The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1915-03-18


the last bit of REBELLION out oil
them.
Miss Brewster,-we had learn.
ed her name from the engineer
slept on and on. At supper
requested the hunters to lower
their voices, SO she was not dis
turbed: and it was not till mex
morning that she made her ap-
pearance. II had been my inten,
ton to have her meals served
apart, but Wolf Larsen put down
his foot. Who was she that she
should be too good for cabin
table and cabin society? had been
his demand.
But her coming to the table
had something amusing in II. The
hunters fell silent as clans. Jock
Horner and Smoke alone were
unabashed, stealing steadily
glances at her now and again, and
even taking part in the CONVERSE
ton. The other four men glued
their eyes on their plates and
chewed steadily and with
thoughtful precision, their ears
moving and webbing, in time
with their Jaws, like the ears OF
SO many animals.
Wolf Larsen had little to say
at first, doing no more than reply
when he was addressed. Not that
he was abashed. Far from II.
This woman was new type to
him, different breed from any
he had ever known, and he was
curious. He studied her, his
eyes rarely leaving her face I'M
less to follow the movements OF
her hands or shoulders. I studied
her myself, and though 1t was |
who maintained the conversation,
| know that l was bit shy, not
quite self-possessed. His was the
perfect poise, the supreme conf
dence In self, which nothing
could shake; and he was no more
timid of woman than he was OF
storm and battle.
"And when shall we arrive at
Yokohama" she asked, turning
to him and looking him squarely
In the eyes.
There 1t was, the question flat
The jaws stopped working, the
ears ceased webbing, and though
eyes remained glued on plates
each man listened greedily for the
answer.
I'm four months, possibly three
If the season closes early" Wolf
Larsen said.
She caught her breath, and
stammered, Il thought
was given to understand that Yo.
kohama was only a days sail
away. It" Here she paused
and looked about the table at the
circle of unsympathetic faces
staring hard at the plates. ut II
not right" she concluded.
That Is a question you must
settle with Mr.. Van Weyder
there" he replied, nodding to me
with mischievous twinkle. "Mr
Van Weyden is what you may cal
an authority on such things al
rights. Now l, who am only @
sailor, would look upon the sItua.
ton somewhat differently. 1t may
possibly be your misfortune thai
you have to remain with us, but
1t Is certainly our good fortune. y
He regarded her smilingly. Hell
eyes fell before his gaze, but she
lifted them again, and defiantly
to mine. ! read the unspoken
question there: was it right? Blu,
| had decided that the part l was
to play must be q neutral one, sc
l did not answer.
What do you think" she de,
manded.
THAT 1t is unfortunate, espe.
cially II you have any engage
ments falling due in the course
of the next several months. But
since you say that you were voy.
aging to Japan for your health,
can assure you that it will i'm
prove no better anywhere thar
aboard the Ghost"
| saw her eyes flash with indig
nation, and this time it was
who dropped mine, while / fell
my face flushing under her gaze
II was cowardly, but what elst
could / do?
"Mr. Van Weyden speaks with
the voice of authority" Vol
Larsen laughed.
l nodded my head, and she
having recovered herself, waited
expectantly.
mot that he is much to speak
of now" Wolf Larsen went on
but he has improved wonder.
fully. You should have seen him
when he came on board. A more
scrawny, pitiful specimen of hu.
manity one could hardly conceive
Isn't that so, Kerfoot ~
Kerfoot, thus directly address
ed, was startled into dropping his
knife on the floor, though he
managed to grunt affirmation.
Developed himself by peeline
potatoes and washing dishes. Eth
Kerfoot?"
Again that worthy grunted.
Look at him now. True, he II
not what you would term muscu.
lar, but still he has muscles
which is more than he had when
he came aboard. Also, he has
legs to stand on. You would moi
think so to look at him, but he
was quite unable to stand alone
at first"
The hunters were snickering
but she looked at me with sym.