English
“You’vebeenondeck,Mr.VanWeyden,”WolfLarsensaid,thefollowingmorningatthebreakfast-table,“Howdothingslook?”
“Clearenough,”Ianswered,glancingatthesunshinewhichstreameddowntheopencompanion-way.“Fairwesterlybreeze,withapromiseofstiffening,ifLouispredictscorrectly.”
Henoddedhisheadinapleasedway.“Anysignsoffog?”
“Thickbanksinthenorthandnorth-west.”
Henoddedhisheadagain,evincingevengreatersatisfactionthanbefore.
“WhatoftheMacedonia?”
“Notsighted,”Ianswered.
Icouldhaveswornhisfacefellattheintelligence,butwhyheshouldbedisappointedIcouldnotconceive.
Iwassoontolearn.“Smokeho!”camethehailfromondeck,andhisfacebrightened.
“Good!”heexclaimed,andleftthetableatoncetogoondeckandintothesteerage,wherethehuntersweretakingthefirstbreakfastoftheirexile.
MaudBrewsterandIscarcelytouchedthefoodbeforeus,gazing,instead,insilentanxietyateachother,andlisteningtoWolfLarsen’svoice,whicheasilypenetratedthecabinthroughtheinterveningbulkhead.
Hespokeatlength,andhisconclusionwasgreetedwithawildroarofcheers.
Thebulkheadwastoothickforustohearwhathesaid;butwhateveritwasitaffectedthehuntersstrongly,forthecheeringwasfollowedbyloudexclamationsandshoutsofjoy.
FromthesoundsondeckIknewthatthesailorshadbeenroutedoutandwerepreparingtolowertheboats.
MaudBrewsteraccompaniedmeondeck,butIleftheratthebreakofthepoop,whereshemightwatchthesceneandnotbeinit.
Thesailorsmusthavelearnedwhateverprojectwasonhand,andthevimandsnaptheyputintotheirworkattestedtheirenthusiasm.
Thehunterscametroopingondeckwithshot-gunsandammunition-boxes,and,mostunusual,theirrifles.
Thelatterwererarelytakenintheboats,forasealshotatlongrangewitharifleinvariablysankbeforeaboatcouldreachit.
Buteachhunterthisdayhadhisrifleandalargesupplyofcartridges.
InoticedtheygrinnedwithsatisfactionwhenevertheylookedattheMacedonia’ssmoke,whichwasrisinghigherandhigherassheapproachedfromthewest.
Thefiveboatswentoverthesidewitharush,spreadoutliketheribsofafan,andsetanortherlycourse,asontheprecedingafternoon,forustofollow.
Iwatchedforsometime,curiously,butthereseemednothingextraordinaryabouttheirbehaviour.
Theyloweredsails,shotseals,andhoistedsailsagain,andcontinuedontheirwayasIhadalwaysseenthemdo.
TheMacedoniarepeatedherperformanceofyesterday,“hogging”theseabydroppingherlineofboatsinadvanceofoursandacrossourcourse.
Fourteenboatsrequireaconsiderablespreadofoceanforcomfortablehunting,andwhenshehadcompletelylappedourlineshecontinuedsteamingintothenorth-east,droppingmoreboatsasshewent.
“What’sup?”IaskedWolfLarsen,unablelongertokeepmycuriosityincheck.
“Nevermindwhat’sup,”heansweredgruffly.“Youwon’tbeathousandyearsinfindingout,andinthemeantimejustprayforplentyofwind.”
“Oh,well,Idon’tmindtellingyou,”hesaidthenextmoment.
“I’mgoingtogivethatbrotherofmineatasteofhisownmedicine.
Inshort,I’mgoingtoplaythehogmyself,andnotforoneday,butfortherestoftheseason,—ifwe’reinluck.”
“Andifwe’renot?”Iqueried.
“Nottobeconsidered,”helaughed.“Wesimplymustbeinluck,orit’sallupwithus.”
Hehadthewheelatthetime,andIwentforwardtomyhospitalintheforecastle,wherelaythetwocrippledmen,NilsonandThomasMugridge.
Nilsonwasascheerfulascouldbeexpected,forhisbrokenlegwasknittingnicely;buttheCockneywasdesperatelymelancholy,andIwasawareofagreatsympathyfortheunfortunatecreature.
Andthemarvelofitwasthatstillhelivedandclungtolife.
Thebrutalyearshadreducedhismeagrebodytosplinteredwreckage,andyetthesparkoflifewithinburnedbrightlyasever.
“Withanartificialfoot—andtheymakeexcellentones—youwillbestumpingships’galleystotheendoftime,”Iassuredhimjovially.
Buthisanswerwasserious,nay,solemn.
“Idon’tknowaboutwotyous’y,Mr.VanW’yden,butIdoknowI’llneverrest’appytillIseethat’ell-’oundbloodywelldead.’Ecawn’tliveaslongasme.’
E’sgotnorighttolive,an’astheGoodWordputsit,‘’Eshallshorelydie,’an’Is’y,‘Amen,an’damnsoonatthat.’”
WhenIreturnedondeckIfoundWolfLarsensteeringmainlywithonehand,whilewiththeotherhandheheldthemarineglassesandstudiedthesituationoftheboats,payingparticularattentiontothepositionoftheMacedonia.
Theonlychangenoticeableinourboatswasthattheyhadhauledcloseonthewindandwereheadingseveralpointswestofnorth.
Still,Icouldnotseetheexpediencyofthemanœuvre,forthefreeseawasstillinterceptedbytheMacedonia’sfiveweatherboats,which,inturn,hadhauledcloseonthewind.
Thustheyslowlydivergedtowardthewest,drawingfartherawayfromtheremainderoftheboatsintheirline.
Ourboatswererowingaswellassailing.
Eventhehunterswerepulling,andwiththreepairsofoarsinthewatertheyrapidlyoverhauledwhatImayappropriatelytermtheenemy.
ThesmokeoftheMacedoniahaddwindledtoadimblotonthenorth-easternhorizon.
Ofthesteamerherselfnothingwastobeseen.
Wehadbeenloafingalong,tillnow,oursailsshakinghalfthetimeandspillingthewind;andtwice,forshortperiods,wehadbeenhoveto.Buttherewasnomoreloafing.
Sheetsweretrimmed,andWolfLarsenproceededtoputtheGhostthroughherpaces.
Weranpastourlineofboatsandboredownuponthefirstweatherboatoftheotherline.
“Downthatflyingjib,Mr.VanWeyden,”WolfLarsencommanded.“Andstandbytobackoverthejibs.”
Iranforwardandhadthedownhauloftheflyingjiballinandfastasweslippedbytheboatahundredfeettoleeward.
Thethreemeninitgazedatussuspiciously.
Theyhadbeenhoggingthesea,andtheyknewWolfLarsen,byreputationatanyrate.
Inotedthatthehunter,ahugeScandinaviansittinginthebow,heldhisrifle,readytohand,acrosshisknees.
Itshouldhavebeeninitsproperplaceintherack.
Whentheycameoppositeourstern,WolfLarsengreetedthemwithawaveofthehand,andcried:
“Comeonboardandhavea’gam’!”
“Togam,”amongthesealing-schooners,isasubstitutefortheverbs“tovisit,”“togossip.”Itexpressesthegarrulityofthesea,andisapleasantbreakinthemonotonyofthelife.
TheGhostswungaroundintothewind,andIfinishedmyworkforwardintimetorunaftandlendahandwiththemainsheet.
“Youwillpleasestayondeck,MissBrewster,”WolfLarsensaid,ashestartedforwardtomeethisguest.“Andyoutoo,Mr.VanWeyden.”
Theboathadlowereditssailandrunalongside.
Thehunter,goldenbeardedlikeasea-king,cameovertherailanddroppedondeck.
Buthishugenesscouldnotquiteovercomehisapprehensiveness.
Doubtanddistrustshowedstronglyinhisface.
Itwasatransparentface,forallofitshairyshield,andadvertisedinstantreliefwhenheglancedfromWolfLarsentome,notedthattherewasonlythepairofus,andthenglancedoverhisowntwomenwhohadjoinedhim.
Surelyhehadlittlereasontobeafraid.
HetoweredlikeaGoliathaboveWolfLarsen.
Hemusthavemeasuredsixfeeteightornineinchesinstature,andIsubsequentlylearnedhisweight—240pounds.Andtherewasnofatabouthim.Itwasallboneandmuscle.
Areturnofapprehensionwasapparentwhen,atthetopofthecompanion-way,WolfLarseninvitedhimbelow.
Buthereassuredhimselfwithaglancedownathishost—abigmanhimselfbutdwarfedbythepropinquityofthegiant.
Soallhesitancyvanished,andthepairdescendedintothecabin.
Inthemeantime,histwomen,aswasthewontofvisitingsailors,hadgoneforwardintotheforecastletodosomevisitingthemselves.
Suddenly,fromthecabincameagreat,chokingbellow,followedbyallthesoundsofafuriousstruggle.
Itwastheleopardandthelion,andthelionmadeallthenoise.WolfLarsenwastheleopard.
“Youseethesacrednessofourhospitality,”IsaidbitterlytoMaudBrewster.
Shenoddedherheadthatsheheard,andInotedinherfacethesignsofthesamesicknessatsightorsoundofviolentstrugglefromwhichIhadsufferedsoseverelyduringmyfirstweeksontheGhost.
“Wouldn’titbebetterifyouwentforward,saybythesteeragecompanion-way,untilitisover?”Isuggested.
Sheshookherheadandgazedatmepitifully.Shewasnotfrightened,butappalled,rather,atthehumananimalityofit.
“Youwillunderstand,”Itookadvantageoftheopportunitytosay,“whateverpartItakeinwhatisgoingonandwhatistocome,thatIamcompelledtotakeit—ifyouandIareevertogetoutofthisscrapewithourlives.”
“Itisnotnice—forme,”Iadded.
“Iunderstand,”shesaid,inaweak,far-awayvoice,andhereyesshowedmethatshedidunderstand.
Thesoundsfrombelowsoondiedaway.ThenWolfLarsencamealoneondeck.Therewasaslightflushunderhisbronze,butotherwiseheborenosignsofthebattle.
“Sendthosetwomenaft,Mr.VanWeyden,”hesaid.
Iobeyed,andaminuteortwolatertheystoodbeforehim.“Hoistinyourboat,”hesaidtothem.“Yourhunter’sdecidedtostayaboardawhileanddoesn’twantitpoundingalongside.”
“Hoistinyourboat,Isaid,”herepeated,thistimeinsharpertonesastheyhesitatedtodohisbidding.
“Whoknows?youmayhavetosailwithmeforatime,”hesaid,quitesoftly,withasilkenthreatthatbeliedthesoftness,astheymovedslowlytocomply,“andwemightaswellstartwithafriendlyunderstanding.Livelynow!
DeathLarsenmakesyoujumpbetterthanthat,andyouknowit!”
Theirmovementsperceptiblyquickenedunderhiscoaching,andastheboatswunginboardIwassentforwardtoletgothejibs.
WolfLarsen,atthewheel,directedtheGhostaftertheMacedonia’ssecondweatherboat.
Underway,andwithnothingforthetimebeingtodo,Iturnedmyattentiontothesituationoftheboats.
TheMacedonia’sthirdweatherboatwasbeingattackedbytwoofours,thefourthbyourremainingthree;andthefifth,turnabout,wastakingahandinthedefenceofitsnearestmate.
Thefighthadopenedatlongdistance,andtherifleswerecrackingsteadily.
Aquick,snappyseawasbeingkickedupbythewind,aconditionwhichpreventedfineshooting;andnowandagain,aswedrewcloser,wecouldseethebulletszip-zippingfromwavetowave.
Theboatwewerepursuinghadsquaredawayandwasrunningbeforethewindtoescapeus,and,inthecourseofitsflight,totakepartinrepulsingourgeneralboatattack.
Attendingtosheetsandtacksnowleftmelittletimetoseewhatwastakingplace,butIhappenedtobeonthepoopwhenWolfLarsenorderedthetwostrangesailorsforwardandintotheforecastle.Theywentsullenly,buttheywent.
HenextorderedMissBrewsterbelow,andsmiledattheinstanthorrorthatleaptintohereyes.
“You’llfindnothinggruesomedownthere,”hesaid,“onlyanunhurtmansecurelymadefasttothering-bolts.Bulletsareliabletocomeaboard,andIdon’twantyoukilled,youknow.”
Evenashespoke,abulletwasdeflectedbyabrass-cappedspokeofthewheelbetweenhishandsandscreechedoffthroughtheairtowindward.
“Yousee,”hesaidtoher;andthentome,“Mr.VanWeyden,willyoutakethewheel?”
MaudBrewsterhadsteppedinsidethecompanion-waysothatonlyherheadwasexposed.
WolfLarsenhadprocuredarifleandwasthrowingacartridgeintothebarrel.
Ibeggedherwithmyeyestogobelow,butshesmiledandsaid:
“Wemaybefeebleland-creatureswithoutlegs,butwecanshowCaptainLarsenthatweareatleastasbraveashe.”
Hegaveheraquicklookofadmiration.
“Ilikeyouahundredpercent.betterforthat,”hesaid.“Books,andbrains,andbravery.
Youarewell-rounded,ablue-stockingfittobethewifeofapiratechief.
Ahem,we’lldiscussthatlater,”hesmiled,asabulletstrucksolidlyintothecabinwall.
Isawhiseyesflashgoldenashespoke,andIsawtheterrormountinherown.
“Wearebraver,”Ihastenedtosay.“Atleast,speakingformyself,IknowIambraverthanCaptainLarsen.”
ItwasIwhowasnowfavouredbyaquicklook.
HewaswonderingifIweremakingfunofhim.
IputthreeorfourspokesovertocounteractasheertowardthewindonthepartoftheGhost,andthensteadiedher.
WolfLarsenwasstillwaitinganexplanation,andIpointeddowntomyknees.
“Youwillobservethere,”Isaid,“aslighttrembling.
ItisbecauseIamafraid,thefleshisafraid;andIamafraidinmymindbecauseIdonotwishtodie.
Butmyspiritmastersthetremblingfleshandthequalmsofthemind.Iammorethanbrave.Iamcourageous.Yourfleshisnotafraid.Youarenotafraid.
Ontheonehand,itcostsyounothingtoencounterdanger;ontheotherhand,itevengivesyoudelight.Youenjoyit.
Youmaybeunafraid,Mr.Larsen,butyoumustgrantthatthebraveryismine.”
“You’reright,”heacknowledgedatonce.“Ineverthoughtofitinthatwaybefore.Butistheoppositetrue?IfyouarebraverthanI,amImorecowardlythanyou?”
Webothlaughedattheabsurdity,andhedroppeddowntothedeckandrestedhisrifleacrosstherail.
Thebulletswehadreceivedhadtravellednearlyamile,butbynowwehadcutthatdistanceinhalf.Hefiredthreecarefulshots.
Thefirststruckfiftyfeettowindwardoftheboat,thesecondalongside;andatthethirdtheboat-steererletloosehissteering-oarandcrumpledupinthebottomoftheboat.
“Iguessthat’llfixthem,”WolfLarsensaid,risingtohisfeet.
“Icouldn’taffordtoletthehunterhaveit,andthereisachancetheboat-pullerdoesn’tknowhowtosteer.
Inwhichcase,thehuntercannotsteerandshootatthesametime.”
Hisreasoningwasjustified,fortheboatrushedatonceintothewindandthehuntersprangafttotaketheboat-steerer’splace.
Therewasnomoreshooting,thoughtherifleswerestillcrackingmerrilyfromtheotherboats.
Thehunterhadmanagedtogettheboatbeforethewindagain,butwerandownuponit,goingatleasttwofeettoitsone.
Ahundredyardsaway,Isawtheboat-pullerpassarifletothehunter.
WolfLarsenwentamidshipsandtookthecoilofthethroat-halyardsfromitspin.
Thenhepeeredovertherailwithlevelledrifle.
TwiceIsawthehunterletgothesteering-oarwithonehand,reachforhisrifle,andhesitate.Wewerenowalongsideandfoamingpast.
“Here,you!”WolfLarsencriedsuddenlytotheboat-puller.“Takeaturn!”
Atthesametimeheflungthecoilofrope.
Itstruckfairly,nearlyknockingthemanover,buthedidnotobey.
Instead,helookedtohishunterfororders.Thehunter,inturn,wasinaquandary.
Hisriflewasbetweenhisknees,butifheletgothesteering-oarinordertoshoot,theboatwouldsweeparoundandcollidewiththeschooner.
AlsohesawWolfLarsen’sriflebearinguponhimandknewhewouldbeshoterehecouldgethisrifleintoplay.
“Takeaturn,”hesaidquietlytotheman.
Theboat-pullerobeyed,takingaturnaroundthelittleforwardthwartandpayingthelineasitjerkedtaut.
Theboatsheeredoutwitharush,andthehuntersteadiedittoaparallelcoursesometwentyfeetfromthesideoftheGhost.
“Now,getthatsaildownandcomealongside!”WolfLarsenordered.
Heneverletgohisrifle,evenpassingdownthetackleswithonehand.
Whentheywerefast,bowandstern,andthetwouninjuredmenpreparedtocomeaboard,thehunterpickeduphisrifleasiftoplaceitinasecureposition.
“Dropit!”WolfLarsencried,andthehunterdroppeditasthoughitwerehotandhadburnedhim.
Onceaboard,thetwoprisonershoistedintheboatandunderWolfLarsen’sdirectioncarriedthewoundedboat-steererdownintotheforecastle.
“IfourfiveboatsdoaswellasyouandIhavedone,we’llhaveaprettyfullcrew,”WolfLarsensaidtome.
“Themanyoushot—heis—Ihope?”MaudBrewsterquavered.
“Intheshoulder,”heanswered.“Nothingserious,Mr.VanWeydenwillpullhimaroundasgoodaseverinthreeorfourweeks.”
“Buthewon’tpullthosechapsaround,fromthelookofit,”headded,pointingattheMacedonia’sthirdboat,forwhichIhadbeensteeringandwhichwasnownearlyabreastofus.“That’sHorner’sandSmoke’swork.
Itoldthemwewantedlivemen,notcarcasses.
Butthejoyofshootingtohitisamostcompellingthing,whenonceyou’velearnedhowtoshoot.Everexperiencedit,Mr.VanWeyden?”
Ishookmyheadandregardedtheirwork.
Ithadindeedbeenbloody,fortheyhaddrawnoffandjoinedourotherthreeboatsintheattackontheremainingtwooftheenemy.
Thedesertedboatwasinthetroughofthesea,rollingdrunkenlyacrosseachcomber,itsloosespritsailoutatrightanglestoitandflutteringandflappinginthewind.
Thehunterandboat-pullerwerebothlyingawkwardlyinthebottom,buttheboat-steererlayacrossthegunwale,halfinandhalfout,hisarmstrailinginthewaterandhisheadrollingfromsidetoside.
“Don’tlook,MissBrewster,pleasedon’tlook,”Ihadbeggedofher,andIwasgladthatshehadmindedmeandbeensparedthesight.
“Headrightintothebunch,Mr.VanWeyden,”wasWolfLarsen’scommand.
Aswedrewnearer,thefiringceased,andwesawthatthefightwasover.Theremainingtwoboatshadbeencapturedbyourfive,andthesevenweregroupedtogether,waitingtobepickedup.
“Lookatthat!”Icriedinvoluntarily,pointingtothenorth-east.
TheblotofsmokewhichindicatedtheMacedonia’spositionhadreappeared.
“Yes,I’vebeenwatchingit,”wasWolfLarsen’scalmreply.
Hemeasuredthedistanceawaytothefog-bank,andforaninstantpausedtofeeltheweightofthewindonhischeek.
“We’llmakeit,Ithink;butyoucandependuponitthatblessedbrotherofminehastwiggedourlittlegameandisjusta-humpingforus.Ah,lookatthat!”
Theblotofsmokehadsuddenlygrownlarger,anditwasveryblack.
“I’llbeatyouout,though,brothermine,”hechuckled.“I’llbeatyouout,andIhopeyounoworsethanthatyourackyouroldenginesintoscrap.”
Whenwehoveto,ahastythoughorderlyconfusionreigned.
Theboatscameaboardfromeverysideatonce.
Asfastastheprisonerscameovertherailtheyweremarshalledforwardtotheforecastlebyourhunters,whileoursailorshoistedintheboats,pell-mell,droppingthemanywhereuponthedeckandnotstoppingtolashthem.
Wewerealreadyunderway,allsailssetanddrawing,andthesheetsbeingslackedoffforawindabeam,asthelastboatliftedclearofthewaterandswunginthetackles.
Therewasneedforhaste.TheMacedonia,belchingtheblackestofsmokefromherfunnel,waschargingdownuponusfromoutofthenorth-east.
Neglectingtheboatsthatremainedtoher,shehadalteredhercoursesoastoanticipateours.
Shewasnotrunningstraightforus,butaheadofus.
Ourcourseswereconverginglikethesidesofanangle,thevertexofwhichwasattheedgeofthefog-bank.
Itwasthere,ornotatall,thattheMacedoniacouldhopetocatchus.
ThehopefortheGhostlayinthatsheshouldpassthatpointbeforetheMacedoniaarrivedatit.
WolfLarsenwassteering,hiseyesglisteningandsnappingastheydweltuponandleapedfromdetailtodetailofthechase.
Nowhestudiedtheseatowindwardforsignsofthewindslackeningorfreshening,nowtheMacedonia;andagain,hiseyesrovedovereverysail,andhegavecommandstoslackasheethereatrifle,tocomeinononethereatrifle,tillhewasdrawingoutoftheGhostthelastbitofspeedshepossessed.
Allfeudsandgrudgeswereforgotten,andIwassurprisedatthealacritywithwhichthemenwhohadsolongenduredhisbrutalitysprangtoexecutehisorders.
Strangetosay,theunfortunateJohnsoncameintomymindasweliftedandsurgedandheeledalong,andIwasawareofaregretthathewasnotaliveandpresent;hehadsolovedtheGhostanddelightedinhersailingpowers.
“Bettergetyourrifles,youfellows,”WolfLarsencalledtoourhunters;andthefivemenlinedtheleerail,gunsinhand,andwaited.
TheMacedoniawasnowbutamileaway,theblacksmokepouringfromherfunnelatarightangle,somadlysheraced,poundingthroughtheseaataseventeen-knotgait—“’Sky-hootingthroughthebrine,”asWolfLarsenquotedwhilegazingather.
Wewerenotmakingmorethannineknots,butthefog-bankwasverynear.
ApuffofsmokebrokefromtheMacedonia’sdeck,weheardaheavyreport,andaroundholetookforminthestretchedcanvasofourmainsail.
Theywereshootingatuswithoneofthesmallcannonwhichrumourhadsaidtheycarriedonboard.
Ourmen,clusteringamidships,wavedtheirhatsandraisedaderisivecheer.
Againtherewasapuffofsmokeandaloudreport,thistimethecannon-ballstrikingnotmorethantwentyfeetasternandglancingtwicefromseatoseatowindwardereitsank.
Buttherewasnorifle-firingforthereasonthatalltheirhunterswereoutintheboatsorourprisoners.
Whenthetwovesselswerehalf-a-mileapart,athirdshotmadeanotherholeinourmainsail.Thenweenteredthefog.
Itwasaboutus,veilingandhidingusinitsdensewetgauze.
Thesuddentransitionwasstartling.Themomentbeforewehadbeenleapingthroughthesunshine,theclearskyaboveus,theseabreakingandrollingwidetothehorizon,andaship,vomitingsmokeandfireandironmissiles,rushingmadlyuponus.
Andatonce,asinaninstant’sleap,thesunwasblottedout,therewasnosky,evenourmastheadswerelosttoview,andourhorizonwassuchastear-blindedeyesmaysee.Thegreymistdrovebyuslikearain.
Everywoollenfilamentofourgarments,everyhairofourheadsandfaces,wasjewelledwithacrystalglobule.
Theshroudswerewetwithmoisture;itdrippedfromourriggingoverhead;andontheundersideofourboomsdropsofwatertookshapeinlongswayinglines,whichweredetachedandflungtothedeckinmimicshowersateachsurgeoftheschooner.Iwasawareofapent,stifledfeeling.
Asthesoundsoftheshipthrustingherselfthroughthewaveswerehurledbackuponusbythefog,sowereone’sthoughts.
Themindrecoiledfromcontemplationofaworldbeyondthiswetveilwhichwrappedusaround.
Thiswastheworld,theuniverseitself,itsboundssonearonefeltimpelledtoreachoutbotharmsandpushthemback.
Itwasimpossible,thattherestcouldbebeyondthesewallsofgrey.
Therestwasadream,nomorethanthememoryofadream.
Itwasweird,strangelyweird.IlookedatMaudBrewsterandknewthatshewassimilarlyaffected.
ThenIlookedatWolfLarsen,buttherewasnothingsubjectiveabouthisstateofconsciousness.
Hiswholeconcernwaswiththeimmediate,objectivepresent.
Hestillheldthewheel,andIfeltthathewastimingTime,reckoningthepassageoftheminuteswitheachforwardlungeandleewardrolloftheGhost.
“Gofor’ardandhardaleewithoutanynoise,”hesaidtomeinalowvoice.“Clewupthetopsailsfirst.Setmenatallthesheets.
Lettherebenorattlingofblocks,nosoundofvoices.Nonoise,understand,nonoise.”
Whenallwasready,theword“hard-a-lee”waspassedforwardtomefrommantoman;andtheGhostheeledaboutontheporttackwithpracticallynonoiseatall.
Andwhatlittletherewas,—theslappingofafewreef-pointsandthecreakingofasheaveinablockortwo,—wasghostlyunderthehollowechoingpallinwhichwewereswathed.
Wehadscarcelyfilledaway,itseemed,whenthefogthinnedabruptlyandwewereagaininthesunshine,thewide-stretchingseabreakingbeforeustothesky-line.Buttheoceanwasbare.
NowrathfulMacedoniabrokeitssurfacenorblackenedtheskywithhersmoke.
WolfLarsenatoncesquaredawayandrandownalongtherimofthefog-bank.Histrickwasobvious.
Hehadenteredthefogtowindwardofthesteamer,andwhilethesteamerhadblindlydrivenonintothefoginthechanceofcatchinghim,hehadcomeaboutandoutofhisshelterandwasnowrunningdowntore-entertoleeward.
Successfulinthis,theoldsimileoftheneedleinthehaystackwouldbemildindeedcomparedwithhisbrother’schanceoffindinghim.Hedidnotrunlong.
Jibingthefore-andmain-sailsandsettingthetopsailsagain,weheadedbackintothebank.
AsweenteredIcouldhaveswornIsawavaguebulkemergingtowindward.IlookedquicklyatWolfLarsen.
Alreadywewereourselvesburiedinthefog,buthenoddedhishead.
He,too,hadseenit—theMacedonia,guessinghismanœuvreandfailingbyamomentinanticipatingit.
Therewasnodoubtthatwehadescapedunseen.
“Hecan’tkeepthisup,”WolfLarsensaid.
“He’llhavetogobackfortherestofhisboats.
Sendamantothewheel,Mr.VanWeyden,keepthiscourseforthepresent,andyoumightaswellsetthewatches,forwewon’tdoanylingeringto-night.”
“I’dgivefivehundreddollars,though,”headded,“justtobeaboardtheMacedoniaforfiveminutes,listeningtomybrothercurse.”
“Andnow,Mr.VanWeyden,”hesaidtomewhenhehadbeenrelievedfromthewheel,“wemustmakethesenew-comerswelcome.
Serveoutplentyofwhiskytothehuntersandseethatafewbottlesslipfor’ard.
I’llwagereverymanJackofthemisoverthesideto-morrow,huntingforWolfLarsenascontentedlyasevertheyhuntedforDeathLarsen.”
“Butwon’ttheyescapeasWainwrightdid?”Iasked.
Helaughedshrewdly.“Notaslongasouroldhuntershaveanythingtosayaboutit.
I’mdividingamongstthemadollaraskinforalltheskinsshotbyournewhunters.
Atleasthalfoftheirenthusiasmto-daywasduetothat.
Oh,no,therewon’tbeanyescapingiftheyhaveanythingtosayaboutit.
Andnowyou’dbettergetfor’ardtoyourhospitalduties.
Theremustbeafullwardwaitingforyou.”
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