English
IcameondecktofindtheGhostheadingupcloseontheporttackandcuttingintowindwardofafamiliarspritsailclose-hauledonthesametackaheadofus.
Allhandswereondeck,fortheyknewthatsomethingwastohappenwhenLeachandJohnsonweredraggedaboard.
Itwasfourbells.Louiscameafttorelievethewheel.Therewasadampnessintheair,andInoticedhehadonhisoilskins.
“Whatarewegoingtohave?”Iaskedhim.
“Ahealthyyoungslipofagalefromthebreathivit,sir,”heanswered,“withasplatterivrainjusttowetourgillsan’nomore.”
“Toobadwesightedthem,”Isaid,astheGhost’sbowwasflungoffapointbyalargeseaandtheboatleapedforamomentpastthejibsandintoourlineofvision.
Louisgaveaspokeandtemporized.“They’dneverivmadetheland,sir,I’mthinkin’.”
“Thinknot?”Iqueried.
“No,sir.Didyoufeelthat?”
(Apuffhadcaughttheschooner,andhewasforcedtoputthewheeluprapidlytokeepheroutofthewind.)
“’Tisnoegg-shell’llfloatonthisseaanhourcome,an’it’sastrokeivluckforthemwe’reheretopick’emup.”
WolfLarsenstrodeaftfromamidships,wherehehadbeentalkingwiththerescuedmen.
Thecat-likespringinessinhistreadwasalittlemorepronouncedthanusual,andhiseyeswerebrightandsnappy.
“Threeoilersandafourthengineer,”washisgreeting.“Butwe’llmakesailorsoutofthem,orboat-pullersatanyrate.Now,whatofthelady?”
Iknownotwhy,butIwasawareofatwingeorpanglikethecutofaknifewhenhementionedher.
Ithoughtitacertainsillyfastidiousnessonmypart,butitpersistedinspiteofme,andImerelyshruggedmyshouldersinanswer.
WolfLarsenpursedhislipsinalong,quizzicalwhistle.
“What’shername,then?”hedemanded.
“Idon’tknow,”Ireplied.“Sheisasleep.Shewasverytired.Infact,Iamwaitingtohearthenewsfromyou.Whatvesselwasit?”
“Mailsteamer,”heansweredshortly.“TheCityofTokio,from’Frisco,boundforYokohama.Disabledinthattyphoon.Oldtub.Openeduptopandbottomlikeasieve.Theywereadriftfourdays.
Andyoudon’tknowwhoorwhatsheis,eh?—maid,wife,orwidow?Well,well.”
Heshookhisheadinabanteringway,andregardedmewithlaughingeyes.
“Areyou—”Ibegan.ItwasonthevergeofmytonguetoaskifheweregoingtotakethecastawaysintoYokohama.
“AmIwhat?”heasked.
“WhatdoyouintenddoingwithLeachandJohnson?”
Heshookhishead.“Really,Hump,Idon’tknow.Yousee,withtheseadditionsI’veaboutallthecrewIwant.”
“Andthey’veaboutalltheescapingtheywant,”Isaid.
“Whynotgivethemachangeoftreatment?
Takethemaboard,anddealgentlywiththem.
Whatevertheyhavedonetheyhavebeenhoundedintodoing.”
“Byme?”
“Byyou,”Iansweredsteadily.“AndIgiveyouwarning,WolfLarsen,thatImayforgetloveofmyownlifeinthedesiretokillyouifyougotoofarinmaltreatingthosepoorwretches.”
“Bravo!”hecried.“Youdomeproud,Hump!
You’vefoundyourlegswithavengeance.You’requiteanindividual.
Youwereunfortunateinhavingyourlifecastineasyplaces,butyou’redeveloping,andIlikeyouthebetterforit.”
Hisvoiceandexpressionchanged.Hisfacewasserious.“Doyoubelieveinpromises?”heasked.“Aretheysacredthings?”
“Ofcourse,”Ianswered.
“Thenhere’sacompact,”hewenton,consummateactor.“IfIpromisenottolaymyhandsuponLeachwillyoupromise,inturn,nottoattempttokillme?”
“Oh,notthatI’mafraidofyou,notthatI’mafraidofyou,”hehastenedtoadd.
Icouldhardlybelievemyears.Whatwascomingovertheman?
“Isitago?”heaskedimpatiently.
“Ago,”Ianswered.
Hishandwentouttomine,andasIshookitheartilyIcouldhaveswornIsawthemockingdevilshineupforamomentinhiseyes.
Westrolledacrossthepooptotheleeside.
Theboatwascloseathandnow,andindesperateplight.Johnsonwassteering,Leachbailing.
Weoverhauledthemabouttwofeettotheirone.
WolfLarsenmotionedLouistokeepoffslightly,andwedashedabreastoftheboat,notascoreoffeettowindward.TheGhostblanketedit.
Thespritsailflappedemptilyandtheboatrightedtoanevenkeel,causingthetwomenswiftlytochangeposition.
Theboatlostheadway,and,asweliftedonahugesurge,toppledandfellintothetrough.
ItwasatthismomentthatLeachandJohnsonlookedupintothefacesoftheirshipmates,wholinedtherailamidships.Therewasnogreeting.
Theywereasdeadmenintheircomrades’eyes,andbetweenthemwasthegulfthatpartsthelivingandthedead.
Thenextinstanttheywereoppositethepoop,wherestoodWolfLarsenandI.
Wewerefallinginthetrough,theywererisingonthesurge.
Johnsonlookedatme,andIcouldseethathisfacewaswornandhaggard.
Iwavedmyhandtohim,andheansweredthegreeting,butwithawavethatwashopelessanddespairing.Itwasasifheweresayingfarewell.
IdidnotseeintotheeyesofLeach,forhewaslookingatWolfLarsen,theoldandimplacablesnarlofhatredstrongaseveronhisface.
Thentheyweregoneastern.Thespritsailfilledwiththewind,suddenly,careeningthefrailopencrafttillitseemeditwouldsurelycapsize.
Awhitecapfoamedaboveitandbrokeacrossinasnow-whitesmother.
Thentheboatemerged,halfswamped,LeachflingingthewateroutandJohnsonclingingtothesteering-oar,hisfacewhiteandanxious.
WolfLarsenbarkedashortlaughinmyearandstrodeawaytotheweathersideofthepoop.
IexpectedhimtogiveordersfortheGhosttoheaveto,butshekeptonhercourseandhemadenosign.
Louisstoodimperturbablyatthewheel,butInoticedthegroupedsailorsforwardturningtroubledfacesinourdirection.
StilltheGhosttorealong,tilltheboatdwindledtoaspeck,whenWolfLarsen’svoicerangoutincommandandhewentaboutonthestarboardtack.
Backweheld,twomilesandmoretowindwardofthestrugglingcockle-shell,whentheflyingjibwasrundownandtheschoonerhoveto.
Thesealingboatsarenotmadeforwindwardwork.
Theirhopeliesinkeepingaweatherpositionsothattheymayrunbeforethewindfortheschoonerwhenitbreezesup.
ButinallthatwildwastetherewasnorefugeforLeachandJohnsonsaveontheGhost,andtheyresolutelybeganthewindwardbeat.
Itwasslowworkintheheavyseathatwasrunning.
Atanymomenttheywereliabletobeoverwhelmedbythehissingcombers.
Timeandagainandcountlesstimeswewatchedtheboatluffintothebigwhitecaps,loseheadway,andbeflungbacklikeacork.
Johnsonwasasplendidseaman,andheknewasmuchaboutsmallboatsashedidaboutships.
Attheendofanhourandahalfhewasnearlyalongside,standingpastoursternonthelastlegout,aimingtofetchusonthenextlegback.
“Soyou’vechangedyourmind?”IheardWolfLarsenmutter,halftohimself,halftothemasthoughtheycouldhear.“Youwanttocomeaboard,eh?Well,then,justkeepa-coming.”
“Hardupwiththathelm!”hecommandedOofty-Oofty,theKanaka,whohadinthemeantimerelievedLouisatthewheel.
Commandfollowedcommand.Astheschoonerpaidoff,thefore-andmain-sheetswereslackedawayforfairwind.
Andbeforethewindwewere,andleaping,whenJohnson,easinghissheetatimminentperil,cutacrossourwakeahundredfeetaway.
AgainWolfLarsenlaughed,atthesametimebeckoningthemwithhisarmtofollow.
Itwasevidentlyhisintentiontoplaywiththem,—alesson,Itookit,inlieuofabeating,thoughadangerouslesson,forthefrailcraftstoodinmomentarydangerofbeingoverwhelmed.
Johnsonsquaredawaypromptlyandranafterus.Therewasnothingelseforhimtodo.
Deathstalkedeverywhere,anditwasonlyamatteroftimewhensomeoneofthosemanyhugeseaswouldfallupontheboat,rolloverit,andpasson.
“’Tisthefearivdeathattheheartsivthem,”Louismutteredinmyear,asIpassedforwardtoseetotakingintheflyingjibandstaysail.
“Oh,he’llheavetoinalittlewhileandpickthemup,”Iansweredcheerfully.“He’sbentupongivingthemalesson,that’sall.”
Louislookedatmeshrewdly.“Thinkso?”heasked.
“Surely,”Ianswered.“Don’tyou?”
“Ithinknothingbutivmyownskin,thesedays,”washisanswer.
“An’’tiswithwonderI’mfilledastotheworkin’outivthings.
Aprettymessthat’Friscowhiskygotmeinto,an’aprettiermessthatwoman’sgotyouintoaftthere.
Ah,it’smyselfthatknowsyeforablitherin’fool.”
“Whatdoyoumean?”Idemanded;for,havingspedhisshaft,hewasturningaway.
“WhatdoImean?”hecried.“Andit’syouthatasksme!’TisnotwhatImean,butwhattheWolf’llmean.TheWolf,Isaid,theWolf!”
“Iftroublecomes,willyoustandby?”Iaskedimpulsively,forhehadvoicedmyownfear.
“Standby?’TisoldfatLouisIstandby,an’troubleenoughit’llbe.We’reatthebeginnin’ivthings,I’mtellin’ye,thebarebeginnin’ivthings.”
“Ihadnotthoughtyousogreatacoward,”Isneered.
Hefavouredmewithacontemptuousstare.
“IfIraisedneverahandforthatpoorfool,”—pointingasterntothetinysail,—“d’yethinkI’mhungerin’forabrokenheadforawomanIneverlaidmeeyesuponbeforethisday?”
Iturnedscornfullyawayandwentaft.
“Bettergetinthosetopsails,Mr.VanWeyden,”WolfLarsensaid,asIcameonthepoop.
Ifeltrelief,atleastasfarasthetwomenwereconcerned.
Itwasclearhedidnotwishtoruntoofarawayfromthem.
Ipickeduphopeatthethoughtandputtheorderswiftlyintoexecution.
Ihadscarcelyopenedmymouthtoissuethenecessarycommands,wheneagermenwerespringingtohalyardsanddownhauls,andotherswereracingaloft.
ThiseagernessontheirpartwasnotedbyWolfLarsenwithagrimsmile.
Stillweincreasedourlead,andwhentheboathaddroppedasternseveralmileswehovetoandwaited.
Alleyeswatcheditcoming,evenWolfLarsen’s;buthewastheonlyunperturbedmanaboard.
Louis,gazingfixedly,betrayedatroubleinhisfacehewasnotquiteabletohide.
Theboatdrewcloserandcloser,hurlingalongthroughtheseethinggreenlikeathingalive,liftingandsendinganduptossingacrossthehuge-backedbreakers,ordisappearingbehindthemonlytorushintosightagainandshootskyward.
Itseemedimpossiblethatitcouldcontinuetolive,yetwitheachdizzyingsweepitdidachievetheimpossible.
Arain-squalldrovepast,andoutoftheflyingwettheboatemerged,almostuponus.
“Hardup,there!”WolfLarsenshouted,himselfspringingtothewheelandwhirlingitover.
AgaintheGhostsprangawayandracedbeforethewind,andfortwohoursJohnsonandLeachpursuedus.
Wehovetoandranaway,hovetoandranaway,andeverasternthestrugglingpatchofsailtossedskywardandfellintotherushingvalleys.
Itwasaquarterofamileawaywhenathicksquallofrainveileditfromview.Itneveremerged.
Thewindblewtheairclearagain,butnopatchofsailbrokethetroubledsurface.
IthoughtIsaw,foraninstant,theboat’sbottomshowblackinabreakingcrest.Atthebest,thatwasall.
ForJohnsonandLeachthetravailofexistencehadceased.
Themenremainedgroupedamidships.Noonehadgonebelow,andnoonewasspeaking.Norwereanylooksbeingexchanged.
Eachmanseemedstunned—deeplycontemplative,asitwere,and,notquitesure,tryingtorealizejustwhathadtakenplace.
WolfLarsengavethemlittletimeforthought.
HeatonceputtheGhostuponhercourse—acoursewhichmeantthesealherdandnotYokohamaharbour.
Butthemenwerenolongereagerastheypulledandhauled,andIheardcursesamongstthem,whichlefttheirlipssmotheredandasheavyandlifelessaswerethey.Notsowasitwiththehunters.
Smoketheirrepressiblerelatedastory,andtheydescendedintothesteerage,bellowingwithlaughter.
AsIpassedtoleewardofthegalleyonmywayaftIwasapproachedbytheengineerwehadrescued.Hisfacewaswhite,hislipsweretrembling.
“GoodGod!sir,whatkindofacraftisthis?”hecried.
“Youhaveeyes,youhaveseen,”Ianswered,almostbrutally,whatofthepainandfearatmyownheart.
“Yourpromise?”IsaidtoWolfLarsen.
“IwasnotthinkingoftakingthemaboardwhenImadethatpromise,”heanswered.“Andanyway,you’llagreeI’venotlaidmyhandsuponthem.”
“Farfromit,farfromit,”helaughedamomentlater.
Imadenoreply.Iwasincapableofspeaking,mymindwastooconfused.Imusthavetimetothink,Iknew.
Thiswoman,sleepingevennowinthesparecabin,wasaresponsibility,whichImustconsider,andtheonlyrationalthoughtthatflickeredthroughmymindwasthatImustdonothinghastilyifIweretobeanyhelptoheratall.
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