rehead about
the roots of his hair.

"I am a sick man, a very sick man," he repeated again, and yet once
again.

"What is the matter?" I asked, resting my hand on his shoulder. "What
can I do for you?"

But he shook my hand off with an irritated movement, and for a long time
I stood by his side in silence. Maud was looking on, her face awed and
frightened. What had happened to him we could not imagine.

"Hump," he said at last, "I must get into my bunk. Lend me a hand. I'll
be all right in a little while. It's those damn headaches, I believe. I
was afraid of them. I had a feeling--no, I don't know what I'm talking
about. Help me into my bunk."

But when I got him into his bunk he again buried his face in his hands,
covering his eyes, and as I turned to go I could hear him murmuring, "I
am a sick man, a very sick man."

Maud looked at me inquiringly as I emerged. I shook my head, saying:

"Something has happened to him. What, I don't know. He is helpless, and
frightened, I imagine, for the first time in his life. It must have
occurred before he received the knife-thrust, which made only a
superficial wound. You must have seen what happened."

She shook her head. "I saw nothing. It is just as mysterious to me. He
suddenly released me and staggered away. But what shall we do? What
shall I do?"

"If you will wait, please, until I come back," I answered.

I went on deck. Louis was at the wheel.

"You may go for'ard and turn in," I said, taking it from him.

He was quick to obey, and I found myself alone on the deck of the
_Ghost_. As quietly as was possible, I clewed up the topsails, lowered
the flying jib and staysail, backed the jib over, and flattened the
mainsail. Then I went below to Maud. I placed my finger on my lips for
silence, and entered Wolf Larsen's room. He was in the same position in
which I had left him, and his head was rocking--almost writhing--from
side to side.

"Anything I can do for you?" I asked.

He made no reply at first, but on my repeating the question he answered,
"No, no; I'm all right. Leave me alone till morning."

But as I turned to go I noted that his head had resumed its rocking
motion. Maud was waiting patiently for me, and I took notice, with a
thrill of joy, of the queenly poise of her head and her glorious, calm
eyes. Calm and sure they were as her spirit itself.

"Will you trust yourself to me for a journey of six hundred miles or so?"
I a