The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-07-23
ME keen eyes of Wolf Larsen,
master of the sealing schooner

master of the sealing schooner
Ghost, bound for Japanese
poaching grounds, spotted the bobbing
head Of Humphrey Van Weyden amid
the waves Of San Francisco bay, into
whose waters Humphrey had been
thrown as a result Of shipwreck. A
few moments 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 livingT" he
asked.
IL am a gentleman" Humphrey
stammered.
"WhO feeds you?"
II have an income"
Wolf Larsen's lips curled in 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
as cabin boy for the good of your soul.
I'll make man of YOU"
Instant rebellion leaped into Hum
phrey's eyes. Before he could protest
there came a sudden interruption-a
clamor from the real cabin boy, a
great husky youth who stood by. Wolf
Larsen turned and crashed his fist into
the boys stomach. Crumpled like a
wet rag around a stick, the lad col.
lapsed into heap on the deck.
SWELL" said Wolf Larsen meaningly
to Humphrey, shave you made up your
mind?"
The spark of manhood in Humphre,
died out.
EYES," he replied weakly.
"Say Yes, sirv"
Eyes sir"
And thus Humphrey passed into tn
servitude Of Wolf Larsen, the Sc,
Wolf. His blinking eyes, half reveal
ing and half concealing his terror, sur
veyed his master and thus appraise,
him: massive of build, like hug
gorilla; with strength, savage an
fer0cious; 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 ut the same time fascinate an
dominate women until they surrende
In a gladness of Joy and Of relief an
sacrifice"
His creed, the mighty will which Ell
gined Wolf Larsen, was short.
''Life is q mess" ne declared 9Th
big eat the little that they may col
tinue to move; the strong eat II
weak that they may retain the
strength. The lucky eat the most Ut
move the longest. that is ALL"
His company on shipboard: seamt
sodden and sullen by drink. more ar
NAL than human; group of seal hur
ers. wild reckless nomads, ignorant
an ordered world-all slaves in DO,
and spirit to the Sea Wolf.
Yet there was gentle side to We
Larsen. He was no ignorant cave ma
He could discuss literature wi
Hump" roll over his lips the poe
glories Of Shelley and Browning. arg
the sciences with amazing fluency a
be disarmingly charming at times.
AS the days rolled on and murdero
Quarrels made the hours hideo
Humphreys backbone gradually st
enad. He dreamed Of killing the $
Wolf. But Larsen fascinated him a
like some splendid animal, some d
gerous beast, held him In a spell.
knew the world should be rid OF 81
monster, yet Larsen's eyes compel
obedience.
Day by day, with not CLEAN OF
.iousness to break the orgy OF brut
less, this tragic drama went on. III
phrey despaired Of even CLEAN
sunshine. Suddenly fate interve
In the person Of Maude Brewster.
Like Humphrey, she came to
Ghost from the sea, saved IRON
wrecked liner. lake Humphrey,