English
BythefollowingmorningthestormhadblownitselfquiteoutandtheGhostwasrollingslightlyonacalmseawithoutabreathofwind.
Occasionallightairswerefelt,however,andWolfLarsenpatrolledthepoopconstantly,hiseyeseversearchingtheseatothenorth-eastward,fromwhichdirectionthegreattrade-windmustblow.
Themenwereallondeckandbusypreparingtheirvariousboatsfortheseason’shunting.
Therearesevenboatsaboard,thecaptain’sdingey,andthesixwhichthehunterswilluse.
Three,ahunter,aboat-puller,andaboat-steerer,composeaboat’screw.
Onboardtheschoonertheboat-pullersandsteerersarethecrew.
Thehunters,too,aresupposedtobeincommandofthewatches,subject,always,totheordersofWolfLarsen.
Allthis,andmore,Ihavelearned.TheGhostisconsideredthefastestschoonerinboththeSanFranciscoandVictoriafleets.
Infact,shewasonceaprivateyacht,andwasbuiltforspeed.
Herlinesandfittings—thoughIknownothingaboutsuchthings—speakforthemselves.
JohnsonwastellingmeaboutherinashortchatIhadwithhimduringyesterday’sseconddog-watch.
Hespokeenthusiastically,withtheloveforafinecraftsuchassomemenfeelforhorses.
Heisgreatlydisgustedwiththeoutlook,andIamgiventounderstandthatWolfLarsenbearsaveryunsavouryreputationamongthesealingcaptains.
ItwastheGhostherselfthatluredJohnsonintosigningforthevoyage,butheisalreadybeginningtorepent.
Ashetoldme,theGhostisaneighty-tonschoonerofaremarkablyfinemodel.
Herbeam,orwidth,istwenty-threefeet,andherlengthalittleoverninetyfeet.
Aleadkeeloffabulousbutunknownweightmakesherverystable,whileshecarriesanimmensespreadofcanvas.
Fromthedecktothetruckofthemaintopmastissomethingoverahundredfeet,whiletheforemastwithitstopmastiseightortenfeetshorter.
Iamgivingthesedetailssothatthesizeofthislittlefloatingworldwhichholdstwenty-twomenmaybeappreciated.
Itisaverylittleworld,amote,aspeck,andImarvelthatmenshoulddaretoventuretheseaonacontrivancesosmallandfragile.
WolfLarsenhas,also,areputationforrecklesscarryingonofsail.
IoverheardHendersonandanotherofthehunters,Standish,aCalifornian,talkingaboutit.
TwoyearsagohedismastedtheGhostinagaleonBeringSea,whereuponthepresentmastswereputin,whicharestrongerandheavierineveryway.
Heissaidtohaveremarked,whenheputthemin,thathepreferredturningherovertolosingthesticks.
Everymanaboard,withtheexceptionofJohansen,whoisratherovercomebyhispromotion,seemstohaveanexcuseforhavingsailedontheGhost.
Halfthemenforwardaredeep-watersailors,andtheirexcuseisthattheydidnotknowanythingaboutherorhercaptain.
Andthosewhodoknow,whisperthatthehunters,whileexcellentshots,weresonotoriousfortheirquarrelsomeandrascallyproclivitiesthattheycouldnotsignonanydecentschooner.
Ihavemadetheacquaintanceofanotheroneofthecrew,—Louisheiscalled,arotundandjovial-facedNovaScotiaIrishman,andaverysociablefellow,pronetotalkaslongashecanfindalistener.
Intheafternoon,whilethecookwasbelowasleepandIwaspeelingtheeverlastingpotatoes,Louisdroppedintothegalleyfora“yarn.”
Hisexcuseforbeingaboardwasthathewasdrunkwhenhesigned.
Heassuredmeagainandagainthatitwasthelastthingintheworldhewoulddreamofdoinginasobermoment.
Itseemsthathehasbeenseal-huntingregularlyeachseasonforadozenyears,andisaccountedoneofthetwoorthreeverybestboat-steerersinbothfleets.
“Ah,myboy,”heshookhisheadominouslyatme,“’tistheworstschooneryecouldivselected,norwereyedrunkatthetimeaswasI.’Tissealin’isthesailor’sparadise—onothershipsthanthis.
Thematewasthefirst,butmarkmewords,there’llbemoredeadmenbeforethetripisdonewith.
Hist,now,betweenyouan’meselfandthestanchionthere,thisWolfLarsenisaregulardevil,an’theGhost’llbeahell-shiplikeshe’salwaysbensincehehadholdivher.Don’tIknow?Don’tIknow?
Don’tIrememberhiminHakodatetwoyearsgone,whenhehadarowan’shotfourivhismen?
Wasn’tIa-layin’ontheEmmaL.,notthreehundredyardsaway?
An’therewasamanthesameyearhekilledwithablowivhisfist.Yes,sir,killed’imdead-oh.
Hisheadmustivsmashedlikeaneggshell.
An’wasn’ttheretheGovernorofKuraIsland,an’theChiefivPolice,Japanesegentlemen,sir,an’didn’ttheycomeaboardtheGhostashisguests,a-bringin’theirwivesalong—weean’prettylittlebitsofthingslikeyousee’empaintedonfans.
An’ashewasa-gettin’underway,didn’tthefondhusbandsgetleftastern-likeintheirsampan,asitmightbebyaccident?
An’wasn’titaweeklaterthatthepoorlittleladieswasputashoreontheothersideoftheisland,withnothin’before’embuttowalkhomeacrostthemountainsontheirweeny-teenylittlestrawsandalswhichwouldn’thangtogetheramile?Don’tIknow?’
Tisthebeastheis,thisWolfLarsen—thegreatbigbeastmentionedivinRevelation;an’nogoodendwillheevercometo.ButI’vesaidnothin’toye,mindye.
I’vewhisperedneveraword;foroldfatLouis’lllivethevoyageoutifthelastmother’ssonofyezgotothefishes.”
“WolfLarsen!”hesnortedamomentlater.“Listentotheword,willye!Wolf—’tiswhatheis.
He’snotblack-heartedlikesomemen.’Tisnohearthehasatall.Wolf,justwolf,’tiswhatheis.D’yewonderhe’swellnamed?”
“Butifheissowell-knownforwhatheis,”Iqueried,“howisitthathecangetmentoshipwithhim?”
“An’howisityecangetmentodoanythingonGod’searthan’sea?”LouisdemandedwithCelticfire.
“Howd’yefindmeaboardif’twasn’tthatIwasdrunkasapigwhenIputmenamedown?
There’sthemthatcan’tsailwithbettermen,likethehunters,andthemthatdon’tknow,likethepoordevilsofwind-jammersfor’ardthere.
Butthey’llcometoit,they’llcometoit,an’besorrythedaytheywasborn.
Icouldweepforthepoorcreatures,didIbutforgetpooroldfatLouisandthetroublesbeforehim.
But’tisnotawhisperI’vedropped,mindye,notawhisper.”
“Themhuntersisthewickedboys,”hebrokeforthagain,forhesufferedfromaconstitutionalplethoraofspeech.
“Butwaittilltheygettocuttingupivjinksandrowin’’round.He’stheboy’llfix’em.’
Tishimthat’llputthefearofGodintheirrottenblackhearts.Lookatthathunterivmine,Horner.
‘Jock’Hornertheycallhim,soquiet-likean’easy-goin’,soft-spokenasagirl,tillye’dthinkbutterwouldn’tmeltinthemouthivhim.
Didn’thekillhisboat-steererlastyear?’
Twascalledasadaccident,butImettheboat-pullerinYokohamaan’thestraightivitwasgivenme.
An’there’sSmoke,theblacklittledevil—didn’ttheRoosianshavehimforthreeyearsinthesaltminesofSiberia,forpoachin’onCopperIsland,whichisaRoosianpreserve?
Shackledhewas,handan’foot,withhismate.
An’didn’ttheyhavewordsoraructionofsomekind?
—for’twastheotherfellowSmokesentupinthebucketstothetopofthemine;an’apieceatatimehewentup,alegto-day,an’to-morrowanarm,thenextdaythehead,an’soon.”
“Butyoucan’tmeanit!”Icriedout,overcomewiththehorrorofit.
“Meanwhat!”hedemanded,quickasaflash.“’Tisnothin’I’vesaid.
DeefIam,anddumb,asyeshouldbeforthesakeivyourmother;an’neveroncehaveIopenedmelipsbuttosayfinethingsivtheman’him,Godcursehissoul,an’mayherotinpurgatorytenthousandyears,andthengodowntothelastan’deepesthellivall!”
Johnson,themanwhohadchafedmerawwhenIfirstcameaboard,seemedtheleastequivocalofthemenforwardoraft.
Infact,therewasnothingequivocalabouthim.
Onewasstruckatoncebyhisstraightforwardnessandmanliness,which,inturn,weretemperedbyamodestywhichmightbemistakenfortimidity.Buttimidhewasnot.
Heseemed,rather,tohavethecourageofhisconvictions,thecertaintyofhismanhood.
Itwasthisthatmadehimprotest,atthecommencementofouracquaintance,againstbeingcalledYonson.
Anduponthis,andhim,Louispassedjudgmentandprophecy.
“’Tisafinechap,thatsquareheadJohnsonwe’vefor’ardwithus,”hesaid.“Thebestsailormaninthefo’c’sle.He’smyboat-puller.
Butit’stotroublehe’llcomewithWolfLarsen,asthesparksflyupward.It’smeselfthatknows.
Icanseeitbrewin’an’comin’uplikeastorminthesky.
I’vetalkedtohimlikeabrother,butit’slittleheseesintakin’inhislightsorflyin’falsesignals.
Hegrumblesoutwhenthingsdon’tgotosuithim,andthere’llbealwayssometell-talecarryin’wordivitafttotheWolf.
TheWolfisstrong,andit’sthewayofawolftohatestrength,an’strengthitishe’llseeinJohnson—noknucklin’under,anda‘Yes,sir,thankyekindly,sir,’foracurseorablow.Oh,she’sa-comin’!She’sa-comin’!
An’GodknowswhereI’llgetanotherboat-puller!
Whatdoesthefoolupan’say,whentheoldmancallshimYonson,but‘MenameisJohnson,sir,’an’thenspellsitout,letterforletter.Yeshouldivseentheoldman’sface!
Ithoughthe’dletdriveathimonthespot.
Hedidn’t,buthewill,an’he’llbreakthatsquarehead’sheart,orit’slittleIknowivthewaysivmenontheshipsivthesea.”
ThomasMugridgeisbecomingunendurable.
IamcompelledtoMisterhimandtoSirhimwitheveryspeech.
OnereasonforthisisthatWolfLarsenseemstohavetakenafancytohim.
Itisanunprecedentedthing,Itakeit,foracaptaintobechummywiththecook;butthisiscertainlywhatWolfLarsenisdoing.
TwoorthreetimesheputhisheadintothegalleyandchaffedMugridgegood-naturedly,andonce,thisafternoon,hestoodbythebreakofthepoopandchattedwithhimforfullyfifteenminutes.
Whenitwasover,andMugridgewasbackinthegalley,hebecamegreasilyradiant,andwentabouthiswork,hummingcostersongsinanerve-rackinganddiscordantfalsetto.
“Ialwaysgetalongwiththeofficers,”heremarkedtomeinaconfidentialtone.
“Iknowthew’y,Ido,tomykemyselfuppreci-yted.
Therewasmylastskipper—w’yIthoughtnothin’ofdroppin’downinthecabinforalittlechatandafriendlyglass.
‘Mugridge,’sez’etome,‘Mugridge,’sez’e,‘you’vemissedyervokytion.’‘An’’ow’sthat?’
sezI.‘Yershould’abeenbornagentleman,an’never’adtoworkforyerlivin’.’
Godstrikemedead,’Ump,ifthatayn’twot’esez,an’mea-sittin’therein’isowncabin,jolly-likean’comfortable,a-smokin’’iscigarsan’drinkin’’isrum.”
Thischitter-chatterdrovemetodistraction.IneverheardavoiceIhatedso.
Hisoily,insinuatingtones,hisgreasysmileandhismonstrousself-conceitgratedonmynervestillsometimesIwasallinatremble.
Positively,hewasthemostdisgustingandloathsomepersonIhaveevermet.
Thefilthofhiscookingwasindescribable;and,ashecookedeverythingthatwaseatenaboard,IwascompelledtoselectwhatIatewithgreatcircumspection,choosingfromtheleastdirtyofhisconcoctions.
Myhandsbotheredmeagreatdeal,unusedastheyweretowork.
Thenailswerediscolouredandblack,whiletheskinwasalreadygrainedwithdirtwhichevenascrubbing-brushcouldnotremove.
Thenblisterscame,inapainfulandnever-endingprocession,andIhadagreatburnonmyforearm,acquiredbylosingmybalanceinarolloftheshipandpitchingagainstthegalleystove.Norwasmykneeanybetter.
Theswellinghadnotgonedown,andthecapwasstilluponedge.
Hobblingaboutonitfrommorningtillnightwasnothelpingitany.
WhatIneededwasrest,ifitwereevertogetwell.
Rest!Ineverbeforeknewthemeaningoftheword.
Ihadbeenrestingallmylifeanddidnotknowit.
Butnow,couldIsitstillforonehalf-houranddonothing,noteventhink,itwouldbethemostpleasurablethingintheworld.
Butitisarevelation,ontheotherhand.
Ishallbeabletoappreciatethelivesoftheworkingpeoplehereafter.
Ididnotdreamthatworkwassoterribleathing.
Fromhalf-pastfiveinthemorningtillteno’clockatnightIameverybody’sslave,withnotonemomenttomyself,exceptsuchasIcanstealneartheendoftheseconddog-watch.
Letmepauseforaminutetolookoutovertheseasparklinginthesun,ortogazeatasailorgoingalofttothegaff-topsails,orrunningoutthebowsprit,andIamsuretohearthehatefulvoice,“’Ere,you,’Ump,nosodgerin’.I’vegotmypeepersonyer.”
Therearesignsoframpantbadtemperinthesteerage,andthegossipisgoingaroundthatSmokeandHendersonhavehadafight.
Hendersonseemsthebestofthehunters,aslow-goingfellow,andhardtorouse;butrousedhemusthavebeen,forSmokehadabruisedanddiscolouredeye,andlookedparticularlyviciouswhenhecameintothecabinforsupper.
Acruelthinghappenedjustbeforesupper,indicativeofthecallousnessandbrutishnessofthesemen.
Thereisonegreenhandinthecrew,Harrisonbyname,aclumsy-lookingcountryboy,mastered,Iimagine,bythespiritofadventure,andmakinghisfirstvoyage.
Inthelightbafflingairstheschoonerhadbeentackingaboutagreatdeal,atwhichtimesthesailspassfromonesidetotheotherandamanissentalofttoshiftoverthefore-gaff-topsail.
Insomeway,whenHarrisonwasaloft,thesheetjammedintheblockthroughwhichitrunsattheendofthegaff.
AsIunderstoodit,thereweretwowaysofgettingitcleared,—first,byloweringtheforesail,whichwascomparativelyeasyandwithoutdanger;andsecond,byclimbingoutthepeak-halyardstotheendofthegaffitself,anexceedinglyhazardousperformance.
JohansencalledouttoHarrisontogooutthehalyards.
Itwaspatenttoeverybodythattheboywasafraid.
Andwellhemightbe,eightyfeetabovethedeck,totrusthimselfonthosethinandjerkingropes.
Hadtherebeenasteadybreezeitwouldnothavebeensobad,buttheGhostwasrollingemptilyinalongsea,andwitheachrollthecanvasflappedandboomedandthehalyardsslackedandjerkedtaut.
Theywerecapableofsnappingamanofflikeaflyfromawhip-lash.
Harrisonheardtheorderandunderstoodwhatwasdemandedofhim,buthesitated.
Itwasprobablythefirsttimehehadbeenaloftinhislife.
Johansen,whohadcaughtthecontagionofWolfLarsen’smasterfulness,burstoutwithavolleyofabuseandcurses.
“That’lldo,Johansen,”WolfLarsensaidbrusquely.“I’llhaveyouknowthatIdotheswearingonthisship.IfIneedyourassistance,I’llcallyouin.”
“Yes,sir,”themateacknowledgedsubmissively.
InthemeantimeHarrisonhadstartedoutonthehalyards.
Iwaslookingupfromthegalleydoor,andIcouldseehimtrembling,asifwithague,ineverylimb.
Heproceededveryslowlyandcautiously,aninchatatime.
Outlinedagainsttheclearblueofthesky,hehadtheappearanceofanenormousspidercrawlingalongthetraceryofitsweb.
Itwasaslightuphillclimb,fortheforesailpeakedhigh;andthehalyards,runningthroughvariousblocksonthegaffandmast,gavehimseparateholdsforhandsandfeet.
Butthetroublelayinthatthewindwasnotstrongenoughnorsteadyenoughtokeepthesailfull.
Whenhewashalf-wayout,theGhosttookalongrolltowindwardandbackagainintothehollowbetweentwoseas.
Harrisonceasedhisprogressandheldontightly.
Eightyfeetbeneath,Icouldseetheagonizedstrainofhismusclesashegrippedforverylife.
Thesailemptiedandthegaffswungamid-ships.
Thehalyardsslackened,and,thoughitallhappenedveryquickly,Icouldseethemsagbeneaththeweightofhisbody.
Thenthegagswungtothesidewithanabruptswiftness,thegreatsailboomedlikeacannon,andthethreerowsofreef-pointsslattedagainstthecanvaslikeavolleyofrifles.
Harrison,clingingon,madethegiddyrushthroughtheair.Thisrushceasedabruptly.Thehalyardsbecameinstantlytaut.Itwasthesnapofthewhip.Hisclutchwasbroken.Onehandwastornloosefromitshold.
Theotherlingereddesperatelyforamoment,andfollowed.
Hisbodypitchedoutanddown,butinsomewayhemanagedtosavehimselfwithhislegs.Hewashangingbythem,headdownward.
Aquickeffortbroughthishandsuptothehalyardsagain;buthewasalongtimeregaininghisformerposition,wherehehung,apitiableobject.
“I’llbethehasnoappetiteforsupper,”IheardWolfLarsen’svoice,whichcametomefromaroundthecornerofthegalley.“Standfromunder,you,Johansen!Watchout!Hereshecomes!”
Intruth,Harrisonwasverysick,asapersonissea-sick;andforalongtimeheclungtohisprecariousperchwithoutattemptingtomove.
Johansen,however,continuedviolentlytourgehimontothecompletionofhistask.
“Itisashame,”IheardJohnsongrowlinginpainfullyslowandcorrectEnglish.
Hewasstandingbythemainrigging,afewfeetawayfromme.“Theboyiswillingenough.Hewilllearnifhehasachance.
Butthisis—”Hepausedawhile,fortheword“murder”washisfinaljudgment.
“Hist,willye!”Louiswhisperedtohim,“Fortheloveivyourmotherholdyourmouth!”
ButJohnson,lookingon,stillcontinuedhisgrumbling.
“Lookhere,”thehunterStandishspoketoWolfLarsen,“that’smyboat-puller,andIdon’twanttolosehim.”
“That’sallright,Standish,”wasthereply.“He’syourboat-pullerwhenyou’vegothimintheboat;buthe’smysailorwhenIhavehimaboard,andI’lldowhatIdamnwellpleasewithhim.”
“Butthat’snoreason—”Standishbeganinatorrentofspeech.
“That’lldo,easyasshegoes,”WolfLarsencounselledback.“I’vetoldyouwhat’swhat,andletitstopatthat.Theman’smine,andI’llmakesoupofhimandeatitifIwantto.”
Therewasanangrygleaminthehunter’seye,butheturnedonhisheelandenteredthesteeragecompanion-way,whereheremained,lookingupward.
Allhandswereondecknow,andalleyeswerealoft,whereahumanlifewasatgrappleswithdeath.
Thecallousnessofthesemen,towhomindustrialorganizationgavecontrolofthelivesofothermen,wasappalling.
I,whohadlivedoutofthewhirloftheworld,hadneverdreamedthatitsworkwascarriedoninsuchfashion.
Lifehadalwaysseemedapeculiarlysacredthing,buthereitcountedfornothing,wasacipherinthearithmeticofcommerce.
Imustsay,however,thatthesailorsthemselvesweresympathetic,asinstancethecaseofJohnson;butthemasters(thehuntersandthecaptain)wereheartlesslyindifferent.
EventheprotestofStandisharoseoutofthefactthathedidnotwishtolosehisboat-puller.
Haditbeensomeotherhunter’sboat-puller,he,likethem,wouldhavebeennomorethanamused.
ButtoreturntoHarrison.IttookJohansen,insultingandrevilingthepoorwretch,fullytenminutestogethimstartedagain.
Alittlelaterhemadetheendofthegaff,where,astridethesparitself,hehadabetterchanceforholdingon.
Heclearedthesheet,andwasfreetoreturn,slightlydownhillnow,alongthehalyardstothemast.Buthehadlosthisnerve.
Unsafeaswashispresentposition,hewasloathtoforsakeitforthemoreunsafepositiononthehalyards.
Helookedalongtheairypathhemusttraverse,andthendowntothedeck.
Hiseyeswerewideandstaring,andhewastremblingviolently.
Ihadneverseenfearsostronglystampeduponahumanface.
Johansencalledvainlyforhimtocomedown.
Atanymomenthewasliabletobesnappedoffthegaff,buthewashelplesswithfright.
WolfLarsen,walkingupanddownwithSmokeandinconversation,tooknomorenoticeofhim,thoughhecriedsharply,once,tothemanatthewheel:
“You’reoffyourcourse,myman!Becareful,unlessyou’relookingfortrouble!”
“Ay,ay,sir,”thehelmsmanresponded,puttingacoupleofspokesdown.
HehadbeenguiltyofrunningtheGhostseveralpointsoffhercourseinorderthatwhatlittlewindtherewasshouldfilltheforesailandholditsteady.
HehadstriventohelptheunfortunateHarrisonattheriskofincurringWolfLarsen’sanger.
Thetimewentby,andthesuspense,tome,wasterrible.
ThomasMugridge,ontheotherhand,considereditalaughableaffair,andwascontinuallybobbinghisheadoutthegalleydoortomakejocoseremarks.HowIhatedhim!
Andhowmyhatredforhimgrewandgrew,duringthatfearfultime,tocyclopeandimensions.
ForthefirsttimeinmylifeIexperiencedthedesiretomurder—“sawred,”assomeofourpicturesquewritersphraseit.
Lifeingeneralmightstillbesacred,butlifeintheparticularcaseofThomasMugridgehadbecomeveryprofaneindeed.
IwasfrightenedwhenIbecameconsciousthatIwasseeingred,andthethoughtflashedthroughmymind:wasI,too,becomingtaintedbythebrutalityofmyenvironment?
—I,whoeveninthemostflagrantcrimeshaddeniedthejusticeandrighteousnessofcapitalpunishment?
Fullyhalf-an-hourwentby,andthenIsawJohnsonandLouisinsomesortofaltercation.
ItendedwithJohnsonflingingoffLouis’sdetainingarmandstartingforward.
Hecrossedthedeck,sprangintotheforerigging,andbegantoclimb.
ButthequickeyeofWolfLarsencaughthim.
“Here,you,whatareyouupto?”hecried.
Johnson’sascentwasarrested.Helookedhiscaptainintheeyesandrepliedslowly:
“Iamgoingtogetthatboydown.”
“You’llgetdownoutofthatrigging,anddamnlivelyaboutit!D’yehear?Getdown!”
Johnsonhesitated,butthelongyearsofobediencetothemastersofshipsoverpoweredhim,andhedroppedsullenlytothedeckandwentonforward.
AthalfafterfiveIwentbelowtosetthecabintable,butIhardlyknewwhatIdid,formyeyesandmybrainwerefilledwiththevisionofaman,white-facedandtrembling,comicallylikeabug,clingingtothethrashinggaff.
Atsixo’clock,whenIservedsupper,goingondecktogetthefoodfromthegalley,IsawHarrison,stillinthesameposition.
Theconversationatthetablewasofotherthings.
Nobodyseemedinterestedinthewantonlyimperilledlife.
Butmakinganextratriptothegalleyalittlelater,IwasgladdenedbythesightofHarrisonstaggeringweaklyfromtheriggingtotheforecastlescuttle.
Hehadfinallysummonedthecouragetodescend.
Beforeclosingthisincident,ImustgiveascrapofconversationIhadwithWolfLarseninthecabin,whileIwaswashingthedishes.
“Youwerelookingsqueamishthisafternoon,”hebegan.“Whatwasthematter?”
IcouldseethatheknewwhathadmademepossiblyassickasHarrison,thathewastryingtodrawme,andIanswered,“Itwasbecauseofthebrutaltreatmentofthatboy.”
Hegaveashortlaugh.“Likesea-sickness,Isuppose.Somemenaresubjecttoit,andothersarenot.”
“Notso,”Iobjected.
“Justso,”hewenton.“Theearthisasfullofbrutalityastheseaisfullofmotion.Andsomemenaremadesickbytheone,andsomebytheother.That’stheonlyreason.”
“Butyou,whomakeamockofhumanlife,don’tyouplaceanyvalueuponitwhatever?”Idemanded.
“Value?Whatvalue?”Helookedatme,andthoughhiseyesweresteadyandmotionless,thereseemedacynicalsmileinthem.“Whatkindofvalue?Howdoyoumeasureit?Whovaluesit?”
“Ido,”Imadeanswer.
“Thenwhatisitworthtoyou?Anotherman’slife,Imean.Comenow,whatisitworth?”
Thevalueoflife?HowcouldIputatangiblevalueuponit?
Somehow,I,whohavealwayshadexpression,lackedexpressionwhenwithWolfLarsen.
Ihavesincedeterminedthatapartofitwasduetotheman’spersonality,butthatthegreaterpartwasduetohistotallydifferentoutlook.
UnlikeothermaterialistsIhadmetandwithwhomIhadsomethingincommontostarton,Ihadnothingincommonwithhim.
Perhaps,also,itwastheelementalsimplicityofhismindthatbaffledme.
Hedrovesodirectlytothecoreofthematter,divestingaquestionalwaysofallsuperfluousdetails,andwithsuchanairoffinality,thatIseemedtofindmyselfstrugglingindeepwater,withnofootingunderme.Valueoflife?
HowcouldIanswerthequestiononthespurofthemoment?
ThesacrednessoflifeIhadacceptedasaxiomatic.
ThatitwasintrinsicallyvaluablewasatruismIhadneverquestioned.
ButwhenhechallengedthetruismIwasspeechless.
“Weweretalkingaboutthisyesterday,”hesaid.
“Iheldthatlifewasaferment,ayeastysomethingwhichdevouredlifethatitmightlive,andthatlivingwasmerelysuccessfulpiggishness.
Why,ifthereisanythinginsupplyanddemand,lifeisthecheapestthingintheworld.
Thereisonlysomuchwater,somuchearth,somuchair;butthelifethatisdemandingtobebornislimitless.Natureisaspendthrift.
Lookatthefishandtheirmillionsofeggs.Forthatmatter,lookatyouandme.
Inourloinsarethepossibilitiesofmillionsoflives.
Couldwebutfindtimeandopportunityandutilizethelastbitandeverybitoftheunbornlifethatisinus,wecouldbecomethefathersofnationsandpopulatecontinents.Life?Bah!Ithasnovalue.Ofcheapthingsitisthecheapest.Everywhereitgoesbegging.
Naturespillsitoutwithalavishhand.
Wherethereisroomforonelife,shesowsathousandlives,andit’slifeeatslifetillthestrongestandmostpiggishlifeisleft.”
“YouhavereadDarwin,”Isaid.“Butyoureadhimmisunderstandinglywhenyouconcludethatthestruggleforexistencesanctionsyourwantondestructionoflife.”
Heshruggedhisshoulders.“Youknowyouonlymeanthatinrelationtohumanlife,forofthefleshandthefowlandthefishyoudestroyasmuchasIoranyotherman.
Andhumanlifeisinnowisedifferent,thoughyoufeelitisandthinkthatyoureasonwhyitis.
WhyshouldIbeparsimoniouswiththislifewhichischeapandwithoutvalue?
Therearemoresailorsthanthereareshipsontheseaforthem,moreworkersthantherearefactoriesormachinesforthem.
Why,youwholiveonthelandknowthatyouhouseyourpoorpeopleintheslumsofcitiesandloosefamineandpestilenceuponthem,andthattherestillremainmorepoorpeople,dyingforwantofacrustofbreadandabitofmeat(whichislifedestroyed),thanyouknowwhattodowith.
HaveyoueverseentheLondondockersfightinglikewildbeastsforachancetowork?”
Hestartedforthecompanionstairs,butturnedhisheadforafinalword.
“Doyouknowtheonlyvaluelifehasiswhatlifeputsuponitself?
Anditisofcourseover-estimatedsinceitisofnecessityprejudicedinitsownfavour.TakethatmanIhadaloft.
Heheldonasifhewereapreciousthing,atreasurebeyonddiamondsorrubies.Toyou?No.Tome?Notatall.Tohimself?Yes.ButIdonotaccepthisestimate.Hesadlyoverrateshimself.
Thereisplentymorelifedemandingtobeborn.
Hadhefallenanddrippedhisbrainsuponthedecklikehoneyfromthecomb,therewouldhavebeennolosstotheworld.Hewasworthnothingtotheworld.Thesupplyistoolarge.
Tohimselfonlywasheofvalue,andtoshowhowfictitiouseventhisvaluewas,beingdeadheisunconsciousthathehaslosthimself.
Healoneratedhimselfbeyonddiamondsandrubies.
Diamondsandrubiesaregone,spreadoutonthedecktobewashedawaybyabucketofsea-water,andhedoesnotevenknowthatthediamondsandrubiesaregone.
Hedoesnotloseanything,forwiththelossofhimselfhelosestheknowledgeofloss.Don’tyousee?Andwhathaveyoutosay?”
“Thatyouareatleastconsistent,”wasallIcouldsay,andIwentonwashingthedishes.
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