The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1915-03-04


shut the doors and draw the
slide" Wolf Larsen said to me.
As obeyed ! noticed an anx-
ious light come into Johnson 3
eyes, but | did not dream OF its
cause. I did not dream OF what
was to occur until Il did occur.
but he knew from the very first
what was coming and awaited II
bravely. And In his action |
found complete refutation of all
Wolf Larsen's materialism. The
sailor johnson was swayed by
idea. by principle, and truth, and
sincerity. lie was right. he knew
he was right, ad he was unafraid,
He would die for the right II
needs be. he would be true to
himself, sincere with his soul,
And In this was portrayed the
victory of the spirit over the
flesh. the indomitability and
moral grandeur of the soul that
knows no restriction and rises
above time and space and matter
with a surety and invincibleness
born of nothing else than eter-
nifty and immortality.
But to return. noticed the
anxious light In Johnson's eyes.
but mistook II for the native shy
ness and embarrassment OF the
man. The mate. Johansen, stood
away several feet to the side of
him, and fully three yards In
front of him sat Wolf Larsen on
one of the pivotal cabin chairs.
An appreciable pause fell after |
had closed the doors and drawn
the slide. a pause that must have
lasted fully a minute. II was
broken by Wolf Larsen.
"Yonson," he began.
my name Is Johnson. SIR the
sailor boldly corrected.
well, Johnson, then, damn
YOU Can you guess why | have
sent for your"
Yes. and no, SIR" was the
slow reply. MY work Is done
well. The mate knows that, and
you know 1t. sir. So there can
not be any complaint"
and is that all?" Wolf Larsen
queried, his voice soft, and low,
and purring.
II know you have 1t In for me, "
Johnson continued with his UNI
alterable and ponderous slowness.
You do not like me. YOU
You"
Go on" Wolf Larsen prompt
ed. Don't be afraid of my feel
ings."
Il am not afraid" the sailor
retorted, a slight angry flush ris-
ing through his sunburn. IF |
speak not fast, it is because
have not been from the old coun-
try as long as you. You do not
like me because ! am too much of
a man; that Is why. SIR"
You are too much of a man
for ship discipline, IL that Is what
You mean, and II yon know what
mean" was Wolf Larsen's retort.
II know English, and l know
what you mean, SIR" Johnson an
swered, his flush deepening at
the slur on his knowledge of the
English language.
Johnson" Wolf Larsen said,
with an air of dismissing all that
had gone before as Introductory
to the main business in hand, II
understand you're not quite sat
isfied with those oilskins?"
mo, ! am not. They are no
good, sir"
And you've been shooting off
your mouth about them"
II say what l think, SIR" the
sailor answered courageously, not
failing at the same time in ship
courtesy, which demanded that
sir" be appended to each speech
he made.
1t was at this moment that /
CHANGED to glance at Johansen.
His big fists were clenching and
unclenching, and his face was
positively fiendish, so Indignantly
did he look at Johnson. ] noticed
a black discoloration, still family
visible, under Johansen's eye,
mark of the thrasIhing he had
received a few nights before from
the sailor. For the first time l
began to divine that something
terrible was about to be enacted,
could not imagine.
do you know what happens
to men who say what you've said
about my slop-chest and me?"
Wolf Larsen was demanding.
81 know, SIR" was the answer.
"What?" Wolf Larsen demand
ed, sharply and imperatively.
What you and the mate there
are going to do to me, SIR"
Look at him, Hump" Wolf
Larsen said to me, look at this
bit of animated dust, this aggre-
cation of matter that moves and
breathes and defies me and thor
oughly believes itself to be COM
pounded of something good; that
is impressed with certain human
fictions such as righteousness
and honesty, and that will live
up to them in spite of all personal
discomforts ana menaces. What
do you think of him, Hump?
What do you think of him?"
81 think that he Is a better man