English
Thedaycameforourdeparture.TherewasnolongeranythingtodetainusonEndeavourIsland.
TheGhost’sstumpymastswereinplace,hercrazysailsbent.
Allmyhandiworkwasstrong,noneofitbeautiful;butIknewthatitwouldwork,andIfeltmyselfamanofpowerasIlookedatit.
“Ididit!Ididit!WithmyownhandsIdidit!”Iwantedtocryaloud.
ButMaudandIhadawayofvoicingeachother’sthoughts,andshesaid,aswepreparedtohoistthemainsail:
“Tothink,Humphrey,youdiditallwithyourownhands?”
“Butthereweretwootherhands,”Ianswered.“Twosmallhands,anddon’tsaythatwasaphrase,also,ofyourfather.”
Shelaughedandshookherhead,andheldherhandsupforinspection.
“Icannevergetthemcleanagain,”shewailed,“norsoftentheweather-beat.”
“Thendirtandweather-beatshallbeyourguerdonofhonour,”Isaid,holdingtheminmine;and,spiteofmyresolutions,Iwouldhavekissedthetwodearhandshadshenotswiftlywithdrawnthem.
Ourcomradeshipwasbecomingtremulous,Ihadmasteredmylovelongandwell,butnowitwasmasteringme.
Wilfullyhaditdisobeyedandwonmyeyestospeech,andnowitwaswinningmytongue—ay,andmylips,fortheyweremadthismomenttokissthetwosmallhandswhichhadtoiledsofaithfullyandhard.AndI,too,wasmad.
Therewasacryinmybeinglikebuglescallingmetoher.
AndtherewasawindblowinguponmewhichIcouldnotresist,swayingtheverybodyofmetillIleanedtowardher,allunconsciousthatIleaned.Andsheknewit.
Shecouldnotbutknowitassheswiftlydrewawayherhands,andyet,couldnotforbearonequicksearchinglookbeforesheturnedawayhereyes.
Bymeansofdeck-tacklesIhadarrangedtocarrythehalyardsforwardtothewindlass;andnowIhoistedthemainsail,peakandthroat,atthesametime.
Itwasaclumsyway,butitdidnottakelong,andsoontheforesailaswellwasupandfluttering.
“Wecannevergetthatanchorupinthisnarrowplace,onceithasleftthebottom,”Isaid.“Weshouldbeontherocksfirst.”
“Whatcanyoudo?”sheasked.
“Slipit,”wasmyanswer.“AndwhenIdo,youmustdoyourfirstworkonthewindlass.Ishallhavetorunatoncetothewheel,andatthesametimeyoumustbehoistingthejib.”
ThismanœuvreofgettingunderwayIhadstudiedandworkedoutascoreoftimes;and,withthejib-halyardtothewindlass,IknewMaudwascapableofhoistingthatmostnecessarysail.
Abriskwindwasblowingintothecove,andthoughthewaterwascalm,rapidworkwasrequiredtogetussafelyout.
WhenIknockedtheshackle-boltloose,thechainroaredoutthroughthehawse-holeandintothesea.Iracedaft,puttingthewheelup.
TheGhostseemedtostartintolifeassheheeledtothefirstfillofhersails.Thejibwasrising.
Asitfilled,theGhost’sbowswungoffandIhadtoputthewheeldownafewspokesandsteadyher.
Ihaddevisedanautomaticjib-sheetwhichpassedthejibacrossofitself,sotherewasnoneedforMaudtoattendtothat;butshewasstillhoistingthejibwhenIputthewheelharddown.
Itwasamomentofanxiety,fortheGhostwasrushingdirectlyuponthebeach,astone’sthrowdistant.
Butsheswungobedientlyonherheelintothewind.
Therewasagreatflutteringandflappingofcanvasandreef-points,mostwelcometomyears,thenshefilledawayontheothertack.
Maudhadfinishedhertaskandcomeaft,whereshestoodbesideme,asmallcapperchedonherwind-blownhair,hercheeksflushedfromexertion,hereyeswideandbrightwiththeexcitement,hernostrilsquiveringtotherushandbiteofthefreshsaltair.
Herbrowneyeswerelikeastartleddeer’s.
Therewasawild,keenlookinthemIhadneverseenbefore,andherlipspartedandherbreathsuspendedastheGhost,charginguponthewallofrockattheentrancetotheinnercove,sweptintothewindandfilledawayintosafewater.
Myfirstmate’sberthonthesealinggroundsstoodmeingoodstead,andIclearedtheinnercoveandlaidalongtackalongtheshoreoftheoutercove.
Onceagainabout,andtheGhostheadedouttoopensea.
Shehadnowcaughtthebosom-breathingoftheocean,andwasherselfa-breathwiththerhythmofitasshesmoothlymountedandslippeddowneachbroad-backedwave.
Thedayhadbeendullandovercast,butthesunnowburstthroughtheclouds,awelcomeomen,andshoneuponthecurvingbeachwheretogetherwehaddaredthelordsoftheharemandslaintheholluschickie.
AllEndeavourIslandbrightenedunderthesun.
Eventhegrimsouth-westernpromontoryshowedlessgrim,andhereandthere,wherethesea-spraywetitssurface,highlightsflashedanddazzledinthesun.
“Ishallalwaysthinkofitwithpride,”IsaidtoMaud.
Shethrewherheadbackinaqueenlywaybutsaid,“Dear,dearEndeavourIsland!Ishallalwaysloveit.”
“AndI,”Isaidquickly.
Itseemedoureyesmustmeetinagreatunderstanding,andyet,loath,theystruggledawayanddidnotmeet.
TherewasasilenceImightalmostcallawkward,tillIbrokeit,saying:
“Seethoseblackcloudstowindward.Youremember,Itoldyoulastnightthebarometerwasfalling.”
“Andthesunisgone,”shesaid,hereyesstillfixeduponourisland,wherewehadprovedourmasteryovermatterandattainedtothetruestcomradeshipthatmayfalltomanandwoman.
“Andit’sslackoffthesheetsforJapan!”Icriedgaily.“Afairwindandaflowingsheet,youknow,orhoweveritgoes.”
LashingthewheelIranforward,easedtheforeandmainsheets,tookinontheboom-tacklesandtrimmedeverythingforthequarteringbreezewhichwasours.
Itwasafreshbreeze,veryfresh,butIresolvedtorunaslongasIdared.
Unfortunately,whenrunningfree,itisimpossibletolashthewheel,soIfacedanall-nightwatch.
Maudinsistedonrelievingme,butprovedthatshehadnotthestrengthtosteerinaheavysea,evenifshecouldhavegainedthewisdomonsuchshortnotice.
Sheappearedquiteheart-brokenoverthediscovery,butrecoveredherspiritsbycoilingdowntacklesandhalyardsandallstrayropes.
Thenthereweremealstobecookedinthegalley,bedstomake,WolfLarsentobeattendedupon,andshefinishedthedaywithagrandhouse-cleaningattackuponthecabinandsteerage.
AllnightIsteered,withoutrelief,thewindslowlyandsteadilyincreasingandthesearising.
AtfiveinthemorningMaudbroughtmehotcoffeeandbiscuitsshehadbaked,andatsevenasubstantialandpipinghotbreakfastputnewliftintome.
Throughouttheday,andasslowlyandsteadilyasever,thewindincreased.
Itimpressedonewithitssullendeterminationtoblow,andblowharder,andkeeponblowing.
AndstilltheGhostfoamedalong,racingoffthemilestillIwascertainshewasmakingatleastelevenknots.
Itwastoogoodtolose,butbynightfallIwasexhausted.
Thoughinsplendidphysicaltrim,athirty-six-hourtrickatthewheelwasthelimitofmyendurance.
Besides,Maudbeggedmetoheaveto,andIknew,ifthewindandseaincreasedatthesamerateduringthenight,thatitwouldsoonbeimpossibletoheaveto.
So,astwilightdeepened,gladlyandatthesametimereluctantly,IbroughttheGhostuponthewind.
ButIhadnotreckoneduponthecolossaltaskthereefingofthreesailsmeantforoneman.
WhilerunningawayfromthewindIhadnotappreciateditsforce,butwhenweceasedtorunIlearnedtomysorrow,andwell-nightomydespair,howfiercelyitwasreallyblowing.
Thewindbalkedmyeveryeffort,rippingthecanvasoutofmyhandsandinaninstantundoingwhatIhadgainedbytenminutesofsevereststruggle.
Ateighto’clockIhadsucceededonlyinputtingthesecondreefintotheforesail.
Ateleveno’clockIwasnofartheralong.
Blooddrippedfromeveryfinger-end,whilethenailswerebrokentothequick.
FrompainandsheerexhaustionIweptinthedarkness,secretly,sothatMaudshouldnotknow.
Then,indesperation,Iabandonedtheattempttoreefthemainsailandresolvedtotrytheexperimentofheavingtoundertheclose-reefedforesail.
Threehoursmorewererequiredtogasketthemainsailandjib,andattwointhemorning,nearlydead,thelifealmostbuffetedandworkedoutofme,Ihadbarelysufficientconsciousnesstoknowtheexperimentwasasuccess.Theclose-reefedforesailworked.
TheGhostclungonclosetothewindandbetrayednoinclinationtofalloffbroadsidetothetrough.
Iwasfamished,butMaudtriedvainlytogetmetoeat.Idozedwithmymouthfulloffood.
Iwouldfallasleepintheactofcarryingfoodtomymouthandwakenintormenttofindtheactyetuncompleted.
SosleepilyhelplesswasIthatshewascompelledtoholdmeinmychairtopreventmybeingflungtothefloorbytheviolentpitchingoftheschooner.
OfthepassagefromthegalleytothecabinIknewnothing.
Itwasasleep-walkerMaudguidedandsupported.
Infact,IwasawareofnothingtillIawoke,howlongafterIcouldnotimagine,inmybunkwithmybootsoff.Itwasdark.
Iwasstiffandlame,andcriedoutwithpainwhenthebed-clothestouchedmypoorfinger-ends.
Morninghadevidentlynotcome,soIclosedmyeyesandwenttosleepagain.Ididnotknowit,butIhadslepttheclockaroundanditwasnightagain.
OncemoreIwoke,troubledbecauseIcouldsleepnobetter.
Istruckamatchandlookedatmywatch.Itmarkedmidnight.
AndIhadnotleftthedeckuntilthree!
IshouldhavebeenpuzzledhadInotguessedthesolution.NowonderIwassleepingbrokenly.Ihadslepttwenty-onehours.
IlistenedforawhiletothebehaviouroftheGhost,tothepoundingoftheseasandthemuffledroarofthewindondeck,andthenturnedoveronmyrideandsleptpeacefullyuntilmorning.
WhenIaroseatsevenIsawnosignofMaudandconcludedshewasinthegalleypreparingbreakfast.
OndeckIfoundtheGhostdoingsplendidlyunderherpatchofcanvas.
Butinthegalley,thoughafirewasburningandwaterboiling,IfoundnoMaud.
Idiscoveredherinthesteerage,byWolfLarsen’sbunk.
Ilookedathim,themanwhohadbeenhurleddownfromthetopmostpitchoflifetobeburiedaliveandbeworsethandead.
Thereseemedarelaxationofhisexpressionlessfacewhichwasnew.MaudlookedatmeandIunderstood.
“Hislifeflickeredoutinthestorm,”Isaid.
“Buthestilllives,”sheanswered,infinitefaithinhervoice.
“Hehadtoogreatstrength.”
“Yes,”shesaid,“butnowitnolongershackleshim.Heisafreespirit.”
“Heisafreespiritsurely,”Ianswered;and,takingherhand,Iledherondeck.
Thestormbrokethatnight,whichistosaythatitdiminishedasslowlyasithadarisen.
Afterbreakfastnextmorning,whenIhadhoistedWolfLarsen’sbodyondeckreadyforburial,itwasstillblowingheavilyandalargeseawasrunning.
Thedeckwascontinuallyawashwiththeseawhichcameinboardovertherailandthroughthescuppers.
Thewindsmotetheschoonerwithasuddengust,andsheheeledovertillherleerailwasburied,theroarinherriggingrisinginpitchtoashriek.
WestoodinthewatertoourkneesasIbaredmyhead.
“Irememberonlyonepartoftheservice,”Isaid,“andthatis,‘Andthebodyshallbecastintothesea.’”
Maudlookedatme,surprisedandshocked;butthespiritofsomethingIhadseenbeforewasstronguponme,impellingmetogiveservicetoWolfLarsenasWolfLarsenhadoncegivenservicetoanotherman.
Iliftedtheendofthehatchcoverandthecanvas-shroudedbodyslippedfeetfirstintothesea.Theweightofirondraggeditdown.Itwasgone.
“Good-bye,Lucifer,proudspirit,”Maudwhispered,solowthatitwasdrownedbytheshoutingofthewind;butIsawthemovementofherlipsandknew.
Asweclungtotheleerailandworkedourwayaft,Ihappenedtoglancetoleeward.
TheGhost,atthemoment,wasuptossedonasea,andIcaughtaclearviewofasmallsteamshiptwoorthreemilesaway,rollingandpitching,headontothesea,asitsteamedtowardus.
Itwaspaintedblack,andfromthetalkofthehuntersoftheirpoachingexploitsIrecognizeditasaUnitedStatesrevenuecutter.
IpointeditouttoMaudandhurriedlyledherafttothesafetyofthepoop.
Istartedtorushbelowtotheflag-locker,thenrememberedthatinriggingtheGhost.Ihadforgottentomakeprovisionforaflag-halyard.
“Weneednodistresssignal,”Maudsaid.“Theyhaveonlytoseeus.”
“Wearesaved,”Isaid,soberlyandsolemnly.Andthen,inanexuberanceofjoy,“Ihardlyknowwhethertobegladornot.”
Ilookedather.Oureyeswerenotloathtomeet.Weleanedtowardeachother,andbeforeIknewitmyarmswereabouther.
“NeedI?”Iasked.
Andsheanswered,“Thereisnoneed,thoughthetellingofitwouldbesweet,sosweet.”
Herlipsmetthepressofmine,and,bywhatstrangetrickoftheimaginationIknownot,thesceneinthecabinoftheGhostflasheduponme,whenshehadpressedherfingerslightlyonmylipsandsaid,“Hush,hush.”
“Mywoman,myonesmallwoman,”Isaid,myfreehandpettinghershoulderinthewayallloversknowthoughneverlearninschool.
“Myman,”shesaid,lookingatmeforaninstantwithtremulouslidswhichfluttereddownandveiledhereyesasshesnuggledherheadagainstmybreastwithahappylittlesigh.
Ilookedtowardthecutter.Itwasveryclose.Aboatwasbeinglowered.
“Onekiss,dearlove,”Iwhispered.“Onekissmorebeforetheycome.”
“Andrescueusfromourselves,”shecompleted,withamostadorablesmile,whimsicalasIhadneverseenit,foritwaswhimsicalwithlove.
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