The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-15
NO CEREMONY IS WASTED
Burials at Sea Are Not Marked by
an Excess of Reverence.
The Sea Wolf.

The Sea Wolf.
I had always conceived a burial at sea to
be a very solemn and aweinspiring event,
but / was quickly disillusioned. by this bur-
ial, at any rate. One of the hunters, a lit
tie dark-eyed man whom his mates called
Smoke" was telling stories, literally inter
sprinkled with oaths and obscenities, and
every minute or so the group of hunters
gave mouth TO a laughter that sounded to
me like a chorus of wolves. The sailors
trooped noisily aft, some of the watch be-
low rubbing the sleep from their eyes, and
talked in low tones together. There was
an ominous and worried expression on their
faces. 1t was evident that they did not
like the outlook of a voyage under such
a captain and begun so inauspiciously
From time TO time they stole glances at
Wolf Larsen, and 1 could see that they were
apprehensive of the man.
He stepped up TO the hatch cover, and all
caps came off. I ran my eyes over them
twenty men all told, twenty-five including
the man at the wheel and myself. L was
pardonably curious in my survey. for it ap-
peared my fate to be pent up with them on
this miniature floating world for L knew not
how many weeks or months. The sailors in
Tie Ildlu WClc EiBllSH anu ONdIlulIldNldn
and their faces seemed of the heavy, stolid
order. The hunters. on the other hand, had
stronger and more diversified faces. with
hard lines and the marks OF the free play
of passions. Strange TO say, / noted ii at
once. Wolf Larsen's features showed no
such evil stamp. There seemed nothing
vicious in them. True, there were lines,
but they were the lines OF decision and
frmness. 1t seemed rather a frank and
omen c~Ountenance, which rrankneSS or
openness was enhanced by the fact that he
was smooth shaver. 1 could hardly believe,
until the next incident occurred, that il
was the face OF a man who could behave
as he had behaved TO the cabin boy.
At this moment. as he opened his mouth
10 speak, puff after pun struck the schOon-
er and pressed her side under. The wind
shrieked a wild song through the rigging.
Some OF the hunters glanced anxiously
aloft. The whole leerail. where the dead
man lay. was buried in the sea. and as
the schooner lifted and righted the water
swept across the deck. wetting up above
our shOetopS. A shower of rain drove down
upon us. each singing like a hailstone.
AS IL passed Wolf Larsen began TO speak,
the bareheaded men swaying in unison to
the heave and lunge of the deck.
Il only remember one part OF the serv-
ice" he said. land that is and the body
shall be cast into the sea So cast il in"
He ceased speaking. The men holding the
hatch cover seemed perplexed. puzzled. no
doubt; by the briefness OF the ceremony.
Lift UP that end there! What the IS
the matter with you?"
They elevated the end of the hatch cover
with pitiful haste. and, like a dog flung
oversize. the dead man slid feet first into
the sea-. The coal at his feet dragged him
down. He was gone.
'Johansen.' Wolf Larsen said brisklv 70
the new mate. keep all hands on deck now
they're here. Get in the topsails and outer
ibis. We're in for a sou'easter. Reef the
jib and the mainsail. too. while you're about