on, and was surprised
at the readiness of his reply.

"My brother got me inside forty-eight hours, and through no fault of
mine. Boarded me in the night with only the watch on deck. Hunters went
back on me. He gave them a bigger lay. Heard him offering it. Did it
right before me. Of course the crew gave me the go-by. That was to be
expected. All hands went over the side, and there I was, marooned on my
own vessel. It was Death's turn, and it's all in the family anyway."

"But how did you lose the masts?" I asked.

"Walk over and examine those lanyards," he said, pointing to where the
mizzen-rigging should have been.

"They have been cut with a knife!" I exclaimed.

"Not quite," he laughed. "It was a neater job. Look again."

I looked. The lanyards had been almost severed, with just enough left to
hold the shrouds till some severe strain should be put upon them.

"Cooky did that," he laughed again. "I know, though I didn't spot him at
it. Kind of evened up the score a bit."

"Good for Mugridge!" I cried.

"Yes, that's what I thought when everything went over the side. Only I
said it on the other side of my mouth."

"But what were you doing while all this was going on?" I asked.

"My best, you may be sure, which wasn't much under the circumstances."

I turned to re-examine Thomas Mugridge's work.

"I guess I'll sit down and take the sunshine," I heard Wolf Larsen
saying.

There was a hint, just a slight hint, of physical feebleness in his
voice, and it was so strange that I looked quickly at him. His hand was
sweeping nervously across his face, as though he were brushing away
cobwebs. I was puzzled. The whole thing was so unlike the Wolf Larsen I
had known.

"How are your headaches?" I asked.

"They still trouble me," was his answer. "I think I have one coming on
now."

He slipped down from his sitting posture till he lay on the deck. Then
he rolled over on his side, his head resting on the biceps of the under
arm, the forearm shielding his eyes from the sun. I stood regarding him
wonderingly.

"Now's your chance, Hump," he said.

"I don't understand," I lied, for I thoroughly understood.

"Oh, nothing," he added softly, as if he were drowsing; "only you've got
me where you want me."

"No, I haven't," I retorted; "for I want you a few thousand miles away
from here."

He chuckled, and thereafter spoke no more. He did not stir as I passed
by him and went down into the cabin