Ageneralsmilefollowed，inwhichWolfLarsenjoined，andthedinnerwentonsmoothly，thankstome，forhetreatedmeabominablytherestofthemeal，sneeringatmeandpatronizingmetillIwasalla—tremblewithsuppressedrage。YetIknewImustcontrolmyselfforMaudBrewster’ssake，andIreceivedmyrewardwhenhereyescaughtmineforafleetingsecond，andtheysaid，asdistinctlyasifshespoke，\"Bebrave，bebrave。\"
Weleftthetabletogoondeck，forasteamerwasawelcomebreakinthemonotonyoftheseaonwhichwefloated，whiletheconvictionthatitwasDeathLarsenandtheMacedoniaaddedtotheexcitement。Thestiffbreezeandheavyseawhichhadsprungupthepreviousafternoonhadbeenmoderatingallmorning，sothatitwasnowpossibletolowertheboatsforanafternoon’shunt。Thehuntingpromisedtobeprofitable。Wehadsailedsincedaylightacrossaseabarrenofseals，andwerenowrunningintotheherd。
Thesmokewasstillmilesastern，butoverhaulingusrapidly，whenweloweredourboats。Theyspreadoutandstruckanortherlycourseacrosstheocean。Nowandagainwesawasaillower，heardthereportsoftheshotguns，andsawthesailgoupagain。Thesealswerethick，thewindwasdyingaway；everythingfavoredabigcatch。Asweranofftogetourleewardpositionofthelastleeboat，wefoundtheoceanfairlycarpetedwithsleepingseals。Theywereallaboutus，thickerthanIhadeverseenthembefore，intwosandthreesandbunches，stretchedfulllengthonthesurfaceandsleepingforalltheworldlikesomanylazyyoungdogs。
Undertheapproachingsmokethehullandupperworksofasteamerweregrowinglarger。ItwastheMacedonia。Ireadhernamethroughtheglassesasshepassedbyscarcelyamiletostarboard。WolfLarsenlookedsavagelyatthevessel，whileMaudBrewsterwascurious。
\"Whereisthetroubleyouweresosurewasbreezingup，CaptainLarsen？\"
sheaskedgayly。
Heglancedather，amoment’samusementsofteninghisfeatures。
\"Whatdidyouexpect？Thatthey’dcomeaboardandcutourthroats？\"
\"Somethinglikethat，\"sheconfessed。\"Youunderstand，seal—huntersaresonewandstrangetomethatIamquitereadytoexpectanything。\"
Henoddedhishead。\"Quiteright，quiteright。Yourerroristhatyoufailedtoexpecttheworst。\"
\"Why，whatcanbeworsethancuttingourthroats？\"sheasked，withprettyna寁esurprise。
\"Cuttingourpurses，\"heanswered。\"Manissomadethesedaysthathiscapacityforlivingisdeterminedbythemoneyhepossesses。\"
\"`Whostealsmypursestealstrash，’\"shequoted。
\"Whostealsmypursestealsmyrighttolive，\"wasthereply，\"oldsawstothecontrary。Forhestealsmybreadandmeatandbed，andinsodoingimperilsmylife。Therearenotenoughsoup—kitchensandbread—linestogoaround，youknow，andwhenmenhavenothingintheirpursestheyusuallydie，anddiemiserably——unlesstheyareabletofilltheirpursesprettyspeedily。\"
\"ButIfailtoseethatthissteamerhasanydesignsonyourpurse。\"
\"Waitandyouwillsee，\"heansweredgrimly。
Wedidnothavelongtowait。Havingpassedseveralmilesbeyondourlineofboats，theMacedoniaproceededtolowerherown。Weknewshecarriedfourteenboatstoourfive，（wewereoneshortthroughthedesertionofWainwright），andshebegandroppingthemfartoleewardofourlastboat，continueddroppingthemathwartourcourse，andfinisheddroppingthemfartowindwardofourfirstweatherboat。Thehunting，forus，wasspoiled。Therewerenosealsbehindus，andaheadofusthelineoffourteenboats，likeahugebroom，swepttheherdbeforeit。
OurboatshuntedacrossthetwoorthreemilesofwaterbetweenthemandthepointwheretheMacedonia’shadbeendropped，andthenheadedforhome。Thewindhadfallentoawhisper，theoceanwasgrowingcalmerandcalmer，andthis，coupledwiththepresenceofthegreatherd，madeaperfecthuntingday——oneofthetwoorthreedaystobeencounteredinthewholeofaluckyseason。Anangrylotofmen，boat—pullersandsteerersaswellashunters，swarmedoverourside。Eachmanfeltthathehadbeenrobbed；andtheboatswerehoistedinamidcurses，which，ifcurseshadpower，wouldhavesettledDeathLarsenforalleternity——\"Deadanddamnedforadozeniveternities，\"commentedLouis，hiseyestwinklingupatmeasherestedfromhaulingtautthelashingsofhisboat。
\"Listentothem，andfindifitishardtodiscoverthemostvitalthingintheirsouls，\"saidWolfLarsen。\"Faith？andlove？andhighideals？Thegood？thebeautiful？thetrue？\"
\"Theirinnatesenseofrighthasbeenviolated，\"MaudBrewstersaid，joiningtheconversation。
Shewasstandingadozenfeetaway，onehandrestingonthemainshroudsandherbodyswayinggentlytotheslightrolloftheship。Shehadnotraisedhervoice，andyetIwasstruckbyitsclearandbell—liketone。
Ah，itwassweetinmyears！Iscarcelydaredlookatherjustthen，forthefearofbetrayingmyself。Aboy’scapwasperchedonherhead，andherhair，lightbrownandarrangedinalooseandfluffyorderthatcaughtthesun，seemedanaureoleaboutthedelicateovalofherface。Shewaspositivelybewitching，and，withal，sweetlyspirituelle，ifnotsaintly。
Allmyold—timemarvelatlifereturnedtomeatsightofthissplendidincarnationofit，andWolfLarsen’scoldexplanationoflifeanditsmeaningwastrulyridiculousandlaughable。
\"Asentimentalist，\"hesneered，\"likeMr。VanWeyden。Thosemenarecursingbecausetheirdesireshavebeenoutraged。Thatisall。Whatdesires？
Thedesiresforthegoodgrubandsoftbedsashorewhichahandsomepay—daybringsthem——thewomenandthedrink，thegorgingandthebeast—linesswhichsotrulyexpressesthem，thebestthatisinthem，theirhighestaspirations，theirideals，ifyouplease。Theexhibitiontheymakeoftheirfeelingsisnotatouchingsight，yetitshowshowdeeplytheyhavebeentouched，howdeeplytheirpurseshavebeentouched；fortolayhandsontheirpursesistolayhandsontheirsouls。\"
\"Youhardlybehaveasifyourpursehadbeentouched，\"shesaid，smilingly。
\"ThenitsohappensthatIambehavingdifferently，formypurseandmysoulhavebothbeentouched。AtthecurrentpriceofskinsintheLondonmarket，andbasedonafairestimateofwhattheafternoon’scatchwouldhavebeenhadnottheMacedoniahoggedit，theGhosthaslostaboutfifteenhundreddollars’worthofskins。\"
\"Youspeaksocalmly——\"shebegan。
\"ButIdonotfeelcalm；Icouldkillthemanwhorobbedme，\"heinterrupted。
\"Yes，yes，Iknow，andthatmanmybrother——moresentiment！Bah！\"
Hisfaceunderwentasuddenchange。Hisvoicewaslessharshandwhollysincereashesaid：
\"Youmustbehappy，yousentimentalists，reallyandtrulyhappyatdreamingandfindingthingsgood，and，becauseyoufindsomeofthemgood，feelinggoodyourself。Now，tellme，youtwo，doyoufindmegood？\"
\"Youaregoodtolookupon——inaway，\"Iqualified。
\"Thereareinyouallpowersforgood，\"wasMaudBrewster’sanswer。
\"Thereyouare！\"hecriedather，halfangrily。\"Yourwordsareemptytome。Thereisnothingclearandsharpanddefiniteaboutthethoughtyouhaveexpressed。Youcannotpickitupinyourtwohandsandlookatit。Inpointoffact，itisnotathought。Itisafeeling，asentiment，asomethingbaseduponillusionandnotaproductoftheintellectatall。\"
Ashewentonhisvoiceagaingrewsoft，andaconfidingnotecameintoit。\"Doyouknow，IsometimescatchmyselfwishingthatI，too，wereblindtothefactsoflifeandonlyknewitsfanciesandillusions。They’rewrong，allwrong，ofcourse，andcontrarytoreason；butinthefaceofthemmyreasontellsme，wrongandmostwrong，thattodreamandliveillusionsgivesgreaterdelight。Andafterall，delightisthewageforliving。Withoutdelight，livingisaworthlessact。Tolaboratlivingandbeunpaidisworsethantobedead。Hewhodelightsthemostlivesthemost，andyourdreamsandunrealitiesarelessdisturbingtoyouandmoregratifyingthanaremyfactstome。\"
Heshookhisheadslowly，pondering。
\"Ioftendoubt，Ioftendoubt，theworthwhilenessofreason。Dreamsmustbemoresubstantialandsatisfying。Emotionaldelightismorefillingandlastingthanintellectualdelight；and，besides，youpayforyourmomentsofintellectualdelightbyhavingtheblues。Emotionaldelightisfollowedbynomorethanjadedsenseswhichspeedilyrecuperate。Ienvyyou，Ienvyyou。\"
Hestoppedabruptly，andthenonhislipsformedoneofhisstrangequizzicalsmiles，asheadded：
\"It’sfrommybrainIenvyyou，takenotice，andnotfrommyheart。
Myreasondictatesit。Theenvyisanintellectualproduct。amlikeasobermanlookingupondrunkenmen，and，greatlyweary，wishinghe，too，weredrunk。\"
\"Orlikeawisemanlookinguponfoolsandwishinghe，too，wereafool，\"
Ilaughed。
\"Quiteso，\"hesaid。\"Youareablessed，bankruptpairoffools。Youhavenofactsinyourpocketbook。\"
\"Yetwespendasfreelyasyou，\"wasMaudBrewster’scontribution。
\"Morefreely，becauseitcostsyounothing。\"
\"Andbecausewedrawuponeternity，\"sheretorted。
\"Whetheryoudoorthinkyoudo，it’sthesamething。Youspendwhatyouhaven’tgot，andinreturnyougetgreatervaluefromspendingwhatyouhaven’tgotthanIgetfromspendingwhatIhavegot，andwhatIhavesweatedtoget。\"
\"Whydon’tyouchangethebasisofyourcoinage，then？\"shequeriedteasingly。
Helookedatherquickly，half—hopefully，andthensaid，allregretfully：
\"Toolate。I’dliketo，perhaps，butIcan’t。Mypocketbookisstuffedwiththeoldcoinage，andit’sastubbornthing。Icanneverbringmyselftorecognizeanythingelseasvalid。\"
Heceasedspeaking，andhisgazewanderedabsentlypastherandbecamelostintheplacidsea。Theoldprimalmelancholywasstronguponhim。
Hewasquiveringtoit。Hehadreasonedhimselfintoaspelloftheblues，andwithinfewhoursonecouldlookforthedevilwithinhimtobeupandstirring。IrememberedCharleyFuruseth，andknewthisman’ssadnessasthepenaltywhichthematerialisteverpaysforhismaterialism。TheSeaWolf：Chapter25CHAPTER25
\"You’vebeenondeck，Mr。VanWeyden，\"WolfLarsensaid，thefollowingmorningatthebreakfasttable。\"Howdothingslook？\"
\"Clearenough，\"Ianswered，glancingatthesunshinewhichstreameddowntheopencompanionway。\"Fairwesterlybreeze，withapromiseofstiffening，ifLouispredictscorrectly。\"
Henoddedhisheadinapleasedway。\"Anysignsoffog？\"
\"Thickbanksinthenorthandnorthwest。\"
Henoddedhisheadagain，evincingevengreatersatisfactionthanbefore。
\"WhatoftheMacedonia？\"
\"Notsighted，\"Ianswered。
Icouldhaveswornhisfacefellattheintelligence，butwhyheshouldbedisappointedIcouldnotconceive。
Iwassoontolearn。\"Smokeho！\"camethehailfromondeck，andhisfacebrightened。
\"Good！\"heexclaimed，andleftthetableatoncetogoondeckandintothesteerage，wherethehuntersweretakingthefirstbreakfastoftheirexile。
MaudBrewsterandIscarcelytouchedthefoodbeforeus，gazing，instead，insilentanxietyateachother，andlisteningtoWolfLarsen’svoice，whicheasilypenetratedthecabinthroughtheinterveningbulkhead。Hespokeatlength，andhisconclusionwasgreetedwithawildroarofcheers。
Thebulkheadwastoothickforustohearwhathesaid；butwhateveritwasitaffectedthehuntersstrongly，forthecheeringwasfollowedbyloudexclamationsandshoutsofjoy。
FromthesoundsondeckIknewthatthesailorshadbeenroutedoutandwerepreparingtolowertheboats。MaudBrewsteraccompaniedmeondeck，butIleftheratthebreakofthepoop，whereshemightwatchthesceneandnotbeinit。Thesailorsmusthavelearnedwhateverprojectwasonhand，andthevimandsnaptheyputintotheirworkattestedtheirenthusiasm。Thehunterscametroopingondeckwithshotgunsandammunition—boxes，and，mostunusual，theirrifles。Thelatterwererarelytakenintheboats，foraseal，shotatlongrangewitharifle，invariablysankbeforeaboatcouldreachit。Buteachhunterthisdayhadhisrifleandalargesupplyofcartridges。noticedtheygrinnedwithsatisfactionwhenevertheylookedattheMacedonia’ssmoke，whichwasrisinghigherandhigherassheapproachedfromthewest。
Thefiveboatswentoverthesidewitharush，spreadoutliketheribsofafan，andsetanortherlycourse，asontheprecedingafternoon，forustofollow。Iwatchedforsometime，curiously，butthereseemednothingextraordinaryabouttheirbehavior。Theyloweredsails，shotseals，andhoistedsailsagain，andcontinuedontheirwayasIhadalwaysseenthemdo。TheMacedoniarepeatedherperformanceofyesterday，\"hogging\"
theseabydroppingherlineofboatsinadvanceofoursandacrossourcourse。Fourteenboatsrequireaconsiderablespreadofoceanforcomfortablehunting，andwhenshehadcompletelylappedourlineshecontinuedsteamingintothenortheast，droppingmoreboatsasshewent。
\"What’sup？\"IaskedWolfLarsen，unablelongertokeepmycuriosityincheck。
\"Nevermindwhat’sup，\"heansweredgruffly。\"Youwon’tbeathousandyearsinfindingout，andinthemeantimejustprayforplentyofwind。\"
\"Oh，well，Idon’tmindtellingyou，\"hesaidthenextmoment。\"I’mgoingtogivethatbrotherofmineatasteofhisownmedicine。Inshort，I’mgoingtoplaythehogmyself，andnotforoneday，butfortherestoftheseason，——ifwe’reinluck。\"
\"Andifwe’renot？\"Iqueried。
\"Nottobeconsidered，\"helaughed。\"Wesimplymustbeinluck，orit’sallupwithus。\"
Hehadthewheelatthetime，andIwentforwardtomyhospitalintheforecastle，wherelaythetwocrippledmen，NilsonandThomasMugridge。
Nilsonwasascheerfulascouldbeexpected，forhisbrokenlegwasknittingnicely；buttheCockneywasdesperatelymelancholy，andIwasawareofagreatsympathyfortheunfortunatecreature。Andthemarvelofitwasthatstillhelivedandclungtolife。Thebrutalyearshadreducedhismeagrebodytosplinteredwreckage，andyetthesparkoflifewithinburnedbrightlyasever。
\"Withanartificialfoot，——andtheymakeexcellentones，——youwillbestumpingships’galleystotheendoftime，\"Iassuredhimjovially。
Buthisanswerwasserious，nay，solemn。\"Idon’tknowaboutwotyous’y，Mr。VanW’yden，butIdoknowI’llneverrest’appytillseethat’ell—’oundbloodywelldead。’Ecawn’tliveaslongasme。’E’sgotnorighttolive，an’astheGoodWordputsit，`’Eshallshorelydie，’an’
Is’y，`Amen，an’damnsoonatthat。’\"
WhenIreturnedondeckIfoundWolfLarsensteeringmainlywithonehand，whilewiththeotherhandheheldthemarineglassesandstudiedthesituationoftheboats，payingparticularattentiontothepositionoftheMacedonia。Theonlychangenoticeableinourboatswasthattheyhadhauledcloseonthewindandwereheadingseveralpointswestofnorth。Still，Icouldnotseetheexpediencyoftheman渦vre，forthefreeseawasstillinterceptedbytheMacedonia’sfiveweatherboats，which，inturn，hadhauledcloseonthewind。Thustheyslowlydivergedtowardthewest，drawingfartherawayfromtheremainderoftheboatsintheirline。Ourboatswererowingaswellassailing。Eventhehunterswerepulling，andwiththreepairsofoarsinthewatertheyrapidlyoverhauledwhatImayappropriatelytermtheenemy。
ThesmokeoftheMacedoniahaddwindledtoadimblotonthenortheasternhorizon。Ofthesteamerherselfnothingwastobeseen。Wehadbeenloafingalong，tillnow，oursailsshakinghalfthetimeandspillingthewind；andtwice，forshortperiods，wehadbeenhoveto。Buttherewasnomoreloafing。Sheetsweretrimmed，andWolfLarsenproceededtoputtheGhostthroughherpaces。Weranpastourlineofboatsandboredownuponthefirstweatherboatoftheotherline。
\"Downthatflyingjib，Mr。VanWeyden，\"WolfLarsencommanded。\"Andstandbytobackoverthejibs。\"
Iranforwardandhadthedownhauloftheflyingjiballinandfastasweslippedbytheboatahundredfeettoleeward。Thethreemeninitgazedatussuspiciously。Theyhadbeenhoggingthesea，andtheyknewWolfLarsen，byreputationatanyrate。Inotedthatthehunter，ahugeScandinaviansittinginthebow，heldhisrifle，readytohand，acrosshisknees。Itshouldhavebeeninitsproperplaceintherack。Whentheycameoppositeourstern，WolfLarsengreetedthemwithawaveofthehand，andcried：
\"Comeonboardandhavea`gam’！\"
\"Togam，\"amongthesealingschooners，isasubstitutefortheverbs\"tovisit，\"\"togossip。\"Itexpressesthegarrulityoftheseaandisapleasantbreakinthemonotonyofthelife。
TheGhostswungaroundintothewind，andIfinishedmyworkforwardintimetorunaftandlendahandwiththemainsheet。
\"Youwillpleasestayondeck，MissBrewster，\"WolfLarsensaid，ashestartedforwardtomeethisguest。\"Andyou，too，Mr。VanWeyden。\"
Theboathadlowereditssailandrunalongside。Thehunter，golden—beardedlikeasea—king，cameovertherailanddroppedondeck。Buthishugenesscouldnotquiteovercomehisapprehensiveness。Doubtanddistrustshowedstronglyinhisface。Itwasatransparentface，forallofitshairyshield，andadvertisedinstantreliefwhenheglancedfromWolfLarsentome，notedthattherewasonlythepairofus，andthenglancedoverhisowntwomenwhohadjoinedhim。Surelyhehadlittlereasontobeafraid。HetoweredlikeaGoliathaboveWolfLarsen。Hemusthavemeasuredsixfeeteightornineinchesinstature，andIsubsequentlylearnedhisweight——240
pounds。Andtherewasnofatabouthim。Itwasallboneandmuscle。
Areturnofapprehensionwasapparent，when，atthetopofthecompanionway，WolfLarseninvitedhimbelow。Buthereassuredhimselfwithaglancedownathishost——abigmanhimselfbutdwarfedbythepropinquityofthegiant。Soallhesitancyvanished，andthepairdescendedintothecabin。
Inthemeantime，histwomen，aswasthewontofvisitingsailors，hadgoneforwardintotheforecastletodosomevisitingthemselves。
Suddenly，fromthecabincameagreat，chokingbellow，followedbyallthesoundsofafuriousstruggle。Itwastheleopardandthelion，andthelionmadeallthenoise。WolfLarsenwastheleopard。
\"Youseethesacrednessofourhospitality，\"Isaidbitterly，toMaudBrewster。
Shenoddedherheadthatsheheard，andInotedinherfacethesignsofthesamesicknessatsightorsoundofviolentstrugglefromwhichI
hadsufferedsoseverelyduringmyfirstweeksontheGhost。
\"Wouldn’titbebetterifyouwentforward，saybythesteeragecompanionway，untilitisover？\"Isuggested。
Sheshookherheadandgazedatmepitifully。Shewasnotfrightened，butappalled，rather，atthehumananimalityofit。
\"Youwillunderstand，\"Itookadvantageoftheopportunitytosay，\"whateverpartItakeinwhatisgoingonandwhatistocome，thatIamcompelledtotakeit——ifyouandIareevertogetoutofthisscrapewithourlives。\"
\"Itisnotnice——forme，\"Iadded。
\"Iunderstand，\"shesaid，inaweak，far—awayvoice，andhereyesshowedmethatshedidunderstand。
Thesoundsfrombelowsoondiedaway。ThenWolfLarsencamealoneondeck。Therewasaslightflushunderhisbronze，butotherwiseheborenosignsofthebattle。
\"Sendthosetwomenaft，Mr。VanWeyden，\"hesaid。
Iobeyed，andaminuteortwolatertheystoodbeforehim。
\"Hoistinyourboat，\"hesaidtothem。\"Yourhunter’sdecidedtostayaboardawhileanddoesn’twantitpoundingalongside。\"
\"Hoistinyourboat，Isaid，\"herepeated，thistimeinsharpertonesastheyhesitatedtodohisbidding。
\"Whoknows？youmayhavetosailwithmeforatime，\"hesaid，quitesoftly，withasilkenthreatthatbeliedthesoftness，astheymovedslowlytocomply，\"andwemightaswellstartwithafriendlyunderstanding。Livelynow！DeathLarsenmakesyoujumpbetterthanthat，andyouknowit！\"
Theirmovementsperceptiblyquickenedunderhiscoaching，andastheboatswunginboardIwassentforwardtoletgothejibs。WolfLarsen，atthewheel，directedtheGhostaftertheMacedonia’ssecondweatherboat。
Underway，andwithnothingforthetimebeingtodo，Iturnedmyattentiontothesituationoftheboats。TheMacedonia’sthirdweatherboatwasbeingattackedbytwoofours，thefourthbyourremainingthree；andthefifth，turnabout，wastakingahandinthedefenceofitsnearestmate。Thefighthadopenedatlongdistance，andtherifleswerecrackingsteadily。Aquick，snappyseawasbeingkickedupbythewind，aconditionwhichpreventedfineshooting；andnowandagain，aswedrewcloser，wecouldseethebulletszip—zippingfromwavetowave。
Theboatwewerepursuinghadsquaredawayandwasrunningbeforethewindtoescapeus，and，inthecourseofitsflight，totakepartinrepulsingourgeneralboatattack。
Attendingtosheetsandtacksnowleftmelittletimetoseewhatwastakingplace，butIhappenedtobeonthepoopwhenWolfLarsenorderedthetwostrangesailorsforwardandintotheforecastle。Theywentsullenly，buttheywent。HenextorderedMissBrewsterbelow，andsmiledattheinstanthorrorthatleaptintohereyes。
\"You’llfindnothinggrewsomedownthere，\"hesaid，\"onlyanunhurtmansecurelymadefasttothering—bolts。Bulletsareliabletocomeaboard，andIdon’twantyoukilled，youknow。\"
Evenashespoke，abulletwasdeflectedbyabrass—cappedspokeofthewheelbetweenhishandsandscreechedoffthroughtheairtowindward。
\"Yousee，\"hesaidtoher；andthentome，\"Mr。VanWeyden，willyoutakethewheel？\"
MaudBrewsterhadsteppedinsidethecompanionwaysothatonlyherheadwasexposed。WolfLarsenhadprocuredarifleandwasthrowingacartridgeintothebarrel。Ibeggedherwithmyeyestogobelow，butshesmiledandsaid：
\"Wemaybefeebleland—creatureswithoutlegs，butwecanshowCaptainLarsenthatweareatleastasbraveashe。\"
Hegaveheraquicklookofadmiration。
\"Ilikeyouahundredpercentbetterforthat，\"hesaid。\"Books，andbrains，andbravery。Youarewell—rounded，ablue—stockingfittobethewifeofapiratechief。Ahem，we’lldiscussthatlater，\"hesmiled，asabulletstrucksolidlyintothecabinwall。
Isawhiseyesflashgoldenashespoke，andIsawtheterrormountinherown。
\"Wearebraver，\"Ihastenedtosay。\"Atleast，speakingformyself，IknowIambraverthanCaptainLarsen。\"
ItwasIwhowasnowfavoredbyaquicklook。HewaswonderingifI
weremakingfunofhim。IputthreeorfourspokesovertocounteractasheertowardthewindonthepartoftheGhost，andthensteadiedher。WolfLarsenwasstillwaitinganexplanation，andpointeddowntomyknees。
\"Youwillobservethere，\"Isaid，\"aslighttrembling。ItisbecauseIamafraid，thefleshisafraid；andIamafraidinmymindbecauseI
donotwishtodie。Butmyspiritmastersthetremblingfleshandthequalmsofthemind。Iammorethanbrave。Iamcourageous。Yourfleshisnotafraid。
Youarenotafraid。Ontheonehand，itcostsyounothingtoencounterdanger；ontheotherhand，itevengivesyoudelight。Youenjoyit。Youmaybeunafraid，Mr。Larsen，butyoumustgrantthatthebraveryismine。\"
\"You’reright，\"heacknowledgedatonce。\"Ineverthoughtofitinthatwaybefore。Butistheoppositetrue？IfyouarebraverthanI，amImorecowardlythanyou？\"
Webothlaughedattheabsurdity，andhedroppeddowntothedeckandrestedhisrifleacrosstherail。Thebulletswehadreceivedhadtravellednearlyamile，butbynowwehadcutthatdistanceinhalf。Hefiredthreecarefulshots。Thefirststruckfiftyfeettowindwardoftheboat，thesecondalongside，andatthethirdtheboat—steererletloosehissteering—oarandcrumpledupinthebottomoftheboat。
\"Iguessthat’llfixthem，\"WolfLarsensaid，risingtohisfeet。\"I
couldn’taffordtoletthehunterhaveit，andthereisachancetheboat—pullerdoesn’tknowhowtosteer。Inwhichcase，thehuntercannotsteerandshootatthesametime。\"
Hisreasoningwasjustified，fortheboatrushedatonceintothewindandthehuntersprangafttotaketheboat—steerer’splace。Therewasnomoreshooting，thoughtherifleswerestillcrackingmerrilyfromtheotherboats。
Thehunterhadmanagedtogettheboatbeforethewindagain，butwerandownuponit，goingatleasttwofeettoitsone。Ahundredyardsaway，Isawtheboat—pullerpassarifletothehunter。WolfLarsenwentamidshipsandtookthecoilofthethroat—halyardsfromitspin。Thenhepeeredovertherailwithlevelledrifle。TwiceIsawthehunterletgothesteering—oarwithonehand，reachforhisrifle，andhesitate。Wewerenowalongsideandfoamingpast。
\"Here，you！\"WolfLarsencriedsuddenlytotheboat—puller。\"Takeaturn！\"
Atthesametimeheflungthecoilofrope。Itstruckfairly，nearlyknockingthemanover，buthedidnotobey。Instead，helookedtohishunterfororders。Thehunter，inturn，wasinaquandary。Hisriflewasbetweenhisknees，butifheletgothesteering—oarinordertoshoot，theboatwouldsweeparoundandcollidewiththeschooner。AlsohesawWolfLarsen’sriflebearinguponhimandknewhewouldbeshoterehecouldgethisrifleintoplay。
\"Takeaturn，\"hesaidquietlytotheman。