NowonderwecalleditEndeavourIsland. Fortwoweekswetoiledatbuildingahut. Maudinsistedonhelping,andIcouldhaveweptoverherbruisedandbleedinghands. Andstill,Iwasproudofherbecauseofit. Therewassomethingheroicaboutthisgently-bredwomanenduringourterriblehardshipandwithherpittanceofstrengthbendingtothetasksofapeasantwoman. ShegatheredmanyofthestoneswhichIbuiltintothewallsofthehut;also,sheturnedadeafeartomyentreatieswhenIbeggedhertodesist. Shecompromised,however,bytakinguponherselfthelighterlaboursofcookingandgatheringdriftwoodandmossforourwinter’ssupply. Thehut’swallsrosewithoutdifficulty,andeverythingwentsmoothlyuntiltheproblemoftheroofconfrontedme. Ofwhatusethefourwallswithoutaroof?Andofwhatcouldaroofbemade?Therewerethespareoars,verytrue. Theywouldserveasroof-beams;butwithwhatwasItocoverthem?Mosswouldneverdo.Tundragrasswasimpracticable. Weneededthesailfortheboat,andthetarpaulinhadbeguntoleak. “Wintersusedwalrusskinsonhishut,”Isaid. “Therearetheseals,”shesuggested. Sonextdaythehuntingbegan.Ididnotknowhowtoshoot,butIproceededtolearn. AndwhenIhadexpendedsomethirtyshellsforthreeseals,IdecidedthattheammunitionwouldbeexhaustedbeforeIacquiredthenecessaryknowledge. IhadusedeightshellsforlightingfiresbeforeIhituponthedeviceofbankingtheemberswithwetmoss,andthereremainednotoverahundredshellsinthebox. “Wemustclubtheseals,”Iannounced,whenconvincedofmypoormarksmanship.“Ihaveheardthesealerstalkaboutclubbingthem.” “Theyaresopretty,”sheobjected.“Icannotbeartothinkofitbeingdone.Itissodirectlybrutal,youknow;sodifferentfromshootingthem.” “Thatroofmustgoon,”Iansweredgrimly.“Winterisalmosthere.Itisourlivesagainsttheirs. Itisunfortunatewehaven’tplentyofammunition,butIthink,anyway,thattheysufferlessfrombeingclubbedthanfrombeingallshotup.Besides,Ishalldotheclubbing.” “That’sjustit,”shebeganeagerly,andbrokeoffinsuddenconfusion. “Ofcourse,”Ibegan,“ifyouprefer—” “ButwhatshallIbedoing?”sheinterrupted,withthatsoftnessIknewfullwelltobeinsistence. “Gatheringfirewoodandcookingdinner,”Iansweredlightly. Sheshookherhead.“Itistoodangerousforyoutoattemptalone.” “Iknow,Iknow,”shewaivedmyprotest.“Iamonlyaweakwoman,butjustmysmallassistancemayenableyoutoescapedisaster.” “Buttheclubbing?”Isuggested. “Ofcourse,youwilldothat.Ishallprobablyscream.I’lllookawaywhen—” “Thedangerismostserious,”Ilaughed. “Ishallusemyjudgmentwhentolookandwhennottolook,”sherepliedwithagrandair. Theupshotoftheaffairwasthatsheaccompaniedmenextmorning. Irowedintotheadjoiningcoveanduptotheedgeofthebeach. Thereweresealsallaboutusinthewater,andthebellowingthousandsonthebeachcompelledustoshoutateachothertomakeourselvesheard. “Iknowmenclubthem,”Isaid,tryingtoreassuremyself,andgazingdoubtfullyatalargebull,notthirtyfeetaway,uprearedonhisfore-flippersandregardingmeintently. “Butthequestionis,Howdotheyclubthem?” “Letusgathertundragrassandthatchtheroof,”Maudsaid. ShewasasfrightenedasIattheprospect,andwehadreasontobegazingatcloserangeatthegleamingteethanddog-likemouths. “Ialwaysthoughttheywereafraidofmen,”Isaid. “HowdoIknowtheyarenotafraid?”Iqueriedamomentlater,afterhavingrowedafewmorestrokesalongthebeach. “Perhaps,ifIweretostepboldlyashore,theywouldcutforit,andIcouldnotcatchupwithone.”AndstillIhesitated. “Iheardofaman,once,whoinvadedthenestinggroundsofwildgeese,”Maudsaid.“Theykilledhim.” “Yes,thegeese.MybrothertoldmeaboutitwhenIwasalittlegirl.” “ButIknowmenclubthem,”Ipersisted. “Ithinkthetundragrasswillmakejustasgoodaroof,”shesaid. Farfromherintention,herwordsweremaddeningme,drivingmeon.Icouldnotplaythecowardbeforehereyes.“Heregoes,”Isaid,backingwaterwithoneoarandrunningthebowashore. Isteppedoutandadvancedvaliantlyuponalong-manedbullinthemidstofhiswives. Iwasarmedwiththeregularclubwithwhichtheboat-pullerskilledthewoundedsealsgaffedaboardbythehunters. Itwasonlyafootandahalflong,andinmysuperbignoranceIneverdreamedthattheclubusedashorewhenraidingtherookeriesmeasuredfourtofivefeet. Thecowslumberedoutofmyway,andthedistancebetweenmeandthebulldecreased. Heraisedhimselfonhisflipperswithanangrymovement.Wewereadozenfeetapart. StillIadvancedsteadily,lookingforhimtoturntailatanymomentandrun. Atsixfeetthepanickythoughtrushedintomymind,Whatifhewillnotrun? Why,thenIshallclubhim,cametheanswer. InmyfearIhadforgottenthatIwastheretogetthebullinsteadoftomakehimrun. Andjustthenhegaveasnortandasnarlandrushedatme. Hiseyeswereblazing,hismouthwaswideopen;theteethgleamedcruellywhite. Withoutshame,IconfessthatitwasIwhoturnedandfootedit.Heranawkwardly,butheranwell. HewasbuttwopacesbehindwhenItumbledintotheboat,andasIshovedoffwithanoarhisteethcruncheddownupontheblade. Thestoutwoodwascrushedlikeanegg-shell.MaudandIwereastounded. Amomentlaterhehaddivedundertheboat,seizedthekeelinhismouth,andwasshakingtheboatviolently. “My!”saidMaud.“Let’sgoback.” Ishookmyhead.“Icandowhatothermenhavedone,andIknowthatothermenhaveclubbedseals.ButIthinkI’llleavethebullsalonenexttime.” “Iwishyouwouldn’t,”shesaid. “Nowdon’tsay,‘Please,please,’”Icried,halfangrily,Idobelieve. Shemadenoreply,andIknewmytonemusthavehurther. “Ibegyourpardon,”Isaid,orshouted,rather,inordertomakemyselfheardabovetheroaroftherookery.“Ifyousayso,I’llturnandgoback;buthonestly,I’dratherstay.” “Nowdon’tsaythatthisiswhatyougetforbringingawomanalong,”shesaid.Shesmiledatmewhimsically,gloriously,andIknewtherewasnoneedforforgiveness. Irowedacoupleofhundredfeetalongthebeachsoastorecovermynerves,andthensteppedashoreagain. “Dobecautious,”shecalledafterme. Inoddedmyheadandproceededtomakeaflankattackonthenearestharem. AllwentwelluntilIaimedablowatanoutlyingcowlsheadandfellshort.Shesnortedandtriedtoscrambleaway. Iranincloseandstruckanotherblow,hittingtheshoulderinsteadofthehead. “Watchout!”IheardMaudscream. InmyexcitementIhadnotbeentakingnoticeofotherthings,andIlookeduptoseethelordoftheharemchargingdownuponme. AgainIfledtotheboat,hotlypursued;butthistimeMaudmadenosuggestionofturningback. “Itwouldbebetter,Iimagine,ifyouletharemsaloneanddevotedyourattentiontolonelyandinoffensive-lookingseals,”waswhatshesaid. “IthinkIhavereadsomethingaboutthem.Dr.Jordan’sbook,Ibelieve. Theyaretheyoungbulls,notoldenoughtohaveharemsoftheirown. Hecalledthemtheholluschickie,orsomethinglikethat. Itseemstomeifwefindwheretheyhaulout—” “Itseemstomethatyourfightinginstinctisaroused,”Ilaughed. Sheflushedquicklyandprettily.“I’lladmitIdon’tlikedefeatanymorethanyoudo,oranymorethanIliketheideaofkillingsuchpretty,inoffensivecreatures.” “Pretty!”Isniffed.“Ifailedtomarkanythingpre-eminentlyprettyaboutthosefoamy-mouthedbeaststhatracedme.” “Yourpointofview,”shelaughed.“Youlackedperspective.Nowifyoudidnothavetogetsoclosetothesubject—” “Theverything!”Icried.“WhatIneedisalongerclub.Andthere’sthatbrokenoarreadytohand.” “Itjustcomestome,”shesaid,“thatCaptainLarsenwastellingmehowthemenraidedtherookeries.Theydrivetheseals,insmallherds,ashortdistanceinlandbeforetheykillthem.” “Idon’tcaretoundertaketheherdingofoneofthoseharems,”Iobjected. “Buttherearetheholluschickie,”shesaid. “Theholluschickiehauloutbythemselves,andDr.Jordansaysthatpathsareleftbetweentheharems,andthataslongastheholluschickiekeepstrictlytothepaththeyareunmolestedbythemastersoftheharem.” “There’sonenow,”Isaid,pointingtoayoungbullinthewater.“Let’swatchhim,andfollowhimifhehaulsout.” Heswamdirectlytothebeachandclamberedoutintoasmallopeningbetweentwoharems,themastersofwhichmadewarningnoisesbutdidnotattackhim. Wewatchedhimtravelslowlyinward,threadingaboutamongtheharemsalongwhatmusthavebeenthepath. “Heregoes,”Isaid,steppingout;butIconfessmyheartwasinmymouthasIthoughtofgoingthroughtheheartofthatmonstrousherd. “Itwouldbewisetomaketheboatfast,”Maudsaid. Shehadsteppedoutbesideme,andIregardedherwithwonderment. Shenoddedherheaddeterminedly.“Yes,I’mgoingwithyou,soyoumayaswellsecuretheboatandarmmewithaclub.” “Let’sgoback,”Isaiddejectedly.“Ithinktundragrass,willdo,afterall.” “Youknowitwon’t,”washerreply.“ShallIlead?” Withashrugoftheshoulders,butwiththewarmestadmirationandprideatheartforthiswoman,Iequippedherwiththebrokenoarandtookanotherformyself. Itwaswithnervoustrepidationthatwemadethefirstfewrodsofthejourney. OnceMaudscreamedinterrorasacowthrustaninquisitivenosetowardherfoot,andseveraltimesIquickenedmypaceforthesamereason. But,beyondwarningcoughsfromeitherside,therewerenosignsofhostility. Itwasarookerywhichhadneverbeenraidedbythehunters,andinconsequencethesealsweremild-temperedandatthesametimeunafraid. Intheveryheartoftheherdthedinwasterrific.Itwasalmostdizzyinginitseffect. IpausedandsmiledreassuringlyatMaud,forIhadrecoveredmyequanimitysoonerthanshe. Icouldseethatshewasstillbadlyfrightened.Shecameclosetomeandshouted: AndIwasnot.Thoughthenoveltyhadnotyetwornoff,thepeacefulcomportmentofthesealshadquietedmyalarm.Maudwastrembling. “I’mafraid,andI’mnotafraid,”shechatteredwithshakingjaws.“It’smymiserablebody,notI.” “It’sallright,it’sallright,”Ireassuredher,myarmpassinginstinctivelyandprotectinglyaroundher. Ishallneverforget,inthatmoment,howinstantlyconsciousIbecameofmymanhood. Theprimitivedeepsofmynaturestirred. Ifeltmyselfmasculine,theprotectoroftheweak,thefightingmale. And,bestofall,Ifeltmyselftheprotectorofmylovedone. Sheleanedagainstme,solightandlily-frail,andashertremblingeasedawayitseemedasthoughIbecameawareofprodigiousstrength. Ifeltmyselfamatchforthemostferociousbullintheherd,andIknow,hadsuchabullchargeduponme,thatIshouldhavemetitunflinchinglyandquitecoolly,andIknowthatIshouldhavekilledit. “Iamallrightnow,”shesaid,lookingupatmegratefully.“Letusgoon.” Andthatthestrengthinmehadquietedherandgivenherconfidence,filledmewithanexultantjoy. Theyouthoftheraceseemedburgeoninginme,over-civilizedmanthatIwas,andIlivedformyselftheoldhuntingdaysandforestnightsofmyremoteandforgottenancestry. IhadmuchforwhichtothankWolfLarsen,wasmythoughtaswewentalongthepathbetweenthejostlingharems. Aquarterofamileinlandwecameupontheholluschickie—sleekyoungbulls,livingoutthelonelinessoftheirbachelorhoodandgatheringstrengthagainstthedaywhentheywouldfighttheirwayintotheranksoftheBenedicts. Everythingnowwentsmoothly.Iseemedtoknowjustwhattodoandhowtodoit. Shouting,makingthreateninggestureswithmyclub,andevenproddingthelazyones,Iquicklycutoutascoreoftheyoungbachelorsfromtheircompanions. Wheneveronemadeanattempttobreakbacktowardthewater,Iheadeditoff. Maudtookanactivepartinthedrive,andwithhercriesandflourishingsofthebrokenoarwasofconsiderableassistance. Inoticed,though,thatwheneveronelookedtiredandlagged,sheletitslippast. ButInoticed,also,wheneverone,withashowoffight,triedtobreakpast,thathereyesglintedandshowedbright,andsherappeditsmartlywithherclub. “My,it’sexciting!”shecried,pausingfromsheerweakness.“IthinkI’llsitdown.” Idrovethelittleherd(adozenstrong,now,whatoftheescapesshehadpermitted)ahundredyardsfartheron;andbythetimeshejoinedmeIhadfinishedtheslaughterandwasbeginningtoskin. Anhourlaterwewentproudlybackalongthepathbetweentheharems. Andtwiceagainwecamedownthepathburdenedwithskins,tillIthoughtwehadenoughtoroofthehut. Isetthesail,laidonetackoutofthecove,andontheothertackmadeourownlittleinnercove. “It’sjustlikehome-coming,”Maudsaid,asIrantheboatashore. Iheardherwordswitharesponsivethrill,itwasallsodearlyintimateandnatural,andIsaid: “ItseemsasthoughIhavelivedthislifealways. Theworldofbooksandbookishfolkisveryvague,morelikeadreammemorythananactuality. Isurelyhavehuntedandforayedandfoughtallthedaysofmylife.Andyou,too,seemapartofit. Youare—”Iwasonthevergeofsaying,“mywoman,mymate,”butgliblychangeditto—“standingthehardshipwell.” Butherearhadcaughttheflaw.Sherecognizedaflightthatmidmostbroke.Shegavemeaquicklook. “Notthat.Youweresaying—?” “ThattheAmericanMrs.Meynellwaslivingthelifeofasavageandlivingitquitesuccessfully,”Isaideasily. “Oh,”wasallshereplied;butIcouldhavesworntherewasanoteofdisappointmentinhervoice. But“mywoman,mymate”keptringinginmyheadfortherestofthedayandformanydays. Yetneverdiditringmoreloudlythanthatnight,asIwatchedherdrawbacktheblanketofmossfromthecoals,blowupthefire,andcooktheeveningmeal. Itmusthavebeenlatentsavagerystirringinme,fortheoldwords,soboundupwiththerootsoftherace,togripmeandthrillme. Andgripandthrilltheydid,tillIfellasleep,murmuringthemtomyselfoverandoveragain. 
