\"Andnonesopoor，notevenHump，todohimreverence，\"hesneered。
Thesneerwaswhollyinhisvoice。Hisfaceremainedexpressionlessasever。
\"Howdoyoudo，MissBrewster，\"hesaidsuddenly，afterapause。
Istarted。Shehadmadenonoisewhatever，hadnotevenmoved。Coulditbethatsomeglimmerofvisionremainedtohim？orthathisvisionwascomingback？
\"Howdoyoudo，CaptainLarsen，\"sheanswered。\"Pray，howdidyouknowIwashere？\"
\"Heardyoubreathing，ofcourse。Isay，Hump’simproving，don’tyouthinkso？\"
\"Idon’tknow，\"sheanswered，smilingatme。\"Ihaveneverseenhimotherwise。\"
\"Youshouldhaveseenhimbefore，then。\"
\"WolfLarsen，inlargedoses，\"Imurmured，\"beforeandaftertaking。\"
\"Iwanttotellyouagain，Hump，\"hesaidthreateningly，\"thatyou’dbetterleavethingsalone。\"
\"Butdon’tyoucaretoescapeaswellaswe？\"Iaskedincredulously。
\"No，\"washisanswer。\"Iintenddyinghere。\"
\"Well，wedon’t，\"Iconcludeddefiantly，beginningagainmyknockingandhammering。TheSeaWolf：Chapter35CHAPTER35
Nextday，themast—stepsclearandeverythinginreadiness，westartedtogetthetwotopmastsaboard。Themaintopmastwasoverthirtyfeetinlength，theforetopmastnearlythirty，anditwasofthesethatIintendedmakingtheshears。Itwaspuzzlingwork。Fasteningoneendofaheavytackletothewindlass，andwiththeotherendfasttothebuttoftheforetopmast，Ibegantoheave。Maudheldtheturnonthewindlassandcoileddowntheslack。
Wewereastonishedattheeasewithwhichthesparwaslifted。Itwasanimprovedcrankwindlass，andthepurchaseitgavewasenormous。Ofcourse，whatitgaveusinpowerwepaidforindistance；asmanytimesasitdoubledmystrength，thatmanytimeswasdoubledthelengthofropeIheavedin。
Thetackledraggedheavilyacrosstherail，increasingitsdragasthespararosemoreandmoreoutofthewater，andtheexertiononthewindlassgrewsevere。
Butwhenthebuttofthetopmastwaslevelwiththerail，everythingcametoastandstill。
\"Imighthaveknownit，\"Isaidimpatiently。\"Nowwehavetodoitalloveragain。\"
\"Whynotfastenthetacklepartwaydownthemast？\"Maudsuggested。
\"It’swhatIshouldhavedoneatfirst，\"Ianswered，hugelydisgustedwithmyself。
Slippingoffaturn，Iloweredthemastbackintothewaterandfastenedthetackleathirdofthewaydownfromthebutt。Inanhour，whatofthisandofrestsbetweentheheaving，IhadhoistedittothepointwhereI
couldhoistnomore。Eightfeetofthebuttwasabovetherail，andIwasasfarawayaseverfromgettingthesparonboard。satdownandponderedtheproblem。Itdidnottakelong。Isprangjubilantlytomyfeet。
\"NowIhaveit！\"Icried。\"Ioughttomakethetacklefastatthepointofbalance。Andwhatwelearnofthiswillserveuswitheverythingelsewehavetohoistaboard。\"
OnceagainIundidallmyworkbyloweringthemastintothewater。
ButImiscalculatedthepointofbalance，sothatwhenIheavedthetopofthemastcameupinsteadofthebutt。Maudlookeddespair，butIlaughedandsaiditwoulddojustaswell。
Instructingherhowtoholdtheturnandbereadytoslackawayatcommand，Ilaidholdofthemastwithmyhandsandtriedtobalanceitinboardacrosstherail。WhenIthoughtIhaditIcriedtohertoslackaway；butthesparrighted，despitemyefforts，anddroppedbacktowardthewater。AgainIheavedituptoitsoldposition，forIhadnowanotheridea。Irememberedthewatch—tackle，——asmalldoubleandsingleblockaffair，——andfetchedit。
WhileIwasriggingitbetweenthetopofthesparandtheoppositerail，WolfLarsencameonthescene。Weexchangednothingmorethangoodmornings，and，thoughhecouldnotsee，hesatontherailoutofthewayandfollowedbythesoundallthatIdid。
AgaininstructingMaudtoslackawayatthewindlasswhengavetheword，Iproceededtoheaveonthewatch—tackle。Slowlythemastswunginuntilitbalancedatrightanglesacrosstherail；andthenIdiscoveredtomyamazementthattherewasnoneedforMaudtoslackaway。Infact，theveryoppositewasnecessary。Makingthewatch—tacklefast，Ihoveonthewindlassandbroughtinthemast，inchbyinch，tillitstoptilteddowntothedeckandfinallyitswholelengthlayonthedeck。
Ilookedatmywatch。Itwastwelveo’clock。Mybackwasachingsorely，andIfeltextremelytiredandhungry。Andthereonthedeckwasasinglestickoftimbertoshowforawholemorning’swork。ForthefirsttimeIthoroughlyrealizedtheextentofthetaskbeforeus。ButIwaslearning，Iwaslearning。Theafternoonwouldshowfarmoreaccomplished。Anditdid；forwereturnedatoneo’clock，restedandstrengthenedbyaheartydinner。
InlessthananhourIhadthemaintopmastondeckandwasconstructingtheshears。Lashingthetwotopmaststogether，andmakingallowancefortheirunequallength，atthepointofintersectionattachedthedoubleblockofthemainthroat—halyards。This，withthesingleblockandthethroat—halyardsthemselves，gavemeahoistingtackle。Topreventthebuttsofthemastsfromslippingonthedeck，Inaileddownthickcleats。Everythinginreadiness，Imadealinefasttotheapexoftheshearsandcarrieditdirectlytothewindlass。Iwasgrowingtohavefaithinthatwindlass，foritgavemepowerbeyondallexpectation。Asusual，Maudheldtheturnwhileheaved。Theshearsroseintheair。
ThenIdiscoveredIhadforgottenguy—ropes。Thisnecessitatedmyclimbingtheshears，whichIdidtwice，beforeIfinishedguyingitforeandaftandtoeitherside。Twilighthadsetinbythetimethiswasaccomplished。
WolfLarsen，whohadsataboutandlistenedallafternoonandneveropenedhismouth，hadtakenhimselfofftothegalleyandstartedhissupper。
Ifeltquitestiffacrossthesmalloftheback，somuchsothatIstraightenedupwithaneffortandwithpain。Ilookedproudlyatmywork。Itwasbeginningtoshow。Iwaswildwithdesire，likeachildwithanewtoy，tohoistsomethingwithmyshears。
\"Iwishitweren’tsolate，\"Isaid。\"I’dliketoseehowitworks。\"
\"Don’tbeaglutton，Humphrey，\"Maudchidedme。\"Remember，to—morrowiscoming，andyou’resotirednowthatyoucanhardlystand。\"
\"Andyou？\"Isaid，withsuddensolicitude。\"Youmustbeverytired。
Youhaveworkedhardandnobly。Iamproudofyou，Maud。\"
\"NothalfsoproudasIamofyou，norwithhalfthereason，\"sheanswered，lookingmestraightintheeyesforamomentwithanexpressioninherownandadancing，tremulouslightwhichIhadnotseenbeforeandwhichgavemeapangofquickdelight，——Iknownotwhy，forIdidnotunderstandit。Thenshedroppedhereyes，toliftthemagain，laughing。
\"Ifourfriendscouldseeusnow，\"shesaid。\"Lookatus。Haveyoueverpausedforamomenttoconsiderourappearance？\"
\"Yes，Ihaveconsideredyours，frequently，\"Ianswered，puzzlingoverwhatIhadseeninhereyesandpuzzledbyhersuddenchangeofsubject。
\"Mercy！\"shecried。\"AndwhatdoIlooklike，pray？\"
\"Ascarecrow，I’mafraid，\"Ireplied。\"Justglanceatyourdraggledskirts，forinstance。Lookatthosethree—corneredtears。Andsuchawaist！
ItwouldnotrequireaSherlockHolmestodeducethatyouhavebeencookingoveracamp—fire，tosaynothingoftryingoutseal—blubber。Andtocapitall，thatcap！Andallthatisthewomanwhowrote`AKissEndured。’\"
Shemademeanelaborateandstatelycourtesy，andsaid，\"Asforyou，sir——\"
Andyet，throughthefiveminutesofbanterwhichfollowed，therewasaserioussomethingunderneaththefunwhichIcouldnotbutrelatetothestrangeandfleetingexpressionIhadcaughtinhereyes。Whatwasit？Coulditbethatoureyeswerespeakingbeyondthewillofourspeech？
Myeyeshadspoken，Iknew，untilIhadfoundtheculpritsoutandsilencedthem。Thishadoccurredseveraltimes。Buthadsheseentheclamorinthemandunderstood？Andhadhereyessospokentome？Whatelsecouldthatexpressionhavemeant——thatdancing，tremulouslight，andasomethingmorewhichwordscouldnotdescribe？Andyetitcouldnotbe。Itwasimpossible。
Besides，Iwasnotskilledinthespeechofeyes。IwasonlyHumphreyVanWeyden，abookishfellowwholoved。Andtolove，andtowaitandwinlove，thatsurelywasgloriousenoughforme。AndthusIthought，evenaswechaffedeachother’sappearance，untilwearrivedashoreandtherewereotherthingstothinkabout。
\"It’sashame，afterworkinghardallday，thatwecannothaveanuninterruptednight’ssleep，\"Icomplained，aftersupper。
\"Buttherecanbenodangernow？fromablindman？\"shequeried。
\"Ishallneverbeabletotrusthim，\"Iaverred，\"andfarlessnowthatheisblind。Theliabilityisthathisparthelplessnesswillmakehimmoremalignantthanever。IknowwhatIshalldoto—morrow，thefirstthing——runoutalightanchorandkedgetheschooneroffthebeach。Andeachnightwhenwecomeashoreintheboat，Mr。WolfLarsenwillbeleftaprisoneronboard。Sothiswillbethelastnightwehavetostandwatch，andbecauseofthatitwillgotheeasier。\"
Wewereawakeearlyandjustfinishingbreakfastasdaylightcame。
\"Oh，Humphrey！\"IheardMaudcryindismayandsuddenlystop。
Ilookedather。ShewasgazingattheGhost。Ifollowedhergaze，butcouldseenothingunusual。Shelookedatme，andIlookedinquiryback。
\"Theshears，\"shesaid，andhervoicetrembled。
Ihadforgottentheirexistence。Ilookedagain，butcouldnotseethem。
\"Ifhehas——\"Imutteredsavagely。
Sheputherhandsympatheticallyonmine，andsaid，\"Youwillhavetobeginoveragain。\"
\"Oh，believeme，myangermeansnothing；Icouldnothurtafly，\"I
smiledbackbitterly。\"Andtheworstofitis，heknowsit。Youareright。
Ifhehasdestroyedtheshears，Ishalldonothingexceptbeginoveragain。\"
\"ButI’llstandmywatchonboardhereafter，\"Iblurtedoutamomentlater。\"Andifheinterferes——\"
\"ButIdarenotstayashoreallnightalone，\"MaudwassayingwhenI
camebacktomyself。\"Itwouldbesomuchnicerifhewouldbefriendlywithusandhelpus。Wecouldalllivecomfortablyaboard。\"
\"Wewill，\"Iasserted，stillsavagely，forthedestructionofmybelovedshearshadhitmehard。\"Thatis，youandIwillliveaboard，friendlyornotwithWolfLarsen。\"
\"It’schildish，\"Ilaughedlater，\"forhimtodosuchthings，andformetogrowangryoverthem，forthatmatter。\"
Butmyheartsmotemewhenweclimbedaboardandlookedatthehavochehaddone。Theshearsweregonealtogether。Theguyshadbeenslashedrightandleft。Thethroat—halyardswhichIhadriggedwerecutacrossthrougheverypart。AndheknewIcouldnotsplice。Athoughtstruckme。
Irantothewindlass。Itwouldnotwork。Hehadbrokenit。Welookedateachotherinconsternation。ThenIrantotheside。Themasts，booms，andgaffsIhadclearedweregone。Hehadfoundthelineswhichheldthem，andcastthemadrift。
TearswereinMaud’seyes，andIdobelievetheywereforme。Icouldhaveweptmyself。WherenowwasourprojectofremastingtheGhost？
Hehaddonehisworkwell。Isatdownonthehatch—combingandrestedmychinonmyhandsinblackdespair。
\"Hedeservestodie，\"Icriedout；\"andGodforgiveme，Iamnotmanenoughtobehisexecutioner。\"
ButMaudwasbymyside，passingherhandsoothinglythroughmyhairasthoughIwereachild，andsaying，\"There，there；itwillallcomeright。
Weareintheright，anditmustcomeright。\"
IrememberedMicheletandleanedmyheadagainsther；andtrulyIbecamestrongagain。Theblessedwomanwasanunfailingfountofpowertome。
Whatdiditmatter？Onlyaset—back，adelay。Thetidecouldnothavecarriedthemastsfartoseaward，andtherehadbeennowind。Itmeantmerelymoreworktofindthemandtowthemback。Andbesides，itwasalesson。Iknewwhattoexpect。Hemighthavewaitedanddestroyedourworkmoreeffectuallywhenwehadmoreaccomplished。
\"Herehecomesnow，\"shewhispered。
Iglancedup。Hewasstrollingleisurelyalongthepoopontheportside。
\"Takenonoticeofhim，\"Iwhispered。\"He’scomingtoseehowwetakeit。Don’tlethimknowthatweknow。Wecandenyhimthatsatisfaction。
Takeoffyourshoes，——that’sright，——andcarrytheminyourhand。\"
Andthenweplayedhide—and—seekwiththeblindman。Ashecameuptheportsideweslippedpastonthestarboard；andfromthepoopwewatchedhimturnandstartaftonourtrack。
Hemusthaveknown，somehow，thatwewereonboard，forhesaid，\"Goodmorning，\"veryconfidently，andwaitedforthegreetingtobereturned。
Thenhestrolledaft，andweslippedforward。
\"Oh，Iknowyou’reaboard，\"hecalledout，andIcouldseehimlistenintentlyafterhehadspoken。
Itremindedmeofthegreathoot—owl，listening，afteritsboomingcry，forthestirofitsfrightenedprey。Butwedidnotstir，andwemovedonlywhenhemoved。Andsowedodgedaboutthedeck，handinhand，likeacoupleofchildrenchasedbyawickedogre，tillWolfLarsen，evidentlyindisgust，leftthedeckforthecabin。Therewasgleeinoureyes，andsuppressedtittersinourmouths，asweputonourshoesandclamberedoverthesideintotheboat。AndaslookedintoMaud’sclearbrowneyesIforgottheevilhehaddone，andknewonlythatIlovedher，andthatbecauseofherthestrengthwasminetowinourwaybacktotheworld。TheSeaWolf：Chapter36CHAPTER36
FortwodaysMaudandIrangedtheseaandexploredthebeachesinsearchofthemissingmasts。Butitwasnottillthethirddaythatwefoundthem，allofthem，theshearsincluded，and，ofallperilousplaces，inthepoundingsurfofthegrimsouthwesternpromontory。Andhowweworked！Atthedarkendofthefirstdaywereturned，exhausted，toourlittlecove，towingthemainmastbehindus。Andwehadbeencompelledtorow，inadeadcalm，practicallyeveryinchoftheway。
Anotherdayofheart—breakinganddangeroustoilsawusincampwiththetwotopmaststothegood。ThedayfollowingIwasdesperate，andI
raftedtogethertheforemast，theforeandmainbooms，andtheforeandmaingaffs。Thewindwasfavorable，andIhadthoughttotowthembackundersail；butthewindbaffled，thendiedaway，andourprogresswiththeoarswasasnail’space。Anditwassuchdispiritingeffort。Tothrowone’swholestrengthandweightontheoars，andtofeeltheboatcheckedinitsforwardlungebytheheavydragbehind，wasnotexactlyexhilarating。
Nightbegantofall，andtomakemattersworse，thewindsprangupahead。
Notonlydidallforwardmotioncease，butwebegantodriftbackandouttosea。IstruggledattheoarstillIwasplayedout。PoorMaud，whomIcouldneverpreventfromworkingtothelimitofherstrength，layweaklybackinthestern—sheets。Icouldrownomore。Mybruisedandswollenhandscouldnolongercloseontheoarhandles。Mywristsandarmsachedintolerably，and，thoughIhadeatenheartilyofatwelveo’clocklunch，IhadworkedsohardthatIwasfaintfromhunger。
Ipulledintheoarsandbentforwardtothelinewhichheldthetow。
ButMaud’shandleapedoutrestraininglytomine。
\"Whatareyougoingtodo？\"sheaskedinastrained，tensevoice。
\"Castitoff，\"Ianswered，slippingaturnoftherope。
Butherfingersclosedonmine。
\"Pleasedon’t，\"shebegged。
\"Itisuseless，\"Ianswered。\"Hereisnight，andthewindblowingusofftheland。\"
\"Butthink，Humphrey。IfwecannotsailawayontheGhost，wemayremainforyearsontheisland——forlifeeven。Ifithasneverbeendiscoveredalltheseyears，itmayneverbediscovered。\"
\"Youforgettheboatwefoundonthebeach，\"Iremindedher。
\"Itwasaseal—huntingboat，\"shereplied，\"andyouknowperfectlywellthatifthemenhadescapedtheywouldhavebeenbacktomaketheirfortunesfromtherookery。Youknowtheyneverescaped。\"
Iremainedsilent，undecided。
\"Besides，\"sheaddedhaltingly，\"it’syouridea，andIwanttoseeyousucceed。\"
NowIcouldhardenmyheart。Assoonassheputitonaflatteringpersonalbasis，generositycompelledmetodenyher。
\"Betteryearsontheislandthantodieto—night，orto—morrow，orthenextday，intheopenboat。Wearenotpreparedtobravethesea。Wehavenofood，nowater，noblankets，nothing。Why，you’dnotsurvivethenightwithoutblankets。Iknowhowstrongyouare。Youareshiveringnow。\"
\"Itisonlynervousness，\"sheanswered。\"Iamafraidyouwillcastoffthemastsinspiteofme。\"
\"Oh，please，please，Humphrey，don’t！\"sheburstout，amomentlater。
Andsoitended，withthephrasesheknewhadallpoweroverme。Weshiveredmiserablythroughoutthenight。Nowandagainfitfullyslept，butthepainofthecoldalwaysarousedme。HowMaudcouldstanditwasbeyondme。Iwastootiredtothrashmyarmsaboutandwarmmyself，butIfoundstrengthtimeandagaintochafeherhandsandfeettorestorethecirculation。Andstillshepleadedwithmenottocastoffthemasts。
Aboutthreeinthemorningshewascaughtbyacoldcramp，andafterI
hadrubbedheroutofthatshebecamequitenumb。Iwasfrightened。Igotouttheoarsandmadeherrow，thoughshewassoweakIthoughtshewouldfaintateverystroke。
Morningbroke，andwelookedlonginthegrowinglightforourisland。
Atlastitshowed，smallandblack，onthehorizon，fullyfifteenmilesaway。Iscannedtheseawithmyglasses。FarawayinthesouthwestIcouldseeadarklineonthewater，whichgrewevenaslookedatit。
\"Fairwind！\"IcriedinahuskyvoiceIdidnotrecognizeasmyown。
Maudtriedtoreply，butcouldnotspeak。Herlipswerebluewithcold，andshewashollow—eyed——butoh，howbravelyherbrowneyeslookedatme！Howpiteouslybrave！
AgainIfelltochafingherhands，andtomovingherarmsupanddownandaboutuntilshecouldthrashthemherself。Thencompelledhertostandup，andthoughshewouldhavefallenhadInotsupportedher，Iforcedhertowalkbackandforththeseveralstepsbetweenthethwartandthestern—sheets，andfinallytospringupanddown。
\"Oh，youbrave，bravewoman，\"Isaid，whenIsawthelifecomingbackintoherface。\"Didyouknowthatyouwerebrave？\"
\"Ineverusedtobe，\"sheanswered。\"Iwasneverbravetillknewyou。
Itisyouwhohavemademebrave。\"
\"NorI，untilIknewyou，\"Ianswered。
Shegavemeaquicklook，andagainIcaughtthatdancing，tremulouslightandsomethingmoreinhereyes。Butitwasonlyforthemoment。Thenshesmiled。
\"Itmusthavebeentheconditions，\"shesaid；butIknewshewaswrong，andIwonderedifshelikewiseknew。
Thenthewindcame，fairandfresh，andtheboatwassoonlaboringthroughaheavyseatowardtheisland。Athalf—pastthreeintheafternoonwepassedthesouthwesternpromontory。Notonlywerewehungry，butwewerenowsufferingfromthirst。Ourlipsweredryandcracked，norcouldwelongermoistenthemwithourtongues。Thenthewindslowlydieddown。BynightitwasdeadcalmandIwastoilingoncemoreattheoars——butweakly，mostweakly。
Attwointhemorningtheboat’sbowtouchedthebeachofourowninnercove，andIstaggeredouttomakethepainterfast。Maudcouldnotstand，norhadIstrengthtocarryher。Ifellinthesandwithher，and，whenIhadrecovered，contentedmyselfwithputtingmyhandsunderhershouldersanddraggingherupthebeachtothehut。
Thenextdaywedidnowork。Infact，weslepttillthreeintheafternoon，oratleastIdid，forIawoketofindMaudcookingdinner。Herpowerofrecuperationwaswonderful。Therewassomethingtenaciousaboutthatlily—frailbodyofhers，aclutchonexistencewhichonecouldnotreconcilewithitspatentweakness。
\"YouknowIwastravellingtoJapanformyhealth，\"shesaid，aswelingeredatthefireafterdinneranddelightedinthemovelessnessofloafing。\"Iwasnotverystrong。Ineverwas。Thedoctorsrecommendedaseavoyage，andIchosethelongest。\"
\"Youlittleknewwhatyouwerechoosing，\"Ilaughed。
\"ButIshallbeadifferentwomanfortheexperience，aswellasastrongerwoman，\"sheanswered；\"and，Ihope，abetterwoman。AtleastIshallunderstandagreatdealmoreoflife。\"
Then，astheshortdaywaned，wefelltodiscussingWolfLarsen’sblindness。
Itwasinexplicable。Andthatitwasgrave，instancedhisstatementthatheintendedtostayanddieonEndeavorIsland。Whenhe，strongmanthathewas，lovinglifeashedid，acceptedhisdeath，itwasplainthathewastroubledbysomethingmorethanmereblindness。Therehadbeenhisterrificheadaches，andwewereagreedthatitwassomesortofbrainbreakdown，andthatinhisattacksheenduredpainbeyondourcomprehension。
Inoticed，aswetalkedoverhiscondition，thatMaud’ssympathywentouttohimmoreandmore；yetIcouldnotbutloveherforit，sosweetlywomanlywasit。Besides，therewasnofalsesentimentaboutherfeeling。
Shewasagreedthatthemostrigoroustreatmentwasnecessaryifweweretoescape，thoughsherecoiledatthesuggestionthatImightsometimebecompelledtotakehislifetosavemyown——\"ourown，\"sheputit。
Inthemorningwehadbreakfastandwereatworkbydaylight。Ifoundalightkedgeanchorintheforehold，wheresuchthingswerekept，andwithadealofexertiongotitondeckandintotheboat。Withalongrunning—linecoileddowninthestern，Irowedwelloutintoourlittlecoveanddroppedtheanchorintothewater。Therewasnowind，thetidewashigh，andtheschoonerfloated。Castingofftheshorelines，Ikedgedheroutbymainstrength，（thewindlassbeingbroken），tillsherodenearlyupanddowntothesmallanchor——toosmalltoholdherinanybreeze。SoIloweredthebigstarboardanchor，givingplentyofslack；andbyafternoonIwasatworkonthewindlass。
ThreedaysIworkedonthatwindlass。LeastofallthingswasIamechanic，andinthattimeIaccomplishedwhatanordinarymachinistwouldhavedoneinasmanyhours。Ihadtolearnmytoolstobeginwith，andeverysimplemechanicalprinciplewhichsuchamanwouldhaveathisfingerendsIhadlikewisetolearn。AndattheendofthreedaysIhadawindlasswhichworkedclumsily。Itnevergavethesatisfactiontheoldwindlasshadgiven，butitworkedandmademyworkpossible。
InhalfadayIgotthetwotopmastsaboardandtheshearsriggedandguyedasbefore。AndthatnightIsleptonboardandondeckbesidemywork。Maud，whorefusedtostayaloneashore，sleptintheforecastle。
WolfLarsenhadsatabout，listeningtomyrepairingthewindlassandtalkingwithMaudandmeuponindifferentsubjects。Noreferencewasmadeoneithersidetothedestructionoftheshears；nordidhesayanythingfurtheraboutmyleavinghisshipalone。ButstillIhadfearedhim，blindandhelplessandlistening，alwayslistening，andIneverlethisstrongarmsgetwithinreachofmewhileIworked。
Onthisnight，sleepingundermybelovedshears，Iwasarousedbyhisfootstepsonthedeck。Itwasastarlightnight，andIcouldseethebulkofhimdimlyashemovedabout。Irolledoutofmyblanketsandcreptnoiselesslyafterhiminmystockingfeet。Hehadarmedhimselfwithadraw—knifefromthetoollocker，andwiththishepreparedtocutacrossthethroat—halyardsIhadagainriggedtotheshears。HefeltthehalyardswithhishandsanddiscoveredthatIhadnotmadethemfast。Thiswouldnotdoforadraw—knife，sohelaidholdoftherunningpart，hovetaut，andmadefast。Thenhepreparedtosawacrosswiththedraw—knife。
\"Iwouldn’t，ifIwereyou，\"Isaidquietly。
Heheardtheclickofmypistolandlaughed。
\"Hello，Hump，\"hesaid。\"Iknewyouwerehereallthetime。Youcan’tfoolmyears。\"
\"That’salie，WolfLarsen，\"Isaid，justasquietlyasbefore。\"However，Iamachingforachancetokillyou，sogoaheadandcut。\"
\"Youhavethechancealways，\"hesneered。
\"Goaheadandcut，\"Ithreatenedominously。
\"I’dratherdisappointyou，\"helaughed，andturnedonhisheelandwentaft。
\"Somethingmustbedone，Humphrey，\"Maudsaid，nextmorning，whenI
hadtoldherofthenight’soccurrence。\"Ifhehasliberty，hemaydoanything。
Hemaysinkthevessel，orsetfiretoit。Thereisnotellingwhathemaydo。Wemustmakehimaprisoner。\"
\"Buthow？\"Iasked，withahelplessshrug。\"Idarenotcomewithinreachofhisarms，andheknowsthatsolongashisresistanceispassiveIcannotshoothim。\"