English
Icannotsaythatthepositionofmatecarriedwithitanythingmorejoyfulthanthattherewerenomoredishestowash.
Iwasignorantofthesimplestdutiesofmate,andwouldhavefaredbadlyindeed,hadthesailorsnotsympathizedwithme.
Iknewnothingoftheminutiæofropesandrigging,ofthetrimmingandsettingofsails;butthesailorstookpainstoputmetorights,—Louisprovinganespeciallygoodteacher,—andIhadlittletroublewiththoseunderme.
Withthehuntersitwasotherwise.Familiarinvaryingdegreewiththesea,theytookmeasasortofjoke.
Intruth,itwasajoketome,thatI,theveriestlandsman,shouldbefillingtheofficeofmate;buttobetakenasajokebyotherswasadifferentmatter.
Imadenocomplaint,butWolfLarsendemandedthemostpunctiliousseaetiquetteinmycase,—farmorethanpoorJohansenhadeverreceived;andattheexpenseofseveralrows,threats,andmuchgrumbling,hebroughtthehunterstotime.
Iwas“Mr.VanWeyden”foreandaft,anditwasonlyunofficiallythatWolfLarsenhimselfeveraddressedmeas“Hump.”
Itwasamusing.Perhapsthewindwouldhaulafewpointswhilewewereatdinner,andasIleftthetablehewouldsay,“Mr.VanWeyden,willyoukindlyputaboutontheporttack.”
AndIwouldgoondeck,beckonLouistome,andlearnfromhimwhatwastobedone.
Then,afewminuteslater,havingdigestedhisinstructionsandthoroughlymasteredthemanœuvre,Iwouldproceedtoissuemyorders.
Irememberanearlyinstanceofthiskind,whenWolfLarsenappearedonthescenejustasIhadbeguntogiveorders.
Hesmokedhiscigarandlookedonquietlytillthethingwasaccomplished,andthenpacedaftbymysidealongtheweatherpoop.
“Hump,”hesaid,“Ibegpardon,Mr.VanWeyden,Icongratulateyou.
Ithinkyoucannowfireyourfather’slegsbackintothegravetohim.
You’vediscoveredyourownandlearnedtostandonthem.
Alittlerope-work,sail-making,andexperiencewithstormsandsuchthings,andbytheendofthevoyageyoucouldshiponanycoastingschooner.”
Itwasduringthisperiod,betweenthedeathofJohansenandthearrivalonthesealinggrounds,thatIpassedmypleasantesthoursontheGhost.
WolfLarsenwasquiteconsiderate,thesailorshelpedme,andIwasnolongerinirritatingcontactwithThomasMugridge.
AndImakefreetosay,asthedayswentby,thatIfoundIwastakingacertainsecretprideinmyself.
Fantasticasthesituationwas,—aland-lubbersecondincommand,—Iwas,nevertheless,carryingitoffwell;andduringthatbrieftimeIwasproudofmyself,andIgrewtolovetheheaveandrolloftheGhostundermyfeetasshewallowednorthandwestthroughthetropicseatotheisletwherewefilledourwater-casks.
Butmyhappinesswasnotunalloyed.Itwascomparative,aperiodoflessmiseryslippedinbetweenapastofgreatmiseriesandafutureofgreatmiseries.
FortheGhost,sofarastheseamenwereconcerned,wasahell-shipoftheworstdescription.
Theyneverhadamoment’srestorpeace.
WolfLarsentreasuredagainstthemtheattemptonhislifeandthedrubbinghehadreceivedintheforecastle;andmorning,noon,andnight,andallnightaswell,hedevotedhimselftomakinglifeunlivableforthem.
Heknewwellthepsychologyofthelittlething,anditwasthelittlethingsbywhichhekeptthecrewworkeduptothevergeofmadness.
IhaveseenHarrisoncalledfromhisbunktoputproperlyawayamisplacedpaintbrush,andthetwowatchesbelowhaledfromtheirtiredsleeptoaccompanyhimandseehimdoit.
Alittlething,truly,butwhenmultipliedbythethousandingeniousdevicesofsuchamind,thementalstateofthemenintheforecastlemaybeslightlycomprehended.
Ofcoursemuchgrumblingwenton,andlittleoutburstswerecontinuallyoccurring.
Blowswerestruck,andtherewerealwaystwoorthreemennursinginjuriesatthehandsofthehumanbeastwhowastheirmaster.
Concertedactionwasimpossibleinfaceoftheheavyarsenalofweaponscarriedinthesteerageandcabin.
LeachandJohnsonwerethetwoparticularvictimsofWolfLarsen’sdiabolictemper,andthelookofprofoundmelancholywhichhadsettledonJohnson’sfaceandinhiseyesmademyheartbleed.
WithLeachitwasdifferent.Therewastoomuchofthefightingbeastinhim.
Heseemedpossessedbyaninsatiablefurywhichgavenotimeforgrief.
Hislipshadbecomedistortedintoapermanentsnarl,whichatmeresightofWolfLarsenbrokeoutinsound,horribleandmenacingand,Idobelieve,unconsciously.
IhaveseenhimfollowWolfLarsenaboutwithhiseyes,likeananimalitskeeper,thewhiletheanimal-likesnarlsoundeddeepinhisthroatandvibratedforthbetweenhisteeth.
Irememberonce,ondeck,inbrightday,touchinghimontheshoulderaspreliminarytogivinganorder.
Hisbackwastowardme,andatthefirstfeelofmyhandheleapeduprightintheairandawayfromme,snarlingandturninghisheadasheleaped.
Hehadforthemomentmistakenmeforthemanhehated.
BothheandJohnsonwouldhavekilledWolfLarsenattheslightestopportunity,buttheopportunitynevercame.
WolfLarsenwastoowiseforthat,and,besides,theyhadnoadequateweapons.
Withtheirfistsalonetheyhadnochancewhatever.
TimeandagainhefoughtitoutwithLeachwhofoughtbackalways,likeawildcat,toothandnailandfist,untilstretched,exhaustedorunconscious,onthedeck.
Andhewasneveraversetoanotherencounter.
AllthedevilthatwasinhimchallengedthedevilinWolfLarsen.
Theyhadbuttoappearondeckatthesametime,whentheywouldbeatit,cursing,snarling,striking;andIhaveseenLeachflinghimselfuponWolfLarsenwithoutwarningorprovocation.
Oncehethrewhisheavysheath-knife,missingWolfLarsen’sthroatbyaninch.
Anothertimehedroppedasteelmarlinspikefromthemizzencrosstree.
Itwasadifficultcasttomakeonarollingship,butthesharppointofthespike,whistlingseventy-fivefeetthroughtheair,barelymissedWolfLarsen’sheadasheemergedfromthecabincompanion-wayanddroveitslengthtwoinchesandoverintothesoliddeck-planking.
Stillanothertime,hestoleintothesteerage,possessedhimselfofaloadedshot-gun,andwasmakingarushforthedeckwithitwhencaughtbyKerfootanddisarmed.
IoftenwonderedwhyWolfLarsendidnotkillhimandmakeanendofit.
Butheonlylaughedandseemedtoenjoyit.
Thereseemedacertainspiceaboutit,suchasmenmustfeelwhotakedelightinmakingpetsofferociousanimals.
“Itgivesathrilltolife,”heexplainedtome,“whenlifeiscarriedinone’shand.
Manisanaturalgambler,andlifeisthebiggeststakehecanlay.
Thegreatertheodds,thegreaterthethrill.
WhyshouldIdenymyselfthejoyofexcitingLeach’ssoultofever-pitch?Forthatmatter,Idohimakindness.Thegreatnessofsensationismutual.
Heislivingmoreroyallythananymanfor’ard,thoughhedoesnotknowit.
Forhehaswhattheyhavenot—purpose,somethingtodoandbedone,anall-absorbingendtostrivetoattain,thedesiretokillme,thehopethathemaykillme.
Really,Hump,heislivingdeepandhigh.
Idoubtthathehaseverlivedsoswiftlyandkeenlybefore,andIhonestlyenvyhim,sometimes,whenIseehimragingatthesummitofpassionandsensibility.”
“Ah,butitiscowardly,cowardly!”Icried.“Youhavealltheadvantage.”
“Ofthetwoofus,youandI,whoisthegreatercoward?”heaskedseriously.
“Ifthesituationisunpleasing,youcompromisewithyourconsciencewhenyoumakeyourselfapartytoit.
Ifyouwerereallygreat,reallytruetoyourself,youwouldjoinforceswithLeachandJohnson.Butyouareafraid,youareafraid.Youwanttolive.
Thelifethatisinyoucriesoutthatitmustlive,nomatterwhatthecost;soyouliveignominiously,untruetothebestyoudreamof,sinningagainstyourwholepitifullittlecode,and,iftherewereahell,headingyoursoulstraightforit.Bah!Iplaythebraverpart.
Idonosin,forIamtruetothepromptingsofthelifethatisinme.
Iamsincerewithmysoulatleast,andthatiswhatyouarenot.”
Therewasastinginwhathesaid.Perhaps,afterall,Iwasplayingacowardlypart.
AndthemoreIthoughtaboutitthemoreitappearedthatmydutytomyselflayindoingwhathehadadvised,layinjoiningforceswithJohnsonandLeachandworkingforhisdeath.
Righthere,Ithink,enteredtheaustereconscienceofmyPuritanancestry,impellingmetowardluriddeedsandsanctioningevenmurderasrightconduct.Idweltupontheidea.
Itwouldbeamostmoralacttoridtheworldofsuchamonster.
Humanitywouldbebetterandhappierforit,lifefairerandsweeter.
Ipondereditlong,lyingsleeplessinmybunkandreviewinginendlessprocessionthefactsofthesituation.
ItalkedwithJohnsonandLeach,duringthenightwatcheswhenWolfLarsenwasbelow.
Bothmenhadlosthope—Johnson,becauseoftemperamentaldespondency;Leach,becausehehadbeatenhimselfoutinthevainstruggleandwasexhausted.
Buthecaughtmyhandinapassionategriponenight,saying:
“Ithinkyersquare,Mr.VanWeyden.Butstaywhereyouareandkeepyermouthshut.Saynothin’butsawwood.
We’redeadmen,Iknowit;butallthesameyoumightbeabletodousafavoursometimewhenweneeditdamnbad.”
Itwasonlynextday,whenWainwrightIslandloomedtowindward,closeabeam,thatWolfLarsenopenedhismouthinprophecy.
HehadattackedJohnson,beenattackedbyLeach,andhadjustfinishedwhippingthepairofthem.
“Leach,”hesaid,“youknowI’mgoingtokillyousometimeorother,don’tyou?”
Asnarlwastheanswer.
“Andasforyou,Johnson,you’llgetsotiredoflifebeforeI’mthroughwithyouthatyou’llflingyourselfovertheside.Seeifyoudon’t.”
“That’sasuggestion,”headded,inanasidetome.“I’llbetyouamonth’spayheactsuponit.”
Ihadcherishedahopethathisvictimswouldfindanopportunitytoescapewhilefillingourwater-barrels,butWolfLarsenhadselectedhisspotwell.
TheGhostlayhalf-a-milebeyondthesurf-lineofalonelybeach.
Heredebauchedadeepgorge,withprecipitous,volcanicwallswhichnomancouldscale.
Andhere,underhisdirectsupervision—forhewentashorehimself—LeachandJohnsonfilledthesmallcasksandrolledthemdowntothebeach.
Theyhadnochancetomakeabreakforlibertyinoneoftheboats.
HarrisonandKelly,however,madesuchanattempt.
Theycomposedoneoftheboats’crews,andtheirtaskwastoplybetweentheschoonerandtheshore,carryingasinglecaskeachtrip.
Justbeforedinner,startingforthebeachwithanemptybarrel,theyalteredtheircourseandboreawaytothelefttoroundthepromontorywhichjuttedintotheseabetweenthemandliberty.
BeyonditsfoamingbaselaytheprettyvillagesoftheJapanesecolonistsandsmilingvalleyswhichpenetrateddeepintotheinterior.
Onceinthefastnessestheypromised,andthetwomencoulddefyWolfLarsen.
IhadobservedHendersonandSmokeloiteringaboutthedeckallmorning,andInowlearnedwhytheywerethere.
Procuringtheirrifles,theyopenedfireinaleisurelymanner,uponthedeserters.
Itwasacold-bloodedexhibitionofmarksmanship.
Atfirsttheirbulletszippedharmlesslyalongthesurfaceofthewateroneithersidetheboat;but,asthemencontinuedtopulllustily,theystruckcloserandcloser.
“Now,watchmetakeKelly’srightoar,”Smokesaid,drawingamorecarefulaim.
Iwaslookingthroughtheglasses,andIsawtheoar-bladeshatterasheshot.
Hendersonduplicatedit,selectingHarrison’srightoar.Theboatslewedaround.
Thetworemainingoarswerequicklybroken.
Thementriedtorowwiththesplinters,andhadthemshotoutoftheirhands.
Kellyrippedupabottomboardandbeganpaddling,butdroppeditwithacryofpainasitssplintersdroveintohishands.
Thentheygaveup,lettingtheboatdrifttillasecondboat,sentfromtheshorebyWolfLarsen,tookthemintowandbroughtthemaboard.
Latethatafternoonwehoveupanchorandgotaway.
Nothingwasbeforeusbutthethreeorfourmonths’huntingonthesealinggrounds.
Theoutlookwasblackindeed,andIwentaboutmyworkwithaheavyheart.
AnalmostfunerealgloomseemedtohavedescendedupontheGhost.
WolfLarsenhadtakentohisbunkwithoneofhisstrange,splittingheadaches.
Harrisonstoodlistlesslyatthewheel,halfsupportinghimselfbyit,asthoughweariedbytheweightofhisflesh.
Therestofthemenweremoroseandsilent.
IcameuponKellycrouchingtotheleeoftheforecastlescuttle,hisheadonhisknees,hisarmsabouthishead,inanattitudeofunutterabledespondency.
JohnsonIfoundlyingfulllengthontheforecastlehead,staringatthetroubledchurnoftheforefoot,andIrememberedwithhorrorthesuggestionWolfLarsenhadmade.Itseemedlikelytobearfruit.
Itriedtobreakinontheman’smorbidthoughtsbycallinghimaway,buthesmiledsadlyatmeandrefusedtoobey.
LeachapproachedmeasIreturnedaft.
“Iwanttoaskafavour,Mr.VanWeyden,”hesaid.
“Ifit’syerlucktoevermake’Friscooncemore,willyouhuntupMattMcCarthy?He’smyoldman.
HelivesontheHill,backoftheMayfairbakery,runnin’acobbler’sshopthateverybodyknows,andyou’llhavenotrouble.
TellhimIlivedtobesorryforthetroubleIbroughthimandthethingsIdone,and—andjusttellhim‘Godblesshim,’forme.”
Inoddedmyhead,butsaid,“We’llallwinbacktoSanFrancisco,Leach,andyou’llbewithmewhenIgotoseeMattMcCarthy.”
“I’dliketobelieveyou,”heanswered,shakingmyhand,“butIcan’t.WolfLarsen’lldoforme,Iknowit;andallIcanhopeis,he’lldoitquick.”
AndasheleftmeIwasawareofthesamedesireatmyheart.
Sinceitwastobedone,letitbedonewithdespatch.
Thegeneralgloomhadgatheredmeintoitsfolds.
Theworstappearedinevitable;andasIpacedthedeck,hourafterhour,IfoundmyselfafflictedwithWolfLarsen’srepulsiveideas.Whatwasitallabout?
Wherewasthegrandeuroflifethatitshouldpermitsuchwantondestructionofhumansouls?
Itwasacheapandsordidthingafterall,thislife,andthesooneroverthebetter.Overanddonewith!
I,too,leanedupontherailandgazedlonginglyintothesea,withthecertaintythatsoonerorlaterIshouldbesinkingdown,down,throughthecoolgreendepthsofitsoblivion.
Share this article to
FINISH