The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-03-18

through the log WITHOUT d loohOuI anu
without lights. That Wolf Larsen had
turned the liquor loose among his men
surprised me. but he evidently knew
their psychology and the best method
of cementing in cordially what had
begun in blOOdshed.
His victory over Death Larsen
seemed to hare had a remarkable ef-
feet upon him. The previous evening
he had reasoned himself into the blues.
and | had been waiting mOmentarily
for one OF his characteristic outbursts.
Yet he discovered himself in splendid
trim when | entered the cabin. He had
had no headaches for weeks, his eyes
were clear blue as the sky, his bronze
was beautiful with perfect health;
life swelled through his veins in fuli
and magnificent food. While waiting
for me he had engaged Maud in AMI
mated discussion. He seemed vOluble,
prone to speech as l had never seen
him before. The discussion was on
love and, as usual, his was the sheer
materialistic side. and Maud's was the
idealistic. For myself, beyond a word
or so of suggestion or correction now
and again, took no part.
He was brilliant, but so was Maud
and for some time lost the thread or
the conversation through studying her
face as she talked. 1t was a. face that
rarely displayed color, but tonight IL
was flushed and vivacious. Her Wit
was playing keenly, and she was enjoy
ing the tilt as much as Wolf Larsen
and he was enjoying it hugely. For
some reason. though | know not why
in the argument, so utterly had lost
it in the contemplation OF one stray
crown lock of Maud's hair, he quoted
from Iseult at Tintagel, where she
says:
Blessed am beyond women even
herein,
That beyond all born women is my sin,
And perfect my transgression
AS he had read pessimism into
Omar, so now he read triumph, sting
ing triumph and exultatiOn, into Swim
burne's lines. And he read rightly
and he read we'll He had hardly
ceased reading when Louis put his
head into the companionway and whis-
pered down:
BE easy, will We? The fog's lifted,
an tbs the port light iv a steamer
that's crossin' our bow this blessed
minute"
Wolf Larsen sprang on deck, and so
swiftly that by the time we followed
him he had pulled the steerage-slide
over the drunken clamor and was on
his way forward to close the forecas-
tle-scuttle. The fog, though it re-
manned, had lifted high, where 1t OBJ
scured the stars and made the night
quite black. Directly ahead of us
could see bright red light and white
light, and could hear the pulsing OF
steamers engines. Beyond a doubt it
was the Macedonia.
Wolf Larsen had returned to the
poop. and we stood in silent group,
watching the lights rapidly cross our
| bow.
Lucky for me he doesn't carry .
searchlight," Wolf Larsen said.
What if l should cry out loudly?"
! | uueried in a whisper.
1T would be all up" he answered.
But have you thought upon what
would Immediately happen?"
Before / had time to express any de-
sire to know, he had me by the throat
with his gorilla grip, and by faint
culver of the muscles-a hint. as it
were-he suggested to me the twist
that would surely have broken my
neck. The next moment he had re-
leased me and we were gazing at the
Macedonias lights.
What if l should cry out?" Maud
asked.
Il like you too we'll to hurt you," he
said softly-nay. there was a tender
ness and a caress in his voice that
made me vince. But don't do it, just
the same, for I'd promptly break Mr..
van Weyden's neck"
Then she has my permission to cry
out" | said defiantly.
Il hardly think you'll care to sacri-
flee the Dean o. American Letters the
Second" he sneered.
We spoke no more, though we had
/ become too used to one another for the
silence to be awkward; and when the
red light and the white had disap-
peared we returned to the cabin to
! finish the interrupted supper.
If ever Wolf Larsen attained the
summit of living, he attained it then.
From time to time | forsook my own
thoughts to follow him, and followed
in amaze, mastered for the moment by
his remarkable intellect, under the
spell of his passion, for he was preach
ing the passion of revolt. 1t was in.
evitable that Millions Lucifer should
be instanced, and the keenness with
which Wolf Larsen analysed and de-
picted the character was a revelation
| of his stified genius. It reminded me
of Tame, yet l knew the man had
never heard of that brilliant though
| dangerous thinker.
(TO BE CONTINUED)