The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1915-03-17

they may run before the wind for
the schooner when II breezes up
But In all that wild waste there
was no refuge for Leach and John
son save on the Ghost. and they
resolntely began the windward
beat. II was slow work in the
heavy sea that was running. At
any moment they were liable to-
be overwhelmed by the Kissing
combers. Time and again and
countless time we watched the
boat luff into the big whitecaps.
lose Roadway, and be flung back
like a cork.
Johnson was splendid sea-
man. and he knew as much about
small boats as he did about ships.
At the end OF an hour and half
ne was nearly alongside, standing
past our stern on the last leg out,
aiming to fetch us on the next leg
back.
so you've changed your
mind?" ! heard Wolf Larsen NUT
ter, half to himself, half to them
as though they could hear. You
want to come aboard. Ell? Well,
then. Just keep a-coming."
Hard up with that helm!" he
commanded Oofty-O ofty, the Ka-
naka, who had in the meantime
relieved Louis at the wheel.
Command followed command.
As the schooner paid off. the fore
and main sheets were Stacked
away for fair wind. And before
the wind we were, and leaping,
when Johnson, easing his sheet at
imminent peril, cut across our
wake hundred feet away. Again
Wolf Larsen laughed. at the same
time reckoning them with his arm
to follow. IL was evidently his
intention to play with them,--a
lesson, took II. In lieu of beat
Ing, though a dangerous lesson,
for the frail craft stood in mo-
mentary danger Of being over
whelmed.
Johnson squared away prompt
ly and ran after us. There was
nothing else for him to do. Death
stalked everywhere, and 1t was
only matter of time when some
one of these many huge seas
would fail upon the boat, roll
over 1t, and pass on.
Tis the fear iv death at the
hearts iv them" Louis muttered
In my ear. as l passed forward to
see to taking in the flying lib and
staysail.
"oh, he'll heave to in a little.
while and pick them up" l an
swered cheerfully. He's bent
upon giving them lesson, that's
ALL"
Louis looked at me shrewdly.
Think so?" he asked.
Surely" answered. Don't
your"
II think nothing but iv my own
skin, these days." was his answer.
AN tbs with wonder I'm filled
as to the workin' out Nv things.
A pretty mess that Frisco whisky
got me into, an a prefer mesSl
that woman's got you into aft
there. All. it's myself that knows
We for a blitherin' fool"
What do you mean?" I de-
handed; for, having sped his
shaft, he was turning away.
What do mean?p he cried.
And it's you that asks me! IT'S
not what ! mean, but what the
Wolf'll mean. The Wolf, l said,
the Wolff"
IF trouble comes, will you
stand by?" / asked impulsively,
for he had voiced my own fear.
Stand by? IT'S old fat Louis
stand by, an trouble enough
it'll be. We're at the beginnin'
~ things, I'm tellin' We, the bare
beginnin' Nv things
II had not thought you So
great coward" sneered.
He favored me with con-
temptuous stare. "If raised
never hand for that poor fool"
pointing astern to the tiny
sail ,--"d'ye think I'm hungerin
for a broken head for woman !
never laid me eyes upon before
this day?"
Better get In those topsails,
Mr.. Van Weyden," Wolf Larsen
said, as ! came on the poop.
felt relief, at least as far as
the two men were concerned. 1t
was clear he did not wish to run
too far away from them. picked
UP hope at the thought and put
the order swiftly into execution.
had scarcely opened my mouth
to issue the necessary commands,
when eager men were springing
to halyards and downhauls, and
others were racing aloft. This
eagerness on their part was noted
by Wolf Larsen with grim
smile.
Still We increased our lead,
and when the boat had dropped
astern several miles we hove to
and waited. All eyes watched 1t
coming, even Wolf Larsen; but he
was the only unperturbed man
aboard. Louis, gazing fixedIy,
betrayed trouble in his face he
was not quite able to hide.
The boat drew closer and
closer, hurting along through the
seething green like thing alive,
lifting and sending and uptossing
across the huge-backed breakers,
or disappearing behind them only |
to rush into sight again and
shoot skyward. II seemed i'm
possible that IL could continue to