemabouttwofeettotheirone。WolfLarsenmotionedLouistokeepoffslightly，andwedashedabreastoftheboat，notascoreoffeettowindward。
TheGhostblanketedit。Thespritsailflappedemptilyandtheboatrightedtoanevenkeel，causingthetwomenswiftlytochangeposition。
Theboatlostheadway，and，asweliftedonahugesurge，toppledandfellintothetrough。
ItwasatthismomentthatLeachandJohnsonlookedupintothefacesoftheirshipmates，wholinedtherailamidships。Therewasnogreeting。
Theywereasdeadmenintheircomrades’eyes，andbetweenthemwasthegulfthatpartsthelivingandthedead。
Thenextinstanttheywereoppositethepoop，wherestoodWolfLarsenandI。Wewerefallinginthetrough，theywererisingonthesurge。Johnsonlookedatme，andIcouldseethathisfacewaswornandhaggard。Iwavedmyhandtohim，andheansweredthegreeting，butwithawavethatwashopelessanddespairing。Itwasasifheweresayingfarewell。IdidnotseeintotheeyesofLeach，forhewaslookingatWolfLarsen，theoldandimplacablesnarlofhatredstrongaseveronhisface。
Thentheyweregoneastern。Thespritsailfilledwiththewind，suddenly，careeningthefrailopencrafttillitseemeditwouldsurelycapsize。
Awhitecapfoamedaboveitandbrokeacrossinasnow—whitesmother。Thentheboatemerged，halfswamped，LeachflingingthewateroutandJohnsonclingingtothesteering—oar，hisfacewhiteandanxious。
WolfLarsenbarkedashortlaughinmyearandstrodeawaytotheweathersideofthepoop。IexpectedhimtogiveordersfortheGhosttoheaveto，butshekeptonhercourseandhemadenosign。Louisstoodimperturbablyatthewheel，butInoticedthegroupedsailorsforwardturningtroubledfacesinourdirection。StilltheGhosttorealong，tilltheboatdwindledtoaspeck，whenWolfLarsen’svoicerangoutincommandandhewentaboutonthestarboardtack。
Backweheld，twomilesandmoretowindwardofthestrugglingcockle—shell，whentheflyingjibwasrundownandtheschoonerhoveto。Thesealingboatsarenotmadeforwindwardwork。Theirhopeliesinkeepingaweatherpositionsothattheymayrunbeforethewindfortheschoonerwhenitbreezesup。ButinallthatwildwastetherewasnorefugeforLeachandJohnsonsaveontheGhost，andtheyresolutelybeganthewindwardbeat。Itwasslowworkintheheavyseathatwasrunning。Atanymomenttheywereliabletobeoverwhelmedbythehissingcombers。Timeandagainandcountlesstimeswewatchedtheboatluffintothebigwhitecaps，loseheadway，andbeflungbacklikeacork。
Johnsonwasasplendidseaman，andheknewasmuchaboutsmallboatsashedidaboutships。Attheendofanhourandahalfhewasnearlyalongside，standingpastoursternonthelastlegout，aimingtofetchusonthenextlegback。
\"Soyou’vechangedyourmind？\"IheardWolfLarsenmutter，halftohimself，halftothemasthoughtheycouldhear。\"Youwanttocomeaboard，eh？Well，then，justkeepa—coming。\"
\"Hardupwiththathelm！\"hecommandedOofty—Oofty，theKanaka，whohadinthemeantimerelievedLouisatthewheel。