The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-12-31
CHAPTER VI-continued.

A cruel thing happened Just before
supper, indicative of the callousness
and brutishness of these men. There
is one green hand in the crew, Harri
son by name. a clumsy-looking country
boy, mastered. imagine, by the spirit
OF adventure, and making his first voy
age. In some way. when Harrison was
aloft. the sheet jammed in the block
through which il runs at the end OF
the gaff. As l understood il, there
were two ways OF getting it cleared
first, by lowering the foresail which
was comparatively easy and without
danger; and. second. by climbing out
the peak-halyards to the end of the
gaff itself. an exceedingly hazardous
performance.
Johansen called out to Harrison to
go out the halyards. The Ghost was
rolling emptily in long sea. and with
each roll the halyards Stacked and
jerked taut They were capable OF
swapping man off like Fly from a
whiplash-
Harrison heard the order and hest
tated. 1t was probably the first time
he had been aIoft in his life. johann
sen burst out with a volley of abuse
and curses.
"That'H do. Johansen," Wolf Larsen
said brusquely. "I'll have you know
that ! do the swearing on this ship
If ! need your assistance. I'll call you
in"
Yes, SIR" the mate acknowledged
submissively.
In the meantime Harrison had
started out on the halyards. 1t was
a slight uphill climb, for the foresail
peaked high When he was half way
out, the Ghost took a long roll to
windward and back again into the hol-
low between two seas. 1t was the
snap OF the whip. His clutch was
broken. His body pitched out and
down, but i'm some way he managed
to save himself with his legs, hanging
head downward. A quick effort brought
his hands up to the halyards again;
but he was a long time regaining his
former position. where he hung. a
pitiable object
IN bet he has no appetite for sup
per-" l heard Wolf Larsen's voice,
which came to me around the corner
of the galley.
IT'S shame" / heard Johnson
growing in painfully Slow and correct
English. He was standing by the main
rigging. a few feet away from me.
"The boy is willing enough. He will
Loo he h.C 4Lo
is" He paused awhile, for the word
murder" was his final judgment.
Hist, viii yet" Louis whispered to
him. For the love iv your mother
hold your mouth"
It took Harrison fully ten minutes
to get started again. A little later he
made the end of the gaff, where,
astride the spar itself. he cle4red the
sheet, and was free to returnf But he
had lost his nerve. Johansen called
vainly for him TO come down. At any
moment he was liable to be snapped
off the gaff. but he was helpless with
fright. Wolf Larsen, walking up and
down with Smoke and in conversation,
took no more notice of him, though he
cried sharply once TO the man at the
wheel:
You're of your course. my man!
Be careful. unless you're looking for
troubled"
"Ay, ay, sir" the helmsman respond
ed, putting a couple of spokes down.
He had been guilty of running the
Ghost severat points off her course in
order that what little wind there was
should fill the foresail and hold 1t
steady. He had striven to help the
unfortunate Harrison at the risk OF
incurSing Wolf Larsen's anger.
Fully half an hour went by, and
then l saw Johnson and Louis in some
sort of alteration. II ended with
johnson fiDging of Louis OBTAINING
arm and starting forward He crossed
the deck, sprang into the fore rigging,
and began to climb. But the quick
eye OF Wolf Larsen caught him.
Here. you. what are you up tor he
cried.
Johnson's ascent was arrested. He
looked his captain In the eyes and
replied slowly:
II am goiJ-N 20 get that boy down."
You'll gei Down out OF that rigging.
and damn lively about It'll Dye hear?
Get DOWN."
years of obedience to the masters of
ships overpowered him, and he dropped
sullenly to the deck and went on for
ward.