The Washington herald., 1919-07-11
THE SEA WOLF
By JACK LONDON.
Condensation by Clifton B. Carberry.)

The keen eyes of Wolf Larsen. mas
bound for japanese poachins- grounds,
spotted the bobbinS head of Hum
phrey van Weyden amid the waves
of San Francisco Bay, into whose wa
tiers Humphreys had been thrown as
a result of a shipwreck. A few mo-
ments more and Humphrey was
aboard the Ghost.
Rescued. he faced his rescuer with
thanks and request to be put ashore.
The skipper eyed him curiously.
What do you do for a living?" he
asked
I'll am a gentleman" Humphrey
stammered.
who feeds you?'
Il have an income"
Wolf Larsen's lips curled in a sneer.
: You stand on dead mems legs. You
couldn't walk alone between two sun
rises and hustle the meat for your
belly for three meals. You stay here
here as cabin boy for the good of your
soul. I'll make a man of you"
Instant rebellion leaped into Hum
phrey's eyes Before he could protest
there came a sudden Interruptions
clamor from the real cabin boy. a
Larsen turned and crashed his fist into
r'the boys stomach. Crumpled like a
wet rag. the lad collapsed into a heap
on the deck.
We'll" said Wolf Larsen meaningly
Ito Humphrey. have you made up
p your mind?''
The spark of manhood in Humphrey
died out.
B. Yes" he replied weakly.
Pc '-Say, Yes. SIR -
YES. sir
r And thus Humphrey passed into the
servitude of Wolf Larsen, the Sea
. Wolf. His blinking eyes, half reveal
ing. half concealing his terror. sur
sveyed his master and thus appraised
him: Massive of build. like a huge
gorilla; with a strength, savage and
ferocious: features Of no evil stamp;
eyes of battling protean gray, some
times as chill as an Arctic landscape,
sometimes all aglow with love-lights-
intense. masculine and compelling
which at the same time fascinate and
dominate women until they surrender
in a gladness of joy and of relief and
sacrifice"
His creed. the mighty will which en-
gined Wolf larsen. was short.
life is mess" he declared. THE
big eat the little that they may con-
tinue to move; the strong eat the
weak that they may retain their
strength. The lucky eat the most and
move the longest. that is ALL"
His company on shipboard: seamen
sodden and sullen by drink. more ami
-.nlal than human; a group of seal
hunters. wild. reckless nomads. igno-
rant of an ordered world-all slaves in
: body and spirit to the Sea Wolf.
Yet there was gentle side to Wolf
Larsen. He was no ignorant cave
man. He could discuss literature with
Hump" roll over his lips the poetic
Elories OF Shelley and Browning. argue
the sciences with amazing ffuency and
be disarmingly charming at times.
AS the days rolled on and murderous
1uarrels made the hours hideous,
Humphreys backbone gradually stiff
Eened. He dreamed of killing the Sea
Wolf. But Larsen fascinated him and
ike some dangerous beast. held him in
4 spell. He knew the world should be
rid Of such a monster. yet Larsen's
= eyes compelled obedience.
Day by day. with not a CLEAN of gra-
eiousness to break the orgy of brut-
hshness, this tragic drama went on.
Humphrey despaired of even a CLEAN
If sunshine. Suddenly fate interviewed
N the person of Maude Brewster.
Like Humphrey. she came to the
Ghost from the sea. saved from a
wrecked liner. Like Humphrey, she
expected to be put aboard a passing
vessel But no, The Sea Wolf had