Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-11-29
.\HE keen eyes Of Wolf Larsen,
master Of the scaling schooner

master Of the scaling schooner
Ghost, hound for. Japanese
poaching grounds, spotted the bobbing
head of Humphrey Van Weyden nmid
the waves of San Francisco bay, into
whose waters Humphrey had been
thrown as result Of shipwreck. A
few moments more and Humphrey was
aboard the Ghost. bart
Rescued, he faced his rescuer with
thanks and request to be put ashore.
The skipper eyed him curiously. $50.
"What do you do for living?" he
asked.
IL am q gentleman" Humphrey
stammered.
"Who feeds you?"
II 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 hustles the meat for your
belly for three meals. You stay here
rs cabin boy for the good Of your soul.
I'll make q 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 boys
great husky youth who stood by. Wolf
Larsen turned and crashed his fist into
the boys stomach. Crumpled like a
wet rag around q stick, the lad col
lapSed into heap on the deck.
"Well," said Wolf Larsen meaningly
to Humphrey, 'have you made up yonr
mind?" -
The spark of, manhood in Humphrey
died out. as.
Eyes" he replied weakly.
"Say Yes, sir!"
ayes sir" as...
And thus Humphrey passed into the
servitude Of Wolf Larsen, the Sea
Wolf. His blinking eyes, half reveal
ing and half concealing his terror, sur
vcyed his master and thus appraised
him: "Massive of build. like huge
gorilla; with strength. savage and
ferocious; features of no evil stamp;
eyes of battling protean gray. some
times rs 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 NESS" he declared. "The
big eat the little that they may con-
tinuc to move; the strong cat 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
nal than human; a group of seal hunt
ers, wild reckless nomads, ignorant 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
glories of Shelley and Browning argue
| the sciences with amazing fiuency and
be disarmingly charming ut times.
AS the days rolled on and murderous
Quarrels made the hours hideouS,
Humphreys, backbone gradually stiff
cned. He dreamed of killing the Sea
Wolf. But Larsen fascinated him and
like some splendid animal. some dam
gerous beast, held him in spell. He
knew the world should be rid of such
Il monster. yet Larsen's eyes compelled
obedience. G.. .,,.....t.
Day by day. with not CLEAN of gra'
ciousness to break the orgy of british
ness, this tragic drama went on. Hum
| phrey despared Of even CLEAN OF
sunshine. Suddenly fate interviewed
in the person of Maude Brewster.
Like Humphrey. She came TO The
Ghost from the sea, saved from i
wrecked liner. Like Humphrey, SHE