English
Strangetosay,inspiteofthegeneralforeboding,nothingofespecialmomenthappenedontheGhost.
WeranontothenorthandwesttillweraisedthecoastofJapanandpickedupwiththegreatsealherd.
ComingfromnomanknewwhereintheillimitablePacific,itwastravellingnorthonitsannualmigrationtotherookeriesofBeringSea.
Andnorthwetravelledwithit,ravaginganddestroying,flingingthenakedcarcassestothesharkandsaltingdowntheskinssothattheymightlateradornthefairshouldersofthewomenofthecities.
Itwaswantonslaughter,andallforwoman’ssake.Nomanateofthesealmeatortheoil.
Afteragoodday’skillingIhaveseenourdeckscoveredwithhidesandbodies,slipperywithfatandblood,thescuppersrunningred;masts,ropes,andrailsspatteredwiththesanguinarycolour;andthemen,likebutchersplyingtheirtrade,nakedandredofarmandhand,hardatworkwithrippingandflensing-knives,removingtheskinsfromtheprettysea-creaturestheyhadkilled.
Itwasmytasktotallythepeltsastheycameaboardfromtheboats,tooverseetheskinningandafterwardthecleansingofthedecksandbringingthingsship-shapeagain.Itwasnotpleasantwork.
Mysoulandmystomachrevoltedatit;andyet,inaway,thishandlinganddirectingofmanymenwasgoodforme.
ItdevelopedwhatlittleexecutiveabilityIpossessed,andIwasawareofatougheningorhardeningwhichIwasundergoingandwhichcouldnotbeanythingbutwholesomefor“Sissy”VanWeyden.
OnethingIwasbeginningtofeel,andthatwasthatIcouldneveragainbequitethesamemanIhadbeen.
WhilemyhopeandfaithinhumanlifestillsurvivedWolfLarsen’sdestructivecriticism,hehadneverthelessbeenacauseofchangeinminormatters.
Hehadopenedupformetheworldofthereal,ofwhichIhadknownpracticallynothingandfromwhichIhadalwaysshrunk.
Ihadlearnedtolookmorecloselyatlifeasitwaslived,torecognizethatthereweresuchthingsasfactsintheworld,toemergefromtherealmofmindandideaandtoplacecertainvaluesontheconcreteandobjectivephasesofexistence.
IsawmoreofWolfLarsenthaneverwhenwehadgainedthegrounds.
Forwhentheweatherwasfairandwewereinthemidstoftheherd,allhandswereawayintheboats,andleftonboardwereonlyheandI,andThomasMugridge,whodidnotcount.Buttherewasnoplayaboutit.
Thesixboats,spreadingoutfan-wisefromtheschooneruntilthefirstweatherboatandthelastleeboatwereanywherefromtentotwentymilesapart,cruisedalongastraightcourseovertheseatillnightfallorbadweatherdrovethemin.
ItwasourdutytosailtheGhostwelltoleewardofthelastleeboat,sothatalltheboatsshouldhavefairwindtorunforusincaseofsquallsorthreateningweather.
Itisnoslightmatterfortwomen,particularlywhenastiffwindhassprungup,tohandleavesselliketheGhost,steering,keepinglook-outfortheboats,andsettingortakinginsail;soitdevolveduponmetolearn,andlearnquickly.
SteeringIpickedupeasily,butrunningalofttothecrosstreesandswingingmywholeweightbymyarmswhenIlefttheratlinesandclimbedstillhigher,wasmoredifficult.
This,too,Ilearned,andquickly,forIfeltsomehowawilddesiretovindicatemyselfinWolfLarsen’seyes,toprovemyrighttoliveinwaysotherthanofthemind.
Nay,thetimecamewhenItookjoyintherunofthemastheadandintheclingingonbymylegsatthatprecariousheightwhileIswepttheseawithglassesinsearchoftheboats.
Irememberonebeautifulday,whentheboatsleftearlyandthereportsofthehunters’gunsgrewdimanddistantanddiedawayastheyscatteredfarandwideoverthesea.
Therewasjustthefaintestwindfromthewestward;butitbreatheditslastbythetimewemanagedtogettoleewardofthelastleeboat.
Onebyone—Iwasatthemastheadandsaw—thesixboatsdisappearedoverthebulgeoftheearthastheyfollowedthesealintothewest.
Welay,scarcelyrollingontheplacidsea,unabletofollow.WolfLarsenwasapprehensive.
Thebarometerwasdown,andtheskytotheeastdidnotpleasehim.Hestudieditwithunceasingvigilance.
“Ifshecomesoutofthere,”hesaid,“hardandsnappy,puttingustowindwardoftheboats,it’slikelythere’llbeemptybunksinsteerageandfo’c’sle.”
Byeleveno’clocktheseahadbecomeglass.
Bymidday,thoughwewerewellupinthenortherlylatitudes,theheatwassickening.Therewasnofreshnessintheair.
Itwassultryandoppressive,remindingmeofwhattheoldCaliforniansterm“earthquakeweather.”
Therewassomethingominousaboutit,andinintangiblewaysonewasmadetofeelthattheworstwasabouttocome.
Slowlythewholeeasternskyfilledwithcloudsthatover-towereduslikesomeblacksierraoftheinfernalregions.
Soclearlycouldoneseecañon,gorge,andprecipice,andtheshadowsthatlietherein,thatonelookedunconsciouslyforthewhitesurf-lineandbellowingcavernswheretheseachargesontheland.
Andstillwerockedgently,andtherewasnowind.
“It’snosquare”WolfLarsensaid.“OldMotherNature’sgoingtogetuponherhindlegsandhowlforallthat’sinher,andit’llkeepusjumping,Hump,topullthroughwithhalfourboats.
You’dbetterrunupandloosenthetopsails.”
“Butifitisgoingtohowl,andthereareonlytwoofus?”Iasked,anoteofprotestinmyvoice.
“Whywe’vegottomakethebestofthefirstofitandrundowntoourboatsbeforeourcanvasisrippedoutofus.
AfterthatIdon’tgivearapwhathappens.
Thesticks’llstandit,andyouandIwillhaveto,thoughwe’veplentycutoutforus.”
Stillthecalmcontinued.Weatedinner,ahurriedandanxiousmealformewitheighteenmenabroadontheseaandbeyondthebulgeoftheearth,andwiththatheaven-rollingmountainrangeofcloudsmovingslowlydownuponus.
WolfLarsendidnotseemaffected,however;thoughInoticed,whenwereturnedtothedeck,aslighttwitchingofthenostrils,aperceptiblequicknessofmovement.
Hisfacewasstern,thelinesofithadgrownhard,andyetinhiseyes—blue,clearbluethisday—therewasastrangebrilliancy,abrightscintillatinglight.
Itstruckmethathewasjoyous,inaferocioussortofway;thathewasgladtherewasanimpendingstruggle;thathewasthrilledandupbornewithknowledgethatoneofthegreatmomentsofliving,whenthetideoflifesurgesupinflood,wasuponhim.
Once,andunwittingthathedidsoorthatIsaw,helaughedaloud,mockinglyanddefiantly,attheadvancingstorm.
IseehimyetstandingtherelikeapigmyoutoftheArabianNightsbeforethehugefrontofsomemalignantgenie.
Hewasdaringdestiny,andhewasunafraid.
Hewalkedtothegalley.“Cooky,bythetimeyou’vefinishedpotsandpansyou’llbewantedondeck.Standreadyforacall.”
“Hump,”hesaid,becomingcognizantofthefascinatedgazeIbentuponhim,“thisbeatswhiskyandiswhereyourOmarmisses.Ithinkheonlyhalflivedafterall.”
Thewesternhalfoftheskyhadbynowgrownmurky.
Thesunhaddimmedandfadedoutofsight.
Itwastwointheafternoon,andaghostlytwilight,shotthroughbywanderingpurplishlights,haddescendeduponus.
InthispurplishlightWolfLarsen’sfaceglowedandglowed,andtomyexcitedfancyheappearedencircledbyahalo.
Welayinthemidstofanunearthlyquiet,whileallaboutusweresignsandomensofoncomingsoundandmovement.Thesultryheathadbecomeunendurable.
Thesweatwasstandingonmyforehead,andIcouldfeelittricklingdownmynose.
IfeltasthoughIshouldfaint,andreachedouttotherailforsupport.
Andthen,justthen,thefaintestpossiblewhisperofairpassedby.
Itwasfromtheeast,andlikeawhisperitcameandwent.
Thedroopingcanvaswasnotstirred,andyetmyfacehadfelttheairandbeencooled.
“Cooky,”WolfLarsencalledinalowvoice.
ThomasMugridgeturnedapitiablescaredface.
“Letgothatforeboomtackleandpassitacross,andwhenshe’swillingletgothesheetandcomeinsnugwiththetackle.
Andifyoumakeamessofit,itwillbethelastyouevermake.Understand?”
“Mr.VanWeyden,standbytopassthehead-sailsover.
ThenjumpforthetopsailsandspreadthemquickasGod’llletyou—thequickeryoudoittheeasieryou’llfindit.
AsforCooky,ifheisn’tlivelybathimbetweentheeyes.”
Iwasawareofthecomplimentandpleased,inthatnothreathadaccompaniedmyinstructions.Wewerelyingheadtonorth-west,anditwashisintentiontojibeoverallwiththefirstpuff.
“We’llhavethebreezeonourquarter,”heexplainedtome.“Bythelastgunstheboatswerebearingawayslightlytothesouth’ard.”
Heturnedandwalkedafttothewheel.Iwentforwardandtookmystationatthejibs.Anotherwhisperofwind,andanother,passedby.Thecanvasflappedlazily.
“ThankGawdshe’snotcomin’allofabunch,Mr.VanWeyden,”wastheCockney’sferventejaculation.
AndIwasindeedthankful,forIhadbythistimelearnedenoughtoknow,withallourcanvasspread,whatdisasterinsucheventawaitedus.
Thewhispersofwindbecamepuffs,thesailsfilled,theGhostmoved.
WolfLarsenputthewheelhardup,toport,andwebegantopayoff.
Thewindwasnowdeadastern,mutteringandpuffingstrongerandstronger,andmyhead-sailswerepoundinglustily.
Ididnotseewhatwentonelsewhere,thoughIfeltthesuddensurgeandheeloftheschoonerasthewind-pressureschangedtothejibingofthefore-andmain-sails.
Myhandswerefullwiththeflying-jib,jib,andstaysail;andbythetimethispartofmytaskwasaccomplishedtheGhostwasleapingintothesouth-west,thewindonherquarterandallhersheetstostarboard.
Withoutpausingforbreath,thoughmyheartwasbeatinglikeatrip-hammerfrommyexertions,Isprangtothetopsails,andbeforethewindhadbecometoostrongwehadthemfairlysetandwerecoilingdown.ThenIwentaftfororders.
WolfLarsennoddedapprovalandrelinquishedthewheeltome.
Thewindwasstrengtheningsteadilyandthesearising.
ForanhourIsteered,eachmomentbecomingmoredifficult.
Ihadnottheexperiencetosteeratthegaitweweregoingonaquarteringcourse.
“Nowtakearunupwiththeglassesandraisesomeoftheboats.We’vemadeatleasttenknots,andwe’regoingtwelveorthirteennow.Theoldgirlknowshowtowalk.”
Icontestedmyselfwiththeforecrosstrees,someseventyfeetabovethedeck.
AsIsearchedthevacantstretchofwaterbeforeme,Icomprehendedthoroughlytheneedforhasteifweweretorecoveranyofourmen.
Indeed,asIgazedattheheavyseathroughwhichwewererunning,Idoubtedthattherewasaboatafloat.
Itdidnotseempossiblethatsuchfrailcraftcouldsurvivesuchstressofwindandwater.
Icouldnotfeelthefullforceofthewind,forwewererunningwithit;butfrommyloftyperchIlookeddownasthoughoutsidetheGhostandapartfromher,andsawtheshapeofheroutlinedsharplyagainstthefoamingseaasshetorealonginstinctwithlife.
Sometimesshewouldliftandsendacrosssomegreatwave,buryingherstarboard-railfromview,andcoveringherdecktothehatcheswiththeboilingocean.
Atsuchmoments,startingfromawindwardroll,Iwouldgoflyingthroughtheairwithdizzyingswiftness,asthoughIclungtotheendofahuge,invertedpendulum,thearcofwhich,betweenthegreaterrolls,musthavebeenseventyfeetormore.
Once,theterrorofthisgiddysweepoverpoweredme,andforawhileIclungon,handandfoot,weakandtrembling,unabletosearchtheseaforthemissingboatsortobeholdaughtoftheseabutthatwhichroaredbeneathandstrovetooverwhelmtheGhost.
Butthethoughtofthemeninthemidstofitsteadiedme,andinmyquestforthemIforgotmyself.
ForanhourIsawnothingbutthenaked,desolatesea.
Andthen,whereavagrantshaftofsunlightstrucktheoceanandturneditssurfacetowrathfulsilver,Icaughtasmallblackspeckthrustskywardforaninstantandswallowedup.Iwaitedpatiently.
Againthetinypointofblackprojecteditselfthroughthewrathfulblazeacoupleofpointsoffourport-bow.
Ididnotattempttoshout,butcommunicatedthenewstoWolfLarsenbywavingmyarm.
Hechangedthecourse,andIsignalledaffirmationwhenthespeckshoweddeadahead.
Itgrewlarger,andsoswiftlythatforthefirsttimeIfullyappreciatedthespeedofourflight.
WolfLarsenmotionedformetocomedown,andwhenIstoodbesidehimatthewheelgavemeinstructionsforheavingto.
“Expectallhelltobreakloose,”hecautionedme,“butdon’tmindit.YoursistodoyourownworkandtohaveCookystandbythefore-sheet.”
Imanagedtomakemywayforward,buttherewaslittlechoiceofsides,fortheweather-railseemedburiedasoftenasthelee.
HavinginstructedThomasMugridgeastowhathewastodo,Iclamberedintothefore-riggingafewfeet.
Theboatwasnowveryclose,andIcouldmakeoutplainlythatitwaslyingheadtowindandseaanddraggingonitsmastandsail,whichhadbeenthrownoverboardandmadetoserveasasea-anchor.Thethreemenwerebailing.
Eachrollingmountainwhelmedthemfromview,andIwouldwaitwithsickeninganxiety,fearingthattheywouldneverappearagain.
Then,andwithblacksuddenness,theboatwouldshootclearthroughthefoamingcrest,bowpointedtothesky,andthewholelengthofherbottomshowing,wetanddark,tillsheseemedonend.
Therewouldbeafleetingglimpseofthethreemenflingingwaterinfrantichaste,whenshewouldtoppleoverandfallintotheyawningvalley,bowdownandshowingherfullinsidelengthtothesternuprearedalmostdirectlyabovethebow.
Eachtimethatshereappearedwasamiracle.
TheGhostsuddenlychangedhercourse,keepingaway,anditcametomewithashockthatWolfLarsenwasgivinguptherescueasimpossible.
ThenIrealizedthathewaspreparingtoheaveto,anddroppedtothedecktobeinreadiness.
Wewerenowdeadbeforethewind,theboatfarawayandabreastofus.
Ifeltanabrupteasingoftheschooner,alossforthemomentofallstrainandpressure,coupledwithaswiftaccelerationofspeed.
Shewasrushingaroundonherheelintothewind.
Asshearrivedatrightanglestothesea,thefullforceofthewind(fromwhichwehadhithertorunaway)caughtus.
Iwasunfortunatelyandignorantlyfacingit.
Itstoodupagainstmelikeawall,fillingmylungswithairwhichIcouldnotexpel.
AndasIchokedandstrangled,andastheGhostwallowedforaninstant,broadsideonandrollingstraightoverandfarintothewind,Ibeheldahugesearisefarabovemyhead.
Iturnedaside,caughtmybreath,andlookedagain.
Thewaveover-toppedtheGhost,andIgazedsheerupandintoit.
Ashaftofsunlightsmotetheover-curl,andIcaughtaglimpseoftranslucent,rushinggreen,backedbyamilkysmotheroffoam.
Thenitdescended,pandemoniumbrokeloose,everythinghappenedatonce.
Iwasstruckacrushing,stunningblow,nowhereinparticularandyeteverywhere.
Myholdhadbeenbrokenloose,Iwasunderwater,andthethoughtpassedthroughmymindthatthiswastheterriblethingofwhichIhadheard,thebeingsweptinthetroughofthesea.
Mybodystruckandpoundedasitwasdashedhelplesslyalongandturnedoverandover,andwhenIcouldholdmybreathnolonger,Ibreathedthestingingsaltwaterintomylungs.
ButthroughitallIclungtotheoneidea—Imustgetthejibbackedovertowindward.Ihadnofearofdeath.
IhadnodoubtbutthatIshouldcomethroughsomehow.
AndasthisideaoffulfillingWolfLarsen’sorderpersistedinmydazedconsciousness,Iseemedtoseehimstandingatthewheelinthemidstofthewildwelter,pittinghiswillagainstthewillofthestormanddefyingit.
IbroughtupviolentlyagainstwhatItooktobetherail,breathed,andbreathedthesweetairagain.
Itriedtorise,butstruckmyheadandwasknockedbackonhandsandknees.
BysomefreakofthewatersIhadbeensweptclearundertheforecastle-headandintotheeyes.
AsIscrambledoutonallfours,IpassedoverthebodyofThomasMugridge,wholayinagroaningheap.Therewasnotimetoinvestigate.Imustgetthejibbackedover.
WhenIemergedondeckitseemedthattheendofeverythinghadcome.
Onallsidestherewasarendingandcrashingofwoodandsteelandcanvas.
TheGhostwasbeingwrenchedandtorntofragments.
Theforesailandfore-topsail,emptiedofthewindbythemanœuvre,andwithnoonetobringinthesheetintime,werethunderingintoribbons,theheavyboomthreshingandsplinteringfromrailtorail.
Theairwasthickwithflyingwreckage,detachedropesandstayswerehissingandcoilinglikesnakes,anddownthroughitallcrashedthegaffoftheforesail.
Thesparcouldnothavemissedmebymanyinches,whileitspurredmetoaction.Perhapsthesituationwasnothopeless.IrememberedWolfLarsen’scaution.
Hehadexpectedallhelltobreakloose,andhereitwas.Andwherewashe?
Icaughtsightofhimtoilingatthemain-sheet,heavingitinandflatwithhistremendousmuscles,thesternoftheschoonerliftedhighintheairandhisbodyoutlinedagainstawhitesurgeofseasweepingpast.
Allthis,andmore,—awholeworldofchaosandwreck,—inpossiblyfifteensecondsIhadseenandheardandgrasped.
Ididnotstoptoseewhathadbecomeofthesmallboat,butsprangtothejib-sheet.
Thejibitselfwasbeginningtoslap,partiallyfillingandemptyingwithsharpreports;butwithaturnofthesheetandtheapplicationofmywholestrengtheachtimeitslapped,Islowlybackedit.ThisIknow:Ididmybest.
IpulledtillIburstopentheendsofallmyfingers;andwhileIpulled,theflying-jibandstaysailsplittheirclothsapartandthunderedintonothingness.
StillIpulled,holdingwhatIgainedeachtimewithadoubleturnuntilthenextslapgavememore.
Thenthesheetgavewithgreaterease,andWolfLarsenwasbesideme,heavinginalonewhileIwasbusiedtakinguptheslack.
“Makefast!”heshouted.“Andcomeon!”
AsIfollowedhim,Inotedthatinspiteofrackandruinaroughorderobtained.TheGhostwashoveto.
Shewasstillinworkingorder,andshewasstillworking.
Thoughtherestofhersailsweregone,thejib,backedtowindward,andthemainsailhauleddownflat,werethemselvesholding,andholdingherbowtothefuriousseaaswell.
Ilookedfortheboat,and,whileWolfLarsenclearedtheboat-tackles,sawitlifttoleewardonabigseaannotascoreoffeetaway.
And,sonicelyhadhemadehiscalculation,wedriftedfairlydownuponit,sothatnothingremainedtodobuthookthetacklestoeitherendandhoistitaboard.
Butthiswasnotdonesoeasilyasitiswritten.
InthebowwasKerfoot,Oofty-Ooftyinthestern,andKellyamidships.
Aswedriftedclosertheboatwouldriseonawavewhilewesankinthetrough,tillalmoststraightabovemeIcouldseetheheadsofthethreemencranedoversideandlookingdown.
Then,thenextmoment,wewouldliftandsoarupwardwhiletheysankfardownbeneathus.
ItseemedincrediblethatthenextsurgeshouldnotcrushtheGhostdownuponthetinyeggshell.
But,attherightmoment,IpassedthetackletotheKanaka,whileWolfLarsendidthesamethingforwardtoKerfoot.
Bothtackleswerehookedinatrice,andthethreemen,deftlytimingtheroll,madeasimultaneousleapaboardtheschooner.
AstheGhostrolledhersideoutofwater,theboatwasliftedsnuglyagainsther,andbeforethereturnrollcame,wehadheaveditinoverthesideandturneditbottomuponthedeck.
InoticedbloodspoutingfromKerfoot’slefthand.
Insomewaythethirdfingerhadbeencrushedtoapulp.
Buthegavenosignofpain,andwithhissinglerighthandhelpeduslashtheboatinitsplace.
“Standbytoletthatjibover,youOofty!”
WolfLarsencommanded,theverysecondwehadfinishedwiththeboat.
“Kelly,comeaftandslackoffthemain-sheet!
You,Kerfoot,gofor’ardandseewhat’sbecomeofCooky!
Mr.VanWeyden,runaloftagain,andcutawayanystraystuffonyourway!”
Andhavingcommanded,hewentaftwithhispeculiartigerishleapstothewheel.
WhileItoiledupthefore-shroudstheGhostslowlypaidoff.
Thistime,aswewentintothetroughoftheseaandwereswept,therewerenosailstocarryaway.
And,halfwaytothecrosstreesandflattenedagainsttheriggingbythefullforceofthewindsothatitwouldhavebeenimpossibleformetohavefallen,theGhostalmostonherbeam-endsandthemastsparallelwiththewater,Ilooked,notdown,butatalmostrightanglesfromtheperpendicular,tothedeckoftheGhost.
ButIsaw,notthedeck,butwherethedeckshouldhavebeen,foritwasburiedbeneathawildtumblingofwater.
OutofthiswaterIcouldseethetwomastsrising,andthatwasall.
TheGhost,forthemoment,wasburiedbeneaththesea.
Asshesquaredoffmoreandmore,escapingfromthesidepressure,sherightedherselfandbrokeherdeck,likeawhale’sback,throughtheoceansurface.
Thenweraced,andwildly,acrossthewildsea,thewhileIhunglikeaflyinthecrosstreesandsearchedfortheotherboats.
Inhalf-an-hourIsightedthesecondone,swampedandbottomup,towhichweredesperatelyclingingJockHorner,fatLouis,andJohnson.
ThistimeIremainedaloft,andWolfLarsensucceededinheavingtowithoutbeingswept.Asbefore,wedrifteddownuponit.
Tacklesweremadefastandlinesflungtothemen,whoscrambledaboardlikemonkeys.
Theboatitselfwascrushedandsplinteredagainsttheschooner’ssideasitcameinboard;butthewreckwassecurelylashed,foritcouldbepatchedandmadewholeagain.
OncemoretheGhostboreawaybeforethestorm,thistimesosubmergingherselfthatforsomesecondsIthoughtshewouldneverreappear.
Eventhewheel,quiteadealhigherthanthewaist,wascoveredandsweptagainandagain.
AtsuchmomentsIfeltstrangelyalonewithGod,alonewithhimandwatchingthechaosofhiswrath.
Andthenthewheelwouldreappear,andWolfLarsen’sbroadshoulders,hishandsgrippingthespokesandholdingtheschoonertothecourseofhiswill,himselfanearth-god,dominatingthestorm,flingingitsdescendingwatersfromhimandridingittohisownends.Andoh,themarvelofit!themarvelofit!
Thattinymenshouldliveandbreatheandwork,anddrivesofrailacontrivanceofwoodandcloththroughsotremendousanelementalstrife.
Asbefore,theGhostswungoutofthetrough,liftingherdeckagainoutofthesea,anddashedbeforethehowlingblast.
Itwasnowhalf-pastfive,andhalf-an-hourlater,whenthelastofthedaylostitselfinadimandfurioustwilight,Isightedathirdboat.
Itwasbottomup,andtherewasnosignofitscrew.
WolfLarsenrepeatedhismanœuvre,holdingoffandthenroundinguptowindwardanddriftingdownuponit.
Butthistimehemissedbyfortyfeet,theboatpassingastern.
“Numberfourboat!”Oofty-Ooftycried,hiskeeneyesreadingitsnumberintheonesecondwhenitliftedclearofthefoam,andupsidedown.
ItwasHenderson’sboatandwithhimhadbeenlostHolyoakandWilliams,anotherofthedeep-watercrowd.
Losttheyindubitablywere;buttheboatremained,andWolfLarsenmadeonemorerecklessefforttorecoverit.
Ihadcomedowntothedeck,andIsawHornerandKerfootvainlyprotestagainsttheattempt.
“ByGod,I’llnotberobbedofmyboatbyanystormthateverblewoutofhell!”
heshouted,andthoughwefourstoodwithourheadstogetherthatwemighthear,hisvoiceseemedfaintandfar,asthoughremovedfromusanimmensedistance.
“Mr.VanWeyden!”hecried,andIheardthroughthetumultasonemighthearawhisper.
“StandbythatjibwithJohnsonandOofty!
Therestofyoutailafttothemainsheet!Livelynow!orI’llsailyouallintoKingdomCome!Understand?”
AndwhenheputthewheelhardoverandtheGhost’sbowswungoff,therewasnothingforthehunterstodobutobeyandmakethebestofariskychance.
HowgreattheriskIrealizedwhenIwasoncemoreburiedbeneaththepoundingseasandclingingforlifetothepinrailatthefootoftheforemast.
Myfingersweretornloose,andIsweptacrosstothesideandoverthesideintothesea.
Icouldnotswim,butbeforeIcouldsinkIwassweptbackagain.
Astronghandgrippedme,andwhentheGhostfinallyemerged,IfoundthatIowedmylifetoJohnson.
Isawhimlookinganxiouslyabouthim,andnotedthatKelly,whohadcomeforwardatthelastmoment,wasmissing.
Thistime,havingmissedtheboat,andnotbeinginthesamepositionasinthepreviousinstances,WolfLarsenwascompelledtoresorttoadifferentmanœuvre.
Runningoffbeforethewindwitheverythingtostarboard,hecameabout,andreturnedclose-hauledontheporttack.
“Grand!”Johnsonshoutedinmyear,aswesuccessfullycamethroughtheattendantdeluge,andIknewhereferred,nottoWolfLarsen’sseamanship,buttotheperformanceoftheGhostherself.
Itwasnowsodarkthattherewasnosignoftheboat;butWolfLarsenheldbackthroughthefrightfulturmoilasifguidedbyunerringinstinct.
Thistime,thoughwewerecontinuallyhalf-buried,therewasnotroughinwhichtobeswept,andwedriftedsquarelydownupontheupturnedboat,badlysmashingitasitwasheavedinboard.
Twohoursofterribleworkfollowed,inwhichallhandsofus—twohunters,threesailors,WolfLarsenandI—reefed,firstoneandthentheother,thejibandmainsail.
Hovetounderthisshortcanvas,ourdeckswerecomparativelyfreeofwater,whiletheGhostbobbedandduckedamongstthecomberslikeacork.
Ihadburstopentheendsofmyfingersattheveryfirst,andduringthereefingIhadworkedwithtearsofpainrunningdownmycheeks.
Andwhenallwasdone,Igaveuplikeawomanandrolleduponthedeckintheagonyofexhaustion.
InthemeantimeThomasMugridge,likeadrownedrat,wasbeingdraggedoutfromundertheforecastleheadwherehehadcravenlyensconcedhimself.
Isawhimpulledafttothecabin,andnotedwithashockofsurprisethatthegalleyhaddisappeared.
Acleanspaceofdeckshowedwhereithadstood.
InthecabinIfoundallhandsassembled,sailorsaswell,andwhilecoffeewasbeingcookedoverthesmallstovewedrankwhiskyandcrunchedhard-tack.
Neverinmylifehadfoodbeensowelcome.
Andneverhadhotcoffeetastedsogood.
SoviolentlydidtheGhost,pitchandtossandtumblethatitwasimpossibleforeventhesailorstomoveaboutwithoutholdingon,andseveraltimes,afteracryof“Nowshetakesit!”
wewereheapeduponthewalloftheportcabinsasthoughithadbeenthedeck.
“Tohellwithalook-out,”IheardWolfLarsensaywhenwehadeatenanddrunkourfill.“There’snothingcanbedoneondeck.
Ifanything’sgoingtorunusdownwecouldn’tgetoutofitsway.
Turnin,allhands,andgetsomesleep.”
Thesailorsslippedforward,settingtheside-lightsastheywent,whilethetwohuntersremainedtosleepinthecabin,itnotbeingdeemedadvisabletoopentheslidetothesteeragecompanion-way.
WolfLarsenandI,betweenus,cutoffKerfoot’scrushedfingerandsewedupthestump.
Mugridge,who,duringallthetimehehadbeencompelledtocookandservecoffeeandkeepthefiregoing,hadcomplainedofinternalpains,nowsworethathehadabrokenribortwo.
Onexaminationwefoundthathehadthree.
Buthiscasewasdeferredtonextday,principallyforthereasonthatIdidnotknowanythingaboutbrokenribsandwouldfirsthavetoreaditup.
“Idon’tthinkitwasworthit,”IsaidtoWolfLarsen,“abrokenboatforKelly’slife.”
“ButKellydidn’tamounttomuch,”wasthereply.“Good-night.”
Afterallthathadpassed,sufferingintolerableanguishinmyfinger-ends,andwiththreeboatsmissing,tosaynothingofthewildcaperstheGhostwascutting,Ishouldhavethoughtitimpossibletosleep.
Butmyeyesmusthaveclosedtheinstantmyheadtouchedthepillow,andinutterexhaustionIsleptthroughoutthenight,thewhiletheGhost,lonelyandundirected,foughtherwaythroughthestorm.
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