The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-02-21

public as Interested as did the creations
az his iplas inatiOn; his books came
thick and fast, beginning With 1000,
Sometimes two aad three IA year.
He WAS twice married, iirst 40 Bessie
Madeira and second to CHAIRMAN Kit
tFedg@. VIVA plays large part in his
iater books. He died Nov. 81. 1916.
4 ME keen eyes OF Wolf Larsen,
& master of the sealing schooner
Ghost. bound for Japanese
poachlng 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 a shipWreck. A
few moments more and Humphrey was
aboard the Ghost.
Rescued, he faced his rescuar with
thanks and q request to be put ashore.
The skipper eyed him curlously.
What do you do for q living?" he
asked
II am gentleman" Humphrey
stammered
"Wh0 feeds you"
q have an income"
Wolf LarSen'S lips curled in sheer.
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 a man OF you"
Instant rebellion leaped into Hum
phrey's eyes. Before he could protest
there came a sudden interruption-a
ciamor from tho real cabin boy, q
great husky youth who stood by. Wolf
Larsen turned and crashed his fist into
the boys stomach. Crumpled like
wet rag around stick, the lad COL
lapsed into heap on the deck.
"Well," said Wolf Larsen meaningly
to Humphrey, "have you made up your
mind?"
The spark of manhood in Humphrey
died out
Yes. he replied weakly:
"Say Yes, sirr"
eyes sir"
And thus Humphrey passed into the
seryitude Of Wolf Larsen, the Sea
Wolf. His blinking eyes, half reveal
ing and half concealing his terror, sur
veyed 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 ag1ow 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 q 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 anil
NAL than human; group of seal hunt
ers, wild reckless nOmads, ignorant Of
an ordered world-all slaves in body
and spirit ID the Sea Wolf.
Yet there was q 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 disarming!y charming at times.
As the days rolled on and murderous
quarrels made the hours hideous,
Humphreys backbone gradually stiff
ened. He dreamed of killing the Sea
Wolf. But Larsen fascinated him and
like some splendid animal, some dan
garous beast, held him In spell. He
knew the world should be rid Of such
q monster, yet Larsen'S eyes compelled
obedience.
Day by day, with not CLEAN Of gra-
ciousness TO break the orgy of british
ness, til. tragic drama went on. Hum
phrcv deSnaired of even gteam or
sunshine. Suddenly fate interviewed
In the person OF tTaude Brewster.
Like Humphrey. she came 10 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
other plans. She was added to the
crew as Humphrey was, and likewise
''for the good of her SOUL"
MnnHo tho poyrc In, uyoy,1oxs
ment. What kind Of man was this
hooking master of the Ghost? She
was soon to find out.
The cook had offended Larsen. A
rope was co1led around the offender
and he was cast overheard In the
wake of the ship. A shark rushed for
him and Larsen ordered him pulled In.
Despite the maddened haste, the shark
in the final rush tore away the foot Of
the victim.
1.-The shark was not in the reckoning,
Miss Brewster" said the Sea Wolf,
smiIingiy. at was-shall we say--an
act of Providence"
This scene convinced Humphrey that
ht must kill Wolf Larsen. His cour-
age tiareL VI so brightly that he actu-
ally threatened TO murder him.
The Sea Wolf barked a whimsical
gutfaw: Bravo, Hump, you do me
proud. 1 like you the better for it,"
Humphrey WINGED. He confded his
resolution to Maude, with whom he
had fallen in love. She counseled
against 1t. protesting that moral Cour-