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。\"