Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-03-14


slowly to NNW and steady itself with
slight oscillations.
took a fresh hold on my bed
clothes and was preparing to start
on, when some movement caught my
eye and | looked astern to the rail-
A sinewy hand, dripping with water.
was clutching the rail. a second hand
took form in the darkness beside it..
l watched, fascinated. What visitant
from the gloom of the deep was l to
behold? Whatever it was, knew that
it was climbing aboard by the log
line. l saw head, the hair wet and
straight, shape itself. and then the un-
mistakable eyes and face of Wolf
Larsen. His right cheek was red with
blood, which flowed from some wound
in the head.
He drew himself inboard with a
quick effort, and arose to his feet,
glancing swiftly, as he did so, at the
man at the wheel, as though to assure
himself Of his identity and that there
was nothing to fear from him. The
sea water was streaming from him.
1t made little audible gurgles which
distracted me. AS he stepped toward
me l shrank back instinctively, for I
saw that in his eyes which spelled
death.
"All right, Hump" he said in low
voice. Where's the mater"
| shook my head.
I'll L T.
| hansen!"
Where is he?" he demanded of
Harrison.
The young fellow seemed to have
recovered his composure, for he an
swered steadily enough, 81 don't
know, sir. l saw him go forward a
| little while ago."
$50 did I go for'ard. But didn't
come back the way l went. Can
you explain it?"
You must have been overheard,
sir"
Shall I look for him in the steer
age, sir?" l asked.
Wolf Larsen shook his head. "You
wouldn't find him, Hump. But you'll
do. Come on. Never mind your bed
ding. Leave it where it is"
l followed at his heels. There was
nothing stirring amidships.
Those cursed hunters" was his
comment. TOO damned fat and lazy
to stand a four-hour watch"
But on the forecastle head we
found three sailors asleep. He turned
them over and looked at their faces
They composed the watch on deck
and it was the ships custom, in good
weather, to let the watch sleep with
the exception of the officer, the
helmsman and the lookout.
who's the lookout" he demanded
me, SIR" answered Holyoak, one
of the deep-water sailors, slight ire
NOR in his voice. Il winked off just
this very minute, sir. I'm sorry, sir
1t won't happen again"
Did you hear or see anything or
deck?"
mo. sir, L"
But Wolf Larsen had turned away
with a snort of disgust, leaving the
sailor rubbing his eyes with surprise
at having been let off so easily.
"'Softly, now" Wolf Larsen warned
me in a whisper, as he doubled his
body into the foreCastle scuttle ant
prepared to descend.
followed with a quaking heart
What was to happen I knew no more
than did l know what had happened
But blood had been shed, and it was
through no within of Wolf Larsen thai
he had gone over the side with hi;
scalp laid open. Besides, Johanser
was missing.
1t was my first descent into the fore
castle. and l shall not soon forget my
impression Of it. 1t smelled sour anC
musty, and by the dim light of the
swinging sea-lamp l saw every bit Of
available wall space hung deep with
sea-boots, Oilskins and garments
clean and dirty, of various sorts
Though it was a mild night on the
sea, there was a continual chorus oil
the creaking timbers and bulkheads
and of abysmal noises beneath the
flooring
The sleepers did not mind. There
were eight of them-the two watches
beiow-and the air was thick with
the warmth and odor of their breath
ing, and the ear was filed with the
noise of their snoring and of theiI
signs and half-groans, tokens plair
of the rest of the animal-man. But
were they sleeping? all of them? Oh
had they been sleeping? This was evi
IDENTIFY Wolf Larsen's quest-to find
the men who appeared to be asleeI
and who were not asleep or who had
not been asleep very recently. And
he went about it in a way that re
minded me of a story out of Boccac
clio.
He took the sea-lamp from its
swinging frame and handed it to me
He began at the first hunks forward
on the starboard side. In the top OF
one lay Oofty-Oofty, Kanaka and
splendid seaman. so named by his
mates. He was asleep on his bach
and breathing as placidly as woman
One arm was under his head, the
other lay on TOP Of the blankets. Wolf
Larsen put thumb and foreinger to
the wrist and counted the pulse. In
is able to furnish the police the very
best kind of a description of the thief
| L, Fao& 30 tyrToS ovor SavaraI ph0to