Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-05-26

1t was loaded, and went down to the
Ghost. With some difficulty. and at
the expense of q wetting to the waist,
l climbed aboard. The forecastle scut-
tie was open. I paused to listen for
the breathing OF the men. but there
was no breathing. / cautiously de-
seconded the ladder. The place had
the empty and musty feel and smell
usual to a dwelling no longer inhab-
tied. Everywhere was a thick litter
of the worthless forecastle dunnage
of long voyage. ! noted that tbs
boats were missing. The steeragp
told the same tale as the forecastle.
The hunters had packed their belong
ings with similar haste. The Ghost
was deserted.
The reaction from my fear. and the
knowledge that the terrible deed I
had come to do Mas no longer neces-
sary, made me boyish and eager. I
sprang up the break Of the poop. and
saw-Wolf Larsen. What Of my i'm
petus and the stunning surprise. l
ClollOI Oh III CO vi AO01 oSCRo oAOAo 49,
deck before 1 could stop myself. He
was standing in the companionway,
only his head and shoulders visible.
staring straight at me. His arms were
resting on the half-open slide. He
made no movement interestingly
stood there. staring at me.
began to .remble. The old stom-
ach sickness clutched me. put one
hand on the edge of the house to
steady myself. My lips seemed sud-
denly dry and I moistened them
against the need of speech. Nor did
/ for an instant take my eyes on him.
Neither of us spoke. There was some
thing ominous in his silence. his i'm
mobility. All my old fear Of him rs
turned and by new fear was increased
q hundred fold. And still we stood.
the pair of US. staring at each other.
was aware of the demand for &C
ton. and, my old helpiessness strong
upon me, l was waiting for him to
take the initiative. Then. as the mo
ments went by. 1t was at last i'm
pressed upon me that was there. not
to have Wolf Larsen take the initia
tive. but to take 1t myself.
cooked both barrels and leveled
the shotgun at him. Had he moved
attempted to drop down the compan
ionway, know I would have shot
him. But he stood motionless and
staring as before. And as l faced
him, with leveled gun shaking in my
hands, / had time to note the worr
and haggard appearance OF his face
It was as II some strong anxiety had
wasted it. The cheeks were sunken
and there was a wearied, puckeret
expression on the brow. And 4
seemed to me that his eyes were
strange, not only the expression. bu
the physical seeming, as though thu
optic nerves and supporting muscles
had suffered strain and slightly twist
ed the eyeballs.
All this l saw, and my brain nov
working rapidly, thought Thousand
thoughts; and yet could not pull tn
triggers. l lowered the gun ant
stepped to the corner of the cabin
primarily to relieve the tension Oh
my nerves and to make a new start
and incidentally to be closer. Again
raised the gun. He was almost a
arms length. There was no hope 70
him. l was resolved. There was II
possible chance of missing him, n
matter how poor my Workmanship
And yet wrestled with myself an
could not pull the triggers.
"Well! he demanded impatiently.
I strove vainly to force my finger
down on the triggers, and vainly
strove to say something.
why don't you shoot?" he asked
cleared my throat Of huskines
which prevented speech.
Hump" he said slowly, you can
do it. You are not exactly afraid. 70
are impotent. Your conventions
morality is stronger than you. 70
are the slave to the opinions whic
have credence among the people 20
have known and have read abou
Their code has been drummed int
your head from the time you hspet
and in spite of your philosophy. an
of what have taught you. 1t won't le
you kill an unarmed. unresisting man.
, Il know it," l said hoarsely.
And you know that would kill q
unarmed man as readily as woul
smoke q cigar" he went on. "Yo
know me for what / am-my wort
in the world by your standard. 70
/ have called me snake. tiger. sharl
monster, and Caliban. And yet, 20
little rag puppet, you little echoin
mechanism, you are unable to kill N
as you would a snake or a shark, b
, cause l have hands, feet, and q bod
shaped somewhat like yours. Bah
had hoped better things Of yo
Hump"
He stepped out Of the companion
, way and came up to me.
Put down that gun. I want
ask you some questions. haven
, had q chance to look around ye
, What place is this? How IL tn
( Ghost lying? How did you get here
Where's Maud?-I beg your pardo
| Miss Brewster-or should say, Mr.
, Van Weyden'?'
I had backed away from him, 9
most weeping at my inability to sho'
/ him, but not fool enough to put dow
, PAID FOR HIS 0FFICl0USNES