The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1916-04-21

4
sea, they took me as sort of joke.
In truth, 1t was joke to me that /,
the Veriest landsman, should be filling
the Office Of mate; but to be taken as
Joke by others was a different mat
ter. made no complaint, but Wolf
Larsen demanded the most punctlli-
GUS sea etiquette in my case-far
more than poor Johansen had ever
received; and at the expense OF sew
eral rows. threats and much grum-
bling, he brought the hunters to time.
1 was "Mr. Van Weyden" fore and
aft. and It was only unoficially that
Wolf Larsen himself ever addressed
me as Hump"
II was amusing Perhaps the wind
would haul few points while we
were at dinner. and as left the table
he would say. 'Mr. Van Weyden, will
you kindly put about on the port
tackf" And would go on deck, beck
on Louis to me, and learn from him
what was to be done. Then, q few
minutes later. having digested his In
structions and thoroughly mastered
the maneuVer, would proceed to
issue my orders. remember an
early instance Of this kind, when Wolf
Larsen appeared on the scene Just
as had begun to give orders. He
smoked his cigar and looked on qui-
city till the thing was accomplished.
and then paced aft by my side along
the weather poop.
Hump" he said-"I beg pardon, Mr..
Van Weyden--I congratulate you.
think you can now fire your fathers
legs back into the grave to him.
You've discovered your own and
learned to stand on them. A little
ropework. sailmaking and experience
with storms and such things, and by
the end Of the voyage you could ship
on any coasting schooner"
1t was during this period. between
the death Of Johansen and the arr.
val on the sealing grounds. that
passed my pleasantest hours on the
Ghost. Wolf Larsen was quite con-
siderate, the sailors helped me. and
was no longer in irritating contact
with Thomas Mugridge. And make
free to say, as the days went by. that
! found was taking a certain secret
pride In myself. Fantastic as the stu.
alton was-a landlubber second In
commando was, nevertheless, carry
ing 1t of well; and during that brief
time I was proud Of myself, and |
grew to love the heave and roll Of the
Ghost under my feet as she wallowed
north and west through the tropic sea
to the islet where we filed our water
casks.
But my happiness was not unaI.
loyed. It was comparative, q period
of less misery slipped in between a
past Of great miseries and q future
of great miseries. For the Ghost, so
far as the seamen were concerned.
was a hellship Of the worst descrip-
ton. They never had a moments rest
or peace. Wolf Larsen treasured
against them the attempt on his life
and the drubbing he had received In
the forecastle; and morning, noon and
night, and all night as well, he de-
voted himself TO making life unllyable
for them. Leach and Johnson were
the two particular victims of Wolf
Larsen's diabolic temper. and the look
OF profound melancholy which had
settled on Johnson's face and In his
eyes made my heart bleed.
With Leach It was different. There
was too much of the fighting beast In
him. He seemed possessed by an In
satiable fury which gave no time for
grief. His lips had become distorted
into q permanent snarl. which, ct
mere sight OF Wolf Larsen, broke out
in sound. horrible and menacing. and.
do believe. unconsciously. I have
seen him follow Wolf Larsen about
with his eyes. like an animal its
keeper, the while the animal-like snarl
sounded deep in his throat and vi
brated forth between his teeth.
Both he and johnson would have
killed Wolf Larsen at the slightest op-
portunity. but the opportunity never
came. Wolf Larsen was too wise for
that. and. besides. they had no ade-
| quate weapons. With their fists alone
they had no chance whatever. Time and
again he fought 1t out with Leach. who
fought hack. always. like Q wildcat.
tooth and nail and fist. until stretched.
exhausted or unconscious. on the deck.
And he was never averse to another
encounter.
often wondered why Wolf Larsen
did not kill him and make an end
OF IT. But he only laughed and
seemed to enjoy II. There seemed .
certain spice about II. such as men
/ must feel who take delight IN max.
ing pets OF ferocious animals.
1T gives a thrill TO life." he en-.
planned to me. when life Is carried
in ones hand. Man Is a natural
gambler. and life is the biggest stake
he can lay. The greater the odds
the greater the thrill"
~Ah. but It Is cowardly. cowardiyl"
cried. you hare all the advan.
tage."
of the two Of rs. yoo and I. who
is the greater cowardf' he asked s..