The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1915-02-25

snapped off the gaff, but he was
helpless with fright. Wolf Lar
sen, 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 off your course, my
man BE careful. unless you re
looking for trouble!"
"Ay, ay, SIR" the helmsman
responded. putting a couple of
spokes down.
He had been guilty OF running
the Ghost several points Off her
course In order that what little
wind there was should fill the
foresail and hold Il steady. He
had striyen to help the unfor-
tunate Harrison at the risk of
mourning Wolf Larsen's anger.
The time went by, and the sus-
pense, TO me, was terrible.
Thomas Mugridge, on the other
hand, considered II a laughable
affair. and was continually bob
bling his head out the galley door
to make jocose remarks. How |
hated him! And how my hatred
for him grew and grew, during
that fearful time, to cyclopean
dimensions. For the first time
in my life | experienced the de-
sire to murder--''saw red," as
some of our picturesque writer's
phrase ii. Life In general might
still be sacred, but life in the
particular case OF Thomas Mug
ridge had become very profans
indeed. was frightened when
became conscious that was see
Ing red, and the thought flashed
though my mind: was ], too, be.
coming tainted by the brutality
of my enyironment?--l, who even
! In the most fragrant crimes had
denied the Justice and righteous
ness of capital punishment?
/ Fully half an hour went by
and then saw Johnson and Louis
in some sort of alteration. II
ended with Johnson flinging Of
Louis's OBTAINING arm and start
Ing forward. lie crossed the
deck, sprang into the fore rigging
and began to climb. But tn,
quick eye of Wolf Larsen caught
him.
Here. you, what are you VI
rto?" he cried.
JohnsOn's ascent was arrested
He looked his captain in the eyes
and replied slowly
H n n am going to get that BIO!
H You'll get down out of thai
rigging, and damn lively about 1t!
Dye hear? Get DOWN."
Johnson hesitated, but the lone
years OF obedience to the masters
OF ships overpowered him, and he
dropped sullenly to the deck and
went on forward.
At half after five I went below
to set the cabin table, but hardly
knew what did, for my eyes and
brain we're filed with the vision
/, of man, white-faced and trem-
bling. comically like a bug, cling
Ing to the thrashing gaff. At six
O'Clock, when / served supper,
going on deck to get the food
from the galley, saw Harrison,
still in the same position. The
conversation at the table was OF
other things. Nobody seemed in
terested in the wantonly imperiled
life. But making an extra trip
to the galley a little later, was
gladdened by the sight of Harri-
son staggering weakly from the
rigging to the forecastle scuttle.
He had finally summoned the
courage to descend.
Before closing this incident, ]
must give a scrap of conversation
had with Wolf Larsen in the
cabin, while | was washing the
dishes.
"You we're looking squeamish
this afternoon" he began. What
was the matter?"
| | could see that he knew what
had made me possibly as sick as
Harrison, that he was trying to
| draw me, and answered, "It was
because of the brutal treatment of
that boy"
He gave short laugh. Like
seasickness, I suppose. Some
men are subject to it, and others
are not"
Not so," I objected.
~ h., a
earth is as full Of brutality as the
sea is full OF motion. And some
men are made sick by the one,
and some by the other. That's
the only reason"
but you, who make a mock
of human life. don't you place
/ any value upon it whatever"
demanded.
il 8.sValue? What value?" He
1 looked at me, and though his eyes
! were steady and motionless, there
seemed a cynical smile in them.
1aWhat kind of value? How do
i YOU measure 1t? Who values it?"
H gtI do" | made answer.
Then what is it worth to you?
H Another mans life, / mean.
/ Come, now, what is it worth?"
The value of life? How could
j Ifput a tangible value upon it?
] Somehow, /, who have always had
! expression, lacked expression
/ wi en- with Wolf Larsen. ] have
since determined that part OF
it, was due to the mans person
atty, but that the greater part
| was due to his totally different
| outlook. Unlike other material