The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1915-04-13
BY JACK LONDON.
Continued from Yesterday

ing the turn, crying:
1T works! II works! Wen
trust our lives to it,"
Then she assumed a rueful ex-
preston.
"lt's not over the hole" she
said. will you have to begin
all over?"
/ smiled In superior fashion,
and Stacking off on one of the
boom-guys and taking in on the
other, swung the mast perfectly
in the center of the deck. Still II
was not over the hole. Again the
rueful expression came on her
face, and again smiled In a
superior way. Stacking away on
the boom-tackle and hosting an
equivalent amount on the shears
tackle, brought the butt OF the
mast into position directly over
the hole In the deck. Then | gave
Maud careful instructions for
lowering away and went into the
hold to the step on the schooner's
bottom.
called to her, and the mast
moved easily and accurately
Straight toward the square hole
of the step the square butt de-
scended; but as it descended II
slowly twisted SO that square
would not fit into square. But
had not even a moments indeci1
sion. Calling to Maud to cease
| lowering, | went on deck and
made the watch-tackle fast to the
mast 9th a rolling hitch. ] left
Maud to pull on it while | went
below. BY the light of the Ian
tern | saw the butt twist slowly
around till its sides conceded
with the sides of the step. Maud
made fast and returned to the
windlass. Slowly the butt de-
scended the several intervening
inches, at the same time slightly
twisting again Again Maud rec.
titled the twist with the watch
tackle, and again she lowered
away from the. windlass. Square
fitted into square. The mast was
stepped.
/ raised a shout, and she ran
down to see. In the yellow Ian
tern light we peered at what we
| had accomplished. We looked al
each other, and our hands felt
their way and clasped. The eyes
| of both us, / think, were moist
| with the joy of success.
1T was done SO easily after
ALL" | remarked. "All the work
was in the preparation"
And all the wonder in the
completion, Maud added. Il can
scarcely bring myself to realize
that that great mast is really up
and in; that you have lifted II
from the water, swung 1t through
the air. and deposited 1t here
where 1t belongs. 1t is Titan's
task"
And they made themselves
many inventions" began mer-
rily, then paused to sniff the air.
| looked hastily at the lantern
It was not smoking. Again
shifted.
Something is burning" Maud
said, with sudden conviction.
We sprang together for the lad.
der, but ! raced past her to the
deck. A dense volume of smoke
was pouring out of the steerage
companionway.
1.-THE Wolf is not yet dead"
muttered to myself as l sprane
down through the smoke.
1t was so thick in the confined
space that / was compelled to fee
my way; and SO potent was the
spell of Wolf Larsen on my mag
ination l was quite prepared fol
the helpless giant to grip my neck
in strange hold. hesitated, the
desire to race back and up the
steps to the deck almost over
powering me. Then / recollected
Maud. The vision of her, as
had last seen her, in the Lantern
light of the schooner's hold, heI
brown eyes warm and moist with
joy, flashed before me, and l knew
that l could not go back.
/ was choking and suffocatinf
by the time i reached Wolf Lar.
sens bunk. l reached my hant
and felt for his. He was lying
motionless, bit moved slightly al
the touch Of my hand. ! felt oveI
and under his blankets. There
was no warmth, no sign Of fire
Yet that smoke which blinded me
and made me cough and gasF
must have a source. / lost m,
head temporarily and dashed fran
tically about the steerage. A col
lision with the table PARTIAL,
knocked the wind from my bod!
and brought me to myself. rea
soned that a helpless man coult
start a fire only near to where HI
lay.
II returned to Wolf Larsen'i
bunk. There l encountered Maud
How long she had been there II
that suffocating atmosphere
could not guess.
go up on deck" Icommand
ed peremptorily.
II But, Humphrey" she begaI
to protest In a queer, husky voice
'Please! pleased" | shouted a
her harshly.
! She drew away obed emily. ant
then ! thought, What IL she can
not find the steps? l started afte,
her. to stop at the foot of thu
companionway. Perhaps she hat
gone up. AS l stood there, hesi
tant, heard her cry SOFTLY
"Oh, Humphrey, l am lost"
H I found her fumbling at tn,
.x.oa1 80 sbn ofS.. hu1lh az 4 -, a