The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1915-03-25
BY JACK LONDON.
Continued From Yesterday

pened to be on the poop when
Wolf Larsen ordered the two
strange sailors forward and into
the forecastle. They went sui
/ lenly, but they went. He next
ordered Miss Brewster below. and
smiled at the instant horror that
leapt into her eyes.
You'll find nothing grewsome
down there" he said, "oniy an
unhurt man securely made fast
to the ring-bolts. Bullets are
liable to come aboard. and ! don't
want you killed, you know.
Even as he spoke, bullet was
DETECTED by brass-capped
spoke of the wheel between his
hands and screeched off through
the air to windward.
You see.'' he said to her: and
then to me, mir. Van Weyden,
will you take the wheel?"
Maud Brewster had stepped in
side the companionway so that
only her head was exposed. Wolf
Larsen had procured rifle and
was throwing cartridge into the
barrel. begged her with my
eyes to go below, but she smiled
and said
I'VE may be feeble land-crea-
lures without legs, but we can
show Captain Larsen that we are
at least as brave as he"
He gave her a quick look of
admiration.
Il like you a hundred per cent
better for that" he said. Books,
and brains, and bravery. You are
well-rounded, blue-stocking fit
to be the wife OF a pirate chief.
Ahem, we'll discuss that later"
he smiled. as a bullet struck sol
idly into the cabin wall.
| saw his eyes flash golden as
he spoke, and | saw the terror
mount In her own.
I'VE are braver," FASTENED to
say. AT least, speaking for my
self, know | am Drawer than
Captain Larsen"
1t was I who was now favored
by q quick look. He was wonder
Ing II l were making fun of him.
put three or four spOkes over
to counterfeit a sheer toward the
wind on the part Of the Ghost,
and then steadied her. Wolf Lar
sen was still waiting an explana-
tion, and l pointed down to my
knees.
You will observe there"
said, "a slight trembling. 1t is
because am afraid. the flesh is
afraid; and l am afraid in my
mind because do not wish to
die. But my spirit masters the
trembling flesh and the qualms
of the mind. ] am more than
brave. l am courageous. Your
flesh is not afraid. You are not
afraid. On the one hand, 1t costs
you nothing to encounter danger;
on the other hand, 1t even gives
you delight. You enjoy 1t. You
may be unafraid. Mr.. Larsen, but
you must grant that the bravery
Is mine."
You're right" he acknowl-
edged at once. II never thought
of it in that way before. But is
the opposite true? II you are
Drawer than !. am | more coward
ly than your"
We both laughed at the absurd
ity, and he dropped down to the
deck and rested his rifle across
the rail. The bullets we had re-
ceived had travelled nearly a
mile, but by now we had cut that
distance In half. He fired three
careful shots. The first struck
fifty feet to windward of the
boat, the second alongside, and
at the third the boat-steerer let
loose his steering-oar and crum-
pied up in the bottom Of the boat.
1T guess that'll fix them,
Wolf Larsen said, rising to his
feet. II couldn't afford to lei
the hunter have 1t, and there IL
a chance the boat-puller doesn't
know how to steer. In which
case, the hunter cannot steer and
shoot at the same time"
His reasoning was justified
for the boat rushed at once into
the wind and the hunter sprane
aft to take the boat-steerer's
lplace. There was no more shoot
ing, though the rifles were still
cracking merrily from the othel
boats.
The hunter had managed to gel
the boat before the wind again
but we ran down upon 1t, goinG
at least two feet to its one.
hundred yards away, ! saw thu
boat-puller pass a rifle to thu
hunter. Wolf Larsen went amid
ships and took the coil of ths
throat-halyards from its pin. Their
he peered over the rail with lev
eled rifle. Twice / saw the hunt
| er let go the steering-oar will
one hand, reach for his rifle, and
hesitate. We we're now alongside
and foaming past.
Here you'll" Wolf Larsen crieS
suddenly to the boat-puller
Take a turn"
| At the same time he flung The
coil of rope. 1t struck fairl,
nearly knocking the man over
!, but he did not obey. Instead. hs
looked to his hunter for orders
The hunter. In turn, was In. {
quandary. His rifle was between
his knees, but If he let go thu
steering-oar in order to shoot, the
boat would sweep around and col
tt5n xutth fha ocbrnuar Aioc IL