Chapter 39

by Jack London

　　Chapter XXXIX

　　The day came for our departure. There was no longer anything todetain us on Endeavour Island. The Ghost's stumpy masts were inplace, her crazy sails bent. All my handiwork was strong, none ofit beautiful; but I knew that it would work, and I felt myself aman of power as I looked at it.

　　"I did it! I did it! With my own hands I did it!" I wanted to cryaloud.

　　But Maud and I had a way of voicing each other's thoughts, and shesaid, as we prepared to hoist the mainsail:

　　"To think, Humphrey, you did it all with your own hands?"

　　"But there were two other hands," I answered. "Two small hands,and don't say that was a phrase, also, of your father."

　　She laughed and shook her head, and held her hands up forinspection.

　　"I can never get them clean again," she wailed, "nor soften theweather-beat."

　　"Then dirt and weather-beat shall be your guerdon of honour," Isaid, holding them in mine; and, spite of my resolutions, I wouldhave kissed the two dear hands had she not swiftly withdrawn them.

　　Our comradeship was becoming tremulous, I had mastered my love longand well, but now it was mastering me. Wilfully had it disobeyedand won my eyes to speech, and now it was winning my tongue - ay,and my lips, for they were mad this moment to kiss the two smallhands which had toiled so faithfully and hard. And I, too, wasmad. There was a cry in my being like bugles calling me to her.And there was a wind blowing upon me which I could not resist,swaying the very body of me till I leaned toward her, allunconscious that I leaned. And she knew it. She could not butknow it as she swiftly drew away her hands, and yet, could notforbear one quick searching look before she turned away her eyes.

　　By means of deck-tackles I had arranged to carry the halyardsforward to the windlass; and now I hoisted the mainsail, peak andthroat, at the same time. It was a clumsy way, but it did not takelong, and soon the foresail as well was up and fluttering.

　　"We can never get that anchor up in this narrow place, once it hasleft the bottom," I said. "We should be on the rocks first."

　　"What can you do?" she asked.

　　"Slip it," was my answer. "And when I do, you must do your firstwork on the windlass. I shall have to run at once to the wheel,and at the same time you must be hoisting the jib."

　　This manoeuvre of getting under way I had studied and worked out ascore of times; and, with the jib-halyard to the windlass, I knewMaud was capable of hoisting that most necessary sail. A briskwind was blowing into the cove, and though the water was calm,rapid work was required to get us safely out.

　　When I knocked the shackle-bolt loose, the chain roared out throughthe hawse-hole and into the sea. I raced aft, putting the wheelup. The Ghost seemed to start into life as she heeled to the firstfill of her sails. The jib was rising. As it filled, the Ghost'sbow swung off and I had to put the wheel down a few spokes andsteady her.

　　I had devised an automatic jib-sheet which passed the jib across ofitself, so there was no need for Maud to attend to that; but shewas still hoisting the jib when I put the wheel hard down. It wasa moment of anxiety, for the Ghost was rushing directly upon thebeach, a stone's throw distant. But she swung obediently on herheel into the wind. There was a great fluttering and flapping ofcanvas and reef-points, most welcome to my ears, then she filledaway on the other tack.

　　Maud had finished her task and come aft, where she stood beside me,a small cap perched on her wind-blown hair, her cheeks flushed fromexertion, her eyes wide and bright with the excitement, hernostrils quivering to the rush and bite of the fresh salt air. Herbrown eyes were like a startled deer's. There was a wild, keenlook in them I had never seen before, and her lips parted and herbreath suspended as the Ghost, charging upon the wall of rock atthe entrance to the inner cove, swept into the wind and filled awayinto safe water.

　　My first mate's berth on the sealing grounds stood me in goodstead, and I cleared the inner cove and laid a long tack along theshore of the outer cove. Once again about, and the Ghost headedout to open sea. She had now caught the bosom-breathing of theocean, and was herself a-breath with the rhythm of it as shesmoothly mounted and slipped down each broad-backed wave. The dayhad been dull and overcast, but the sun now burst through theclouds, a welcome omen, and shone upon the curving beach wheretogether we had dared the lords of the harem and slain theholluschickie. All Endeavour Island brightened under the sun.Even the grim south-western promontory showed less grim, and hereand there, where the sea-spray wet its surface, high lights flashedand dazzled in the sun.

　　"I shall always think of it with pride," I said to Maud.

　　She threw her head back in a queenly way but said, "Dear, dearEndeavour Island! I shall always love it."

　　"And I," I said quickly.

　　It seemed our eyes must meet in a great understanding, and yet,loath, they struggled away and did not meet.

　　There was a silence I might almost call awkward, till I broke it,saying:

　　"See those black clouds to windward. You remember, I told you lastnight the barometer was falling."

　　"And the sun is gone," she said, her eyes still fixed upon ourisland, where we had proved our mastery over matter and attained tothe truest comradeship that may fall to man and woman.

　　"And it's slack off the sheets for Japan I cried gaily. "A fairwind and a flowing sheet, you know, or however it goes."

　　Lashing the wheel I ran forward, eased the fore and mainsheets,took in on the boom-tackles and trimmed everything for thequartering breeze which was ours. It was a fresh breeze, veryfresh, but I resolved to run as long as I dared. Unfortunately,when running free, it is impossible to lash the wheel, so I facedan all-night watch. Maud insisted on relieving me, but proved thatshe had not the strength to steer in a heavy sea, even if she couldhave gained the wisdom on such short notice. She appeared quiteheart-broken over the discovery, but recovered her spirits bycoiling down tackles and halyards and all stray ropes. Then therewere meals to be cooked in the galley, beds to make, Wolf Larsen tobe attended upon, and she finished the day with a grand house-cleaning attack upon the cabin and steerage.

　　All night I steered, without relief, the wind slowly and steadilyincreasing and the sea rising. At five in the morning Maud broughtme hot coffee and biscuits she had baked, and at seven asubstantial and piping hot breakfast put new lift into me.

　　Throughout the day, and as slowly and steadily as ever, the windincreased. It impressed one with its sullen determination to blow,and blow harder, and keep on blowing. And still the Ghost foamedalong, racing off the miles till I was certain she was making atleast eleven knots. It was too good to lose, but by nightfall Iwas exhausted. Though in splendid physical trim, a thirty-six-hourtrick at the wheel was the limit of my endurance. Besides, Maudbegged me to heave to, and I knew, if the wind and sea increased atthe same rate during the night, that it would soon be impossible toheave to. So, as twilight deepened, gladly and at the same timereluctantly, I brought the Ghost up on the wind.

　　But I had not reckoned upon the colossal task the reefing of threesails meant for one man. While running away from the wind I hadnot appreciated its force, but when we ceased to run I learned tomy sorrow, and well-nigh to my despair, how fiercely it was reallyblowing. The wind balked my every effort, ripping the canvas outof my hands and in an instant undoing what I had gained by tenminutes of severest struggle. At eight o'clock I had succeededonly in putting the second reef into the foresail. At eleveno'clock I was no farther along. Blood dripped from every finger-end, while the nails were broken to the quick. From pain and sheerexhaustion I wept in the darkness, secretly, so that Maud shouldnot know.

　　Then, in desperation, I abandoned the attempt to reef the mainsailand resolved to try the experiment of heaving to under the close-reefed foresail. Three hours more were required to gasket themainsail and jib, and at two in the morning, nearly dead, the lifealmost buffeted and worked out of me, I had barely sufficientconsciousness to know the experiment was a success. The close-reefed foresail worked. The Ghost clung on close to the wind andbetrayed no inclination to fall off broadside to the trough.

　　I was famished, but Maud tried vainly to get me to eat. I dozedwith my mouth full of food. I would fall asleep in the act ofcarrying food to my mouth and waken in torment to find the act yetuncompleted. So sleepily helpless was I that she was compelled tohold me in my chair to prevent my being flung to the floor by theviolent pitching of the schooner.

　　Of the passage from the galley to the cabin I knew nothing. It wasa sleep-walker Maud guided and supported. In fact, I was aware ofnothing till I awoke, how long after I could not imagine, in mybunk with my boots off. It was dark. I was stiff and lame, andcried out with pain when the bed-clothes touched my poor finger-ends.

　　Morning had evidently not come, so I closed my eyes and went tosleep again. I did not know it, but I had slept the clock aroundand it was night again.

　　Once more I woke, troubled because I could sleep no better. Istruck a match and looked at my watch. It marked midnight. And Ihad not left the deck until three! I should have been puzzled hadI not guessed the solution. No wonder I was sleeping brokenly. Ihad slept twenty-one hours. I listened for a while to thebehaviour of the Ghost, to the pounding of the seas and the muffledroar of the wind on deck, and then turned over on my ride and sleptpeacefully until morning.

　　When I arose at seven I saw no sign of Maud and concluded she wasin the galley preparing breakfast. On deck I found the Ghost doingsplendidly under her patch of canvas. But in the galley, though afire was burning and water boiling, I found no Maud.

　　I discovered her in the steerage, by Wolf Larsen's bunk. I lookedat him, the man who had been hurled down from the topmost pitch oflife to be buried alive and be worse than dead. There seemed arelaxation of his expressionless face which was new. Maud lookedat me and I understood.

　　"His life flickered out in the storm," I said.

　　"But he still lives," she answered, infinite faith in her voice.

　　"He had too great strength."

　　"Yes," she said, "but now it no longer shackles him. He is a freespirit."

　　"He is a free spirit surely," I answered; and, taking her hand, Iled her on deck.

　　The storm broke that night, which is to say that it diminished asslowly as it had arisen. After breakfast next morning, when I hadhoisted Wolf Larsen's body on deck ready for burial, it was stillblowing heavily and a large sea was running. The deck wascontinually awash with the sea which came inboard over the rail andthrough the scuppers. The wind smote the schooner with a suddengust, and she heeled over till her lee rail was buried, the roar inher rigging rising in pitch to a shriek. We stood in the water toour knees as I bared my head.

　　"I remember only one part of the service," I said, "and that is,'And the body shall be cast into the sea.'"

　　Maud looked at me, surprised and shocked; but the spirit ofsomething I had seen before was strong upon me, impelling me togive service to Wolf Larsen as Wolf Larsen had once given serviceto another man. I lifted the end of the hatch cover and thecanvas-shrouded body slipped feet first into the sea. The weightof iron dragged it down. It was gone.

　　"Good-bye, Lucifer, proud spirit," Maud whispered, so low that itwas drowned by the shouting of the wind; but I saw the movement ofher lips and knew.

　　As we clung to the lee rail and worked our way aft, I happened toglance to leeward. The Ghost, at the moment, was uptossed on asea, and I caught a clear view of a small steamship two or threemiles away, rolling and pitching, head on to the sea, as it steamedtoward us. It was painted black, and from the talk of the huntersof their poaching exploits I recognized it as a United Statesrevenue cutter. I pointed it out to Maud and hurriedly led her aftto the safety of the poop.

　　I started to rush below to the flag-locker, then remembered that inrigging the Ghost. I had forgotten to make provision for a flag-halyard.

　　"We need no distress signal," Maud said. "They have only to seeus."

　　"We are saved," I said, soberly and solemnly. And then, in anexuberance of joy, "I hardly know whether to be glad or not."

　　I looked at her. Our eyes were not loath to meet. We leanedtoward each other, and before I knew it my arms were about her.

　　"Need I?" I asked.

　　And she answered, "There is no need, though the telling of it wouldbe sweet, so sweet."

　　Her lips met the press of mine, and, by what strange trick of theimagination I know not, the scene in the cabin of the Ghost flashedupon me, when she had pressed her fingers lightly on my lips andsaid, "Hush, hush."

　　"My woman, my one small woman," I said, my free hand petting hershoulder in the way all lovers know though never learn in school.

　　"My man," she said, looking at me for an instant with tremulouslids which fluttered down and veiled her eyes as she snuggled herhead against my breast with a happy little sigh.

　　I looked toward the cutter. It was very close. A boat was beinglowered.

　　"One kiss, dear love," I whispered. "One kiss more before theycome."

　　"And rescue us from ourselves," she completed, with a most adorablesmile, whimsical as I had never seen it, for it was whimsical withlove.