"Well，Leach，areyougoingfor’ard？"WolfLarsenasked。

"Yes，sir，"cametheanswerofaspiritcowed。

"Andyou？"Iwasasked。

"I’llgiveyouathousand——"Ibegan，butwasinterrupted。

"Stowthat！Areyougoingtotakeupyourdutiesascabin—boy？OrdoIhavetotakeyouinhand？"

WhatwasItodo？Tobebrutallybeaten，tobekilledperhaps，wouldnothelpmycase。Ilookedsteadilyintothecruelgrayeyes。Theymighthavebeengraniteforallthelightandwarmthofahumansoultheycontained。

Onemayseethesoulstirinsomemen’seyes，buthiswerebleak，andcold，andgrayastheseaitself。

"Well？"

"Yes，"Isaid。

"Say`yes，sir。’"

"Yes，sir，"Icorrected。

"Whatisyourname？"

"VanWeyden，sir。"

"Firstname？"

"Humphrey，sir；HumphreyVanWeyden。"

"Age？"

"Thirty—five，sir。"

"That’lldo。Gotothecookandlearnyourduties。"

AndthusitwasthatIpassedintoastateofinvoluntaryservitudetoWolfLarsen。HewasstrongerthanI，thatwasall。Butitwasveryunrealatthetime。ItisnolessunrealnowthatIlookbackuponit。Itwillalwaysbetomeamonstrous，inconceivablething，ahorriblenightmare。

"Holdon，don’tgoyet。"

Istoppedobedientlyinmywalktowardthegalley。

"Johansen，callallhands。Nowthatwe’veeverythingcleanedup，we’llhavethefuneralandgetthedecksclearedofuselesslumber。"

WhileJohansenwassummoningthewatchbelow，acoupleofsailors，underthecaptain’sdirection，laidthecanvas—swathedcorpseuponahatch—cover。

Oneithersidethedeck，againsttherailandbottomsup，werelashedanumberofsmallboats。Severalmenpickedupthehatch—coverwithitsghastlyfreight，carriedittotheleeside，andresteditontheboats，thefeetpointingoverboard。Tothefeetwasattachedthesackofcoalwhichthecookhadfetched。

Ihadalwaysconceivedaburialatseatobeaverysolemnandawe—inspiringevent，butIwasquicklydisillusioned，bythisburialatanyrate。Oneofthehunters，alittledark—eyedmanwhomhismatescalled"Smoke，"wastellingstories，liberallyintersprinkledwithoathsandobscenities；andeveryminuteorsothegroupofhuntersgavemouthtoalaughterthatsoundedtomelikeawolf—chorusorthebarkingofhell—hounds。Thesailorstroopednoisilyaft，someofthewatchbelowrubbingthesleepfromtheireyes，andtalkedinlowtonestogether。Therewasanominousandworriedexpressionontheirfaces。Itwasevidentthattheydidnotliketheoutlookofavoyageundersuchacaptainandbegunsoinauspiciously。FromtimetotimetheystoleglancesatWolfLarsen，andIcouldseethattheywereapprehensiveoftheman。

Hesteppeduptothehatch—cover，andallcapscameoff。Iranmyeyesoverthem——twentymenalltold，twenty—twoincludingthemanatthewheelandmyself。Iwaspardonablycuriousinmysurvey，foritappearedmyfatetobepentupwiththemonthisminiaturefloatingworldforIknewnothowmanyweeksormonths。Thesailors，inthemain，wereEnglishandScandinavian，andtheirfacesseemedoftheheavy，stolidorder。Thehunters，ontheotherhand，hadstrongerandmorediversifiedfaces，withhardlinesandthemarksofthefreeplayofpassions。Strangetosay，andInoteditatonce，WolfLarsen’sfeaturesshowednosuchevilstamp。Thereseemednothingviciousinthem。True，therewerelines，buttheywerethelinesofdecisionandfirmness。Itseemed，rather，afrankandopencountenance，whichfranknessoropennesswasenhancedbythefactthathewassmooth—

shaven。Icouldhardlybelieve，untilthenextincidentoccurred，thatitwasthefaceofamanwhocouldbehaveashehadbehavedtothecabin—boy。

Atthismoment，asheopenedhismouthtospeak，puffafterpuffstrucktheschoonerandpressedhersideunder。Thewindshriekedawildsongthroughtherigging。Someofthehuntersglancedanxiouslyaloft。Theleerail，wherethedeadmanlay，wasburiedinthesea，andastheschoonerliftedandrightedthewatersweptacrossthedeck，wettingusaboveourshoe—tops。Ashowerofraindrovedownuponus，eachdropstinginglikeahailstone。Asitpassed，WolfLarsenbegantospeak，thebare—headedmenswayinginunisontotheheaveandlungeofthedeck。

"Ionlyrememberonepartoftheservice，"hesaid，"andthatis，`Andthebodyshallbecastintothesea。’Socastitin。"

Heceasedspeaking。Themenholdingthehatch—coverseemedperplexed，puzzlednodoubtbythebriefnessoftheceremony。Heburstupontheminafury。

"Liftupthatendthere，damnyou！Whatthehell’sthematterwithyou？"

Theyelevatedtheendofthehatch—coverwithpitifulhaste，and，likeadogflungoverside，thedeadmanslidfeetfirstintothesea。Thecoalathisfeetdraggedhimdown。Hewasgone。

"Johansen，"WolfLarsensaidbrisklytothenewmate，"keepallhandsondecknowthey’rehere。Getinthetopsailsandjibsandmakeagoodjobofit。We’reinforasou’easter。Betterreefthejibandmainsail，too，whileyou’reaboutit。"

Inamomentthedeckswereincommotion，Johansenbellowingordersandthemenpullingorlettinggoropesofvarioussorts——allnaturallyconfusingtoalandsmansuchasmyself。Butitwastheheartlessnessofitthatespeciallystruckme。Thedeadmanwasanepisodethatwaspast，anincidentthatwasdropped，inacanvascoveringwithasackofcoal，whiletheshipspedalongandherworkwenton。Nobodyhadbeenaffected。ThehunterswerelaughingatafreshstoryofSmoke’s；themenpullingandhauling，andtwoofthemclimbingaloft；WolfLarsenwasstudyingthecloudingskytowindward；andthedeadman，dyingobscenely，buriedsordidly，andsinkingdown，down——

Thenitwasthatthecrueltyofthesea，itsrelentlessnessandawfulness，rusheduponme。Lifehadbecomecheapandtawdry，abeastlyandinarticulatething，asoullessstirringoftheoozeandslime。heldontotheweatherrail，closebytheshrouds，andgazedoutacrossthedesolatefoamingwavestothelow—lyingfog—banksthathidSanFranciscoandtheCaliforniacoast。

Rain—squallsweredrivinginbetween，andIcouldscarcelyseethefog。

Andthisstrangevessel，withitsterriblemen，pressedunderbywindandseaandeverleapingupandout，washeadingawayintothesouthwest，intothegreatandlonelyPacificexpanse。

TheSeaWolf：Chapter4CHAPTER4

Whathappenedtomenextonthesealing—schoonerGhost，asstrovetofitintomynewenvironment，aremattersofhumiliationandpain。Thecook，whowascalled"thedoctor"bythecrew，"Tommy"bythehunters，and"Cooky"byWolfLarsen，wasachangedperson。Thedifferenceworkedinmystatusbroughtaboutacorrespondingdifferenceintreatmentfromhim。Servileandfawningashehadbeenbefore，hewasnowasdomineeringandbellicose。Intruth，Iwasnolongerthefinegentlemanwithaskinsoftasa"lydy’s，"butonlyanordinaryandveryworthlesscabin—boy。

HeabsurdlyinsisteduponmyaddressinghimasMr。Mugridge，andhisbehaviorandcarriagewereinsufferableasheshowedmemyduties。Besidesmyworkinthecabin，withitsfoursmallstaterooms，wassupposedtobehisassistantinthegalley，andmycolossalignoranceconcerningsuchthingsaspeelingpotatoesorwashinggreasypotswasasourceofunendingandsarcasticwondertohim。HerefusedtotakeintoconsiderationwhatIwas，or，rather，whatmylifeandthethingsIwasaccustomedtohadbeen。Thiswaspartoftheattitudehechosetoadopttowardme；andI

confess，erethedaywasdone，thathatedhimwithmorelivelyfeelingsthanIhadeverhatedanyoneinmylifebefore。

ThisfirstdaywasmademoredifficultformefromthefactthattheGhost，underclosereefs，（termssuchastheseIdidnotlearntilllater），wasplungingthroughwhatMr。Mugridgecalledan"’owlin’sou’easter。"

Athalf—pastfive，underhisdirections，Isetthetableinthecabin，withrough—weathertraysinplace，andthencarriedtheteaandcookedfooddownfromthegalley。Inthisconnectioncannotforbearrelatingmyfirstexperiencewithaboardingsea。

"Looksharporyou’llgetdoused，"wasMr。Mugridge’spartinginjunction，asIleftthegalleywithabigtea—potinonehand，andinthehollowoftheotherarmseveralloavesoffresh—bakedbread。Oneofthehunters，atall，loose—jointedchapnamedHenderson，wasgoingaftatthetimefromthesteerage，（thenamethehuntersfacetiouslygavetheirmidshipssleepingquarters），tothecabin。WolfLarsenwasonthepoop，smokinghiseverlastingcigar。

"’Ereshecomes。Slingyer’ook！"thecookcried。

Istopped，forIdidnotknowwhatwascoming，andsawthegalleydoorslideshutwithabang。ThenIsawHendersonleapinglikeamadmanforthemainrigging，upwhichheshot，ontheinside，tillhewasmanyfeethigherthanmyhead。AlsoIsawagreatwave，curlingandfoaming，poisedfarabovetherail。Iwasdirectlyunderit。Myminddidnotworkquickly，everythingwassonewandstrange。IgraspedthatIwasindanger，butthatwasall。Istoodstill，intrepidation。ThenWolfLarsenshoutedfromthepoop：

"Grabholdsomething，you——youHump！"

Butitwastoolate。Isprangtowardtherigging，towhichmighthaveclung，andwasmetbythedescendingwallofwater。Whathappenedafterthatwasveryconfusing。Iwasbeneaththewater，suffocatinganddrowning。

Myfeetwereoutfromunderme，andIwasturningoverandoverandbeingsweptalongIknewnotwhere。SeveraltimesIcollidedagainsthardobjects，oncestrikingmyrightkneeaterribleblow。ThenthefloodseemedsuddenlytosubsideandIwasbreathingthegoodairagain。Ihadbeensweptagainstthegalleyandaroundthesteeragecompanionwayfromtheweathersideintotheleescuppers。Thepainfrommyhurtkneewasagonizing。Icouldnotputmyweightonit，or，atleast，IthoughtIcouldnotputmyweightonit；andIfeltsurethelegwasbroken。Butthecookwasafterme，shoutingthroughtheleegalleydoor：

"’Ere，you！Don’ttykeallnightaboutit！Where’sthepot？Lostoverboard？

Serveyoubloodywellrightifyerneckwasbroke！"

Imanagedtostruggletomyfeet。Thegreattea—potwasstillinmyhand。Ilimpedtothegalleyandhandedittohim。Buthewasconsumingwithindignation，realorfeigned。

"Gawdblimemeifyouayn’taslob。Wot’reyougoodforanyw’y，I’dliketoknow？Eh？Wot’reyougoodforanyw’y？Cawn’tevencarryabitofteaaftwithoutlosin’it。NowI’ll’avetoboilsomemore。

"An’wot’reyousnifflin’about？"heburstoutatme，withrenewedrage。

"’Cosyou’ve’urtyerporelittleleg，porelittlemamma’sdarlin’。"

Iwasnotsniffling，thoughmyfacemightwellhavebeendrawnandtwitchingfromthepain。ButIcalledupallmyresolution，setmyteeth，andhobbledbackandforthfromgalleytocabinandcabintogalleywithoutfurthermishap。TwothingsIhadacquiredbymyaccident：aninjuredkneecapthatwentundressedandfromwhichsufferedforwearymonths，andthenameof"Hump，"whichWolfLarsenhadcalledmefromthepoop。Thereafter，foreandaft，Iwasknownbynoothername，untilthetermbecameapartofmythought—processesandidentifieditwithmyself，thoughtofmyselfasHump，asthoughHumpwereIandhadalwaysbeenI。

Itwasnoeasytask，waitingonthecabintable，wheresatWolfLarsen，Johansen，andthesixhunters。Thecabinwassmall，tobeginwith，andtomovearound，asIwascompelledto，wasnotmadeeasierbytheschooner’sviolentpitchingandwallowing。Butwhatstruckmemostforciblywasthetotallackofsympathyonthepartofthemenwhomserved。Icouldfeelmykneethroughmyclothes，swelling，andswelling，andIwassickandfaintfromthepainofit。Icouldcatchglimpsesofmyface，whiteandghastly，distortedwithpain，inthecabinmirror。Allthemenmusthaveseenmycondition，butnotonespokeortooknoticeofme，tillIwasalmostgratefultoWolfLarsen，lateron，（Iwaswashingthedishes），whenhesaid：

"Don’tletalittlethinglikethatbotheryou。You’llgetusedtosuchthingsintime。Itmaycrippleyousome，butallthesameyou’llbelearningtowalk。

"That’swhatyoucallaparadox，isn’tit？"headded。

HeseemedpleasedwhenInoddedmyheadwiththecustomary"Yes，sir。"

"Isupposeyouknowabitaboutliterarythings？Eh？Good。I’llhavesometalkswithyousometime。"

Andthen，takingnofurtheraccountofme，heturnedhisbackandwentupondeck。

Thatnight，whenIhadfinishedanendlessamountofwork，wassenttosleepinthesteerage，whereImadeupasparebunk。Iwasgladtogetoutofthedetestablepresenceofthecookandtobeoffmyfeet。Tomysurprise，myclotheshaddriedonmeandthereseemednoindicationsofcatchingcold，eitherfromthelastsoakingorfromtheprolongedsoakingfromthefounderingoftheMartinez。Underordinarycircumstances，afterallthatIhadundergone，Ishouldhavebeenfitforbedandatrainednurse。

Butmykneewasbotheringmeterribly。AswellasIcouldmakeout，thekneecapseemedturneduponedgeinthemidstoftheswelling。AsI

satinmybunkexaminingit，（thesixhunterswereallinthesteerage，smokingandtalkinginloudvoices），Hendersontookapassingglanceatit。

"Looksnasty，"hecommented。"Tiearagarounditandit’llbeallright。"

Thatwasall；andonthelandIwouldhavebeenlyingonthebroadofmyback，withasurgeonattendingonme，andwithstrictinjunctionstodonothingbutrest。ButImustdothesemenjustice。Callousastheyweretomysuffering，theywereequallycalloustotheirownwhenanythingbefellthem。Andthiswasdue，Ibelieve，first，tohabit；andsecond，tothefactthattheywerelesssensitivelyorganized。Ireallybelievethatafinelyorganized，high—strungmanwouldsuffertwiceandthriceasmuchastheyfromalikeinjury。

TiredasIwas，exhausted，infact，Iwaspreventedfromsleepingbythepaininmyknee。ItwasallIcoulddotokeepfromgroaningaloud。

AthomeIshouldundoubtedlyhavegivenventtomyanguish；butthisnewandelementalenvironmentseemedtocallforasavagerepression。Likethesavage，theattitudeofthesemenwasstoicalingreatthings，childishinlittlethings。Iremember，laterinthevoyage，seeingKerfoot，anotherofthehunters，loseafingerbyhavingitsmashedtoajelly；andhedidnotevenmurmurorchangetheexpressiononhisface。YetIhaveseenthesameman，timeandagain，flyintothemostoutrageouspassionoveratrifle。

Hewasdoingitnow，vociferating，bellowing，wavinghisarms，andcursinglikeafiend，andallbecauseofadisagreementwithanotherhunterastowhetherasealpupknewinstinctivelyhowtoswim。Heheldthatitdid，thatitcouldswimthemomentitwasborn。Theotherhunter，Latimer，alean，Yankee—lookingfellowwithshrewd，narrow—slittedeyes，heldotherwise，heldthatthesealpupwasbornonthelandfornootherreasonthanthatitcouldnotswim，thatitsmotherwascompelledtoteachittoswimasbirdswerecompelledtoteachtheirnestlingshowtofly。

Forthemostpart，theremainingfourhuntersleanedonthetableorlayintheirbunksandleftthediscussiontothetwoantagonists。Buttheyweresupremelyinterested，foreverylittlewhiletheyardentlytooksides，andsometimesallweretalkingatonce，tilltheirvoicessurgedbackandforthinwavesofsoundlikemimicthunder—rollsintheconfinedspace。Childishandimmaterialasthetopicwas，thequalityoftheirreasoningwasstillmorechildishandimmaterial。Intruth，therewasverylittlereasoningornoneatall。Theirmethodwasoneofassertion，assumption，anddenunciation。Theyprovedthatasealpupcouldswimornotswimatbirthbystatingthepropositionverybellicoselyandthenfollowingitupwithanattackontheopposingman’sjudgment，commonsense，nationality，orpasthistory。Rebuttalwaspreciselysimilar。IhaverelatedthisinordertoshowthementalcaliberofthemenwithwhomIwasthrownincontact。

Intellectuallytheywerechildren，inhabitingthephysicalformsofmen。

Andtheysmoked，incessantlysmoked，usingacoarse，cheap，andoffensive—smellingtobacco。Theairwasthickandmurkywiththesmokeofit；andthis，combinedwiththeviolentmovementoftheshipasshestruggledthroughthestorm，wouldsurelyhavemademeseasickhadbeenavictimtothatmalady。Asitwas，itmademequitesqueamish，thoughthisnauseamighthavebeenduetothepainofmylegandexhaustion。

AsIlaytherethinking，Inaturallydweltuponmyselfandmysituation。

Itwasunparalleled，undreamed—of，thatI，HumphreyVanWeyden，ascholarandadilettante，ifyouplease，inthingsartisticandliterary，shouldbelyinghereonaBeringSeaseal—huntingschooner。Cabin—boy！Ihadneverdoneanyhardmanuallabor，orscullionlabor，inmylife。Ihadlivedaplacid，uneventful，sedentaryexistenceallmydays——thelifeofascholarandarecluseonanassuredandcomfortableincome。Violentlifeandathleticsportshadneverappealedtome。Ihadalwaysbeenabook—worm；

somysistersandfatherhadcalledmeduringmychildhood。Ihadgonecampingbutonceinmylife，andthenIleftthepartyalmostatitsstartandreturnedtothecomfortsandconveniencesofaroof。AndhereIwas，withdrearyandendlessvistasbeforemeoftable—setting，potato—peeling，anddish—washing。AndIwasnotstrong。ThedoctorshadalwayssaidthatIhadaremarkableconstitution，butIhadneverdevelopeditormybodythroughexercise。Mymusclesweresmallandsoft，likeawoman’s，orsothedoctorshadsaidtimeandagaininthecourseoftheirattemptstopersuademetogoinforphysical—culturefads。ButIhadpreferredtousemyhead，ratherthanmybody；andhereIwas，innofitconditionfortheroughlifeinprospect。

Thesearemerelyafewofthethingsthatwentthroughmymind，andarerelatedforthesakeofvindicatingmyselfinadvanceintheweakandhelplessr攍eIwasdestinedtoplay。ButIthought，also，ofmymotherandsisters，andpicturedtheirgrief。IwasamongthemissingdeadoftheMartinezdisaster，anunrecoveredbody。Icouldseethehead—linesinthepapers；thefellowsattheUniversityClubandtheBibelotshakingtheirheadsandsaying，"Poorchap！"AndIcouldseeCharleyFuruseth，asIhadsaidgood—bytohimthatmorning，lounginginadressing—gownonthebe—pillowedwindowcouchanddeliveringhimselfoforacularandpessimisticepigrams。

Andallthewhile，rolling，plunging，climbingthemovingmountainsandfallingandwallowinginthefoamingvalleys，theschoonerGhostwasfightingherwayfartherandfartherintotheheartofthePacific——andIwasonher。Icouldhearthewindabove。Itcametomyearsasamuffledroar。Nowandagainfeetstampedoverhead。Anendlesscreakingwasgoingonallaboutme，thewoodworkandthefittingsgroaningandsqueakingandcomplaininginathousandkeys。Thehunterswerestillarguingandroaringlikesomesemi—humanamphibiousbreed。Theairwasfilledwithoathsandindecentexpressions。Icouldseetheirfaces，flushedandangry，thebrutalitydistortedandemphasizedbythesicklyyellowofthesea—lampswhichrockedbackandforthwiththeship。Throughthedimsmoke—hazethebunkslookedlikethesleepingdensofanimalsinamenagerie。Oilskinsandsea—bootswerehangingfromthewalls，andhereandthereriflesandshotgunsrestedsecurelyintheracks。Itwasasea—fittingforthebuccaneersandpiratesofbygoneyears。Myimaginationranriot，andstillIcouldnotsleep。Anditwasalong，longnight，wearyanddrearyandlong。TheSeaWolf：Chapter5CHAPTER5

Butmyfirstnightinthehunters’steeragewasalsomylast。NextdayJohansen，thenewmate，wasroutedfromthecabinbyWolfLarsen，andsentintothesteeragetosleepthereafter，whileItookpossessionofthetinycabinstate—room，which，onthefirstdayofthevoyage，hadalreadyhadtwooccupants。Thereasonforthischangewasquicklylearnedbythehunters，andbecamethecauseofadealofgrumblingontheirpart。ItseemedthatJohansen，inhissleep，livedovereachnighttheeventsoftheday。HisincessanttalkingandshoutingandbellowingofordershadbeentoomuchforWolfLarsen，whohadaccordinglyfoistedthenuisanceuponhishunters。

Afterasleeplessnight，Iaroseweakandinagony，tohobblethroughmyseconddayontheGhost。ThomasMugridgeroutedmeoutathalf—pastfive，muchinthefashionthatBillSykesmusthaveroutedouthisdog；

butMr。Mugridge’sbrutalitytomewaspaidbackinkindandwithinterest。

Theunnecessarynoisehemade，（Ihadlainwide—eyedthewholenight），musthaveawakenedoneofthehunters；foraheavyshoewhizzedthroughthesemi—darkness，andMr。Mugridge，withasharphowlofpain，humblybeggedeverybody’spardon。Lateron，inthegalley，noticedthathisearwasbruisedandswollen。Itneverwententirelybacktoitsnormalshape，andwascalleda"cauliflowerear"bythesailors。

Thedaywasfilledwithmiserablevariety。Ihadtakenmydriedclothesdownfromthegalleythenightbefore，andthefirstthingIdidwastoexchangethecook’sgarmentsforthem。Ilookedformypurse。Inadditiontosomesmallchange，（andIhaveagoodmemoryforsuchthings），ithadcontainedonehundredandeighty—fivedollarsingoldandpaper。ThepurseIfound，butitscontents，withtheexceptionofthesmallsilver，hadbeenabstracted。Ispoketothecookaboutit，whenIwentondecktotakeupmydutiesinthegalley，andthoughIhadlookedforwardtoasurlyanswer，IhadnotexpectedthebelligerentharanguethatIreceived。

"Look’ere，’Ump，"hebegan，amaliciouslightinhiseyesandasnarlinhisthroat；"d’yewantyernosepunched？IfyouthinkI’mathief，justkeepittoyerself，oryou’llfind’owbloodywellmistykenyouare。Strikemeblindifthisayn’tgratitudeforyer！’Ereyoucome，aporemis’rablespecimenof’umanscum，an’Itykesyerintomygalleyan’treatsyer’ansom，an’thisiswotIgetforit。Nex’timeyoucangoto’ell，sayI，an’

I’veagoodmindtogiveyouwhat—foranyw’y。"

Sosaying，heputuphisfistsandstartedforme。Tomyshamebeit，Icoweredawayfromtheblowandranoutthegalleydoor。WhatelsewasItodo？Force，nothingbutforce，obtainedonthisbrute—ship。Moralsuasionwasathingunknown。Pictureittoyourself：amanofordinarystature，slenderofbuild，andwithweak，undevelopedmuscles，whohaslivedapeaceful，placidlife，andisunusedtoviolenceofanysort——

whatcouldsuchamanpossiblydo？TherewasnomorereasonthatIshouldstandandfacethesehumanbeaststhanthatshouldstandandfaceaninfuriatedbull。

SoIthoughtitoutatthetime，feelingtheneedforvindicationanddesiringtobeatpeacewithmyconscience。Butthisvindicationdidnotsatisfy。NortothisdaycanIpermitmymanhoodtolookbackuponthoseeventsandfeelentirelyexonerated。Thesituationwassomethingthatreallyexceededrationalformulasforconductanddemandedmorethanthecoldconclusionsofreason。Whenviewedinthelightofformallogic，thereisnotonethingofwhichtobeashamed；butneverthelessashameriseswithinmeattherecollection，andintheprideofmymanhoodIfeelthatmymanhoodhasinunaccountablewaysbeensmirchedandsullied。

Allofwhichisneitherherenorthere。Thespeedwithwhichranfromthegalleycausedexcruciatingpaininmyknee，andIsankdownhelplesslyatthebreakofthepoop。ButtheCockneyhadnotpursuedme。

"Lookat’imrun！Lookat’imrun！"Icouldhearhimcrying。"An’withagymelegatthat！Comeonback，youporelittlemamma’sdarling。Iwon’t’ityer；no，Iwon’t。"

Icamebackandwentonwithmywork；andheretheepisodeendedforthetime，thoughfurtherdevelopmentswereyettotakeplace。Isetthebreakfast—tableinthecabin，andatseveno’clockwaitedonthehuntersandofficers。Thestormhadevidentlybrokenduringthenight，thoughahugeseawasstillrunningandastiffwindblowing。Sailhadbeenmadeintheearlywatches，sothattheGhostwasracingalongundereverythingexceptthetwotopsailsandtheflyingjib。Thesethreesails，Igatheredfromtheconversation，weretobesetimmediatelyafterbreakfast。Ilearned，also，thatWolfLarsenwasanxioustomakethemostofthestorm，whichwasdrivinghimtothesouthwestintothatportionoftheseawhereheexpectedtopickupwiththenortheasttrades。ItwasbeforethissteadywindthathehopedtomakethemajorportionoftheruntoJapan，curvingsouthintothetropicsandnorthagainasheapproachedthecoastofAsia。

AfterbreakfastIhadanotherunenviableexperience。Whenhadfinishedwashingthedishes，Icleanedthecabinstoveandcarriedtheashesupondecktoemptythem。WolfLarsenandHendersonwerestandingnearthewheel，deepinconversation。Thesailor，Johnson，wassteering。AsIstartedtowardtheweathersideIsawhimmakeasuddenmotionwithhishead，whichImistookforatokenofrecognitionandgoodmorning。Inreality，hewasattemptingtowarnmetothrowmyashesovertheleeside。Unconsciousofmyblunder，IpassedbyWolfLarsenandthehunterandflungtheashesoverthesidetowindward。Thewinddrovethemback，andnotonlyoverme，butoverHendersonandWolfLarsen。Thenextinstantthelatterkickedme，violently，asacuriskicked。Ihadnotrealizedtherecouldbesomuchpaininakick。reeledawayfromhimandleanedagainstthecabininahalf—faintingcondition。Everythingwasswimmingbeforemyeyes，andIturnedsick。Thenauseaoverpoweredme，andImanagedtocrawltothesideofthevessel。ButWolfLarsendidnotfollowmeup。Brushingtheashesfromhisclothes，hehadresumedhisconversationwithHenderson。

Johansen，whohadseentheaffairfromthebreakofthepoop，sentacoupleofsailorsafttocleanupthemess。

LaterinthemorningIreceivedasurpriseofatotallydifferentsort。

Followingthecook’sinstructions，IhadgoneintoWolfLarsen’sstate—roomtoputittorightsandmakethebed。Againstthewall，neartheheadofthebunk，wasarackfilledwithbooks。glancedoverthem，notingwithastonishmentsuchnamesasShakespeare，Tennyson，Poe，andDeQuincey。

Therewerescientificworks，too，amongwhichwererepresentedmensuchasTyndall，Proctor，andDarwin。Astronomyandphysicswererepresented，andIremarkedBulfinch’s"AgeofFable，"Shaw’s"HistoryofEnglishandAmericanLiterature，"andJohnson’s"NaturalHistory"intwolargevolumes。

Thentherewereanumberofgrammars，suchasMetcalf’s，andReedandKellogg’s；

andIsmiledasIsawacopyof"TheDean’sEnglish。"

IcouldnotreconcilethesebookswiththemanfromwhatIhadseenofhim，andIwonderedifhecouldpossiblyreadthem。ButwhencametomakethebedIfound，betweentheblankets，droppedapparentlyashehadsunkofftosleep，acompleteBrowning，theCambridgeEdition。Itwasopenat"InaBalcony，"andInoticed，hereandthere，passagesunderlinedinpencil。Further，lettingdropthevolumeduringalurchoftheship，asheetofpaperfellout。Itwasscrawledoverwithgeometricaldiagramsandcalculationsofsomesort。

Itwaspatentthatthisterriblemanwasnoignorantclod，suchasonewouldinevitablysupposehimtobefromhisexhibitionsofbrutality。Atoncehebecameanenigma。Onesideortheotherofhisnaturewasperfectlycomprehensible；butbothsidestogetherwerebewildering。Ihadalreadyremarkedthathislanguagewasexcellent，marredwithanoccasionalslightinaccuracy。Ofcourse，incommonspeechwiththesailorsandhunters，itsometimesfairlybristledwitherrors，whichwasduetothevernacularitself；butinthefewwordshehadheldwithmeithadbeenclearandcorrect。

ThisglimpseIhadcaughtofhisothersidemusthaveemboldenedme，forIresolvedtospeaktohimaboutthemoneyIhadlost。

"Ihavebeenrobbed，"Isaidtohim，alittlelater，whenfoundhimpacingupanddownthepoopalone。

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读