Wilbur’srevolverwasaself-cocker。Heraiseditagain,drawinghardonthetriggerashedidso。Itroaredandleapedinhishand,andawhiffofburnedpowdercametohisnostrils。ThenWilburwasastonishedtohearhimselfshoutatthetopofhisvoice:
\"Comeonnow,getintothem——getintothemnow,everybody!\"
The\"Bertha’s\"Chinamenwereallrunningforward,threeofthemwellinadvanceoftheothers。IntherearCharliewasatgrappleswithabeach-comberwhofoughtwithaknifeineachhand,andWilburhadasuddenglimpseofanothersittingonthesandwithhishandtohismouth,thebloodspurtingbetweenhisfingers。
Wilbursuddenlyrealizedthatheheldaknife,andthathewasdirectlyabreastthesandrampart。Howhegottheknifehecouldnottell,thoughheafterwarddistinctlyrememberedthrowingawayhisrevolver,loadedasitwas。Hehadleapedthebreastworks,heknewthat,andbetweenhimandthevastbrightbluroftheoceanhesawoneofthebeach-combersbackingawayandwatchinghimintently,hishatchetinhishand。Wilburhadonlytimetothinkthathehimselfwouldnodoubtbekilledwithinthenextfewmoments,whenthislatterhaltedabruptly,tookastepforward,and。insteadofstrikingdownward,asWilburhadanticipated,droppeduponhiskneeandstruckwithallhismightatthecalfofWilbur’sleg。ItwasonlythethicknessofhisbootsthatsavedWilburfrombeinghamstrungwherehestood。Asitwas,hefeltthebladebitealmosttothebone,andheardthebloodsquelchinthesoleofhisboot,ashestaggeredforthemoment,almosttrippingoverthemaninfrontofhim。
TheChinamansprangtohisfeetagain,butWilburwasathiminaninstant,feelinginstinctivelythathischancewastoclosewithhisman,andsobringhisownsuperiorweightandstrengthtobear。Againandagainhetriedtoruninandgriptheslimyellowbody,buttheotherdodgedandbackedaway,ashardtoholdasanyfish。AllaroundandbackofhimnowWilburheardthehideoussoundofstampingandstruggling,andthenoiseofhoarse,quickshoutsandthereboundofbodiesfallingandrollinguponthehard,smoothbeach。Thethinghadnotbeenafarce,afterall。
Thiswasfightingatlast,andtherewithinarm’slengthweremengrapplingandgrippingandhittingoneanother,eachhonestlystrivingtokillhisfellow——Chinamenall,fightinginbarbarousOrientalfashionwithnailsandteethwhentheknifeorhatchetfailed。Whatdidhe,clubmanandcollegeman,inthathideoustroublethatwroughtitselfoutthereonthatheat-strickentropicbeachunderthatmorning’ssun?
Suddenlytherewasaflashofredflame,andabillowofthick,yellowsmokefilledalltheair。Thecabinwasafire。Thehatchet-manwithwhomWilburwasfightinghadbeenbackinginthisdirection。Hewascloseinwhenthefirebegantoleapfromtheonewindow;nowhecouldgonofurther。Heturnedtorunsidewisebetweenhisenemyandtheburningcabin。Wilburthrusthisfootsharplyforward;thebeach-combertripped,staggered,andbeforehehadreachedthegroundWilburhaddrivenhometheknife。
Thensuddenly,atthesightofhissmittenenemyrollingonthegroundathisfeet,theprimitiveman,thehalf-bruteofthestoneage,leapedtolifeinWilbur’sbreast——hefelthismusclesthrillingwithastrengththeyhadnotknownbefore。Hisnerves,stretchedtenseasharp-strings,werevibratingtoanewtune。
Hisbloodspunthroughhisveinstillhisearsroaredwiththerushofit。Neverhadheconceivedofsuchsavageexultationasthatwhichmasteredhimatthatinstant。Theknowledgethathecouldkillfilledhimwithasenseofpowerthatwasveritablyroyal。Hefeltphysicallylarger。Itwasthejoyofbattle,thehorridexhilarationofkilling,theanimaloftherace,thehumanbrutesuddenlyarousedanddominatingeveryinstinctandtraditionofcenturiesofcivilization。Thefightstillwasgoingforward。
Wilburcouldhearthesoundsofit,thoughfromwherehestoodallsightwasshutoffbythesmokeoftheburninghouse。Asheturnedabout,knifeinhand,debatingwhatnextheshoulddo,afigureburstdownuponhim,shadowyanddistortedthroughthehaze。
ItwasMoran,butMoranasWilburhadneverseenherbefore。Hereyeswereblazingunderherthickfrownlikefireunderabush。
Herarmswerebaredtotheelbow,herheavyropesofhairflyingandcoilingfromherinalldirections,whilewithavoicehoarsefromshoutingshesang,orratherchanted,inherlong-forgottenNorsetongue,fragmentsofoldsagas,words,andsentences,meaninglesseventoherself。Thefuryofbattlehadexaltedhertoasortoffrenzy。Shewasbesideherselfwithexcitement。
OncemoreshehadlapsedbacktotheVikingsandsea-roversofthetenthcentury——shewasBrunhildeagain,ashield-maiden,aValkyrie,aBerserkerandthedaughterofBerserkers,andlikethemshefoughtinaveritablefrenzy,seeingnothing,hearingnothing,everysenseexalted,everyforcedoubled,insensibletopain,deaftoallreason。
Herdirkuplifted,sherusheduponWilbur,neveroncepausinginherchant。Wilburshoutedawarningtoherasshecameon,puzzledbeyondwords,startledbacktoaconsciousnessofhimselfagainbythisinsensateattack。
\"Moran!Moran!\"hecalled。\"Whatisit——you’rewrong!It-sI。
It’sWilbur——yourmate,can’tyousee?\"
Morancouldnotsee——blindtofriendorfoe,asshewasdeaftoreason,shestruckathimwithallthestrengthofherarm。Buttherewasnoskillinherfightingnow。Wilburdroppedhisownknifeandgrippedherrightwrist。Sheclosedwithhimupontheinstant,clutchingathisthroatwithheronefreehand;andashefeltherstrength——doubledandtripledinthefuryofhermadness——
Wilburknewthat,howevereasilyhehadovercomehisenemyofamomentbefore,hewasnowfightingforhisverylife。
Atfirst,Wilburmerelystruggledtokeepherfromhim——topreventherusingherdirk。Hetriednottohurther。Butwhatwiththespiritshehaddrunkbeforetheattack,whatwiththeexcitementoftheattackitselfandthesuddenunleashingofthebruteinhimaninstantbefore,thewholeaffairgrewdimandhazyinhismind。
Heceasedtoseethingsintheirproportion。Hisnew-foundstrengthgloriedinmatchingitselfwithanotherstrengththatwasitsequal。HefoughtwithMoran——notashewouldfightwitheitherwomanorman,orwithanythinghuman,forthematterofthat。Hefoughtwithherasagainstsomeimpersonalforcethatitwasincumbentuponhimtoconquer——thatitwasimperativeheshouldconquerifhewishedtolive。Whenshestruck,hestruckblowforblow,forceforforce,hisstrengthagainsthers,gloryinginthatstrangecontest,thoughheneveronceforgotthatthislastenemywasthegirlheloved。ItwasnotMoranwhomhefought;itwasherforce,herdetermination,herwill,hersplendidindependence,thathesethimselftoconquer。
Alreadyshehaddroppedorflungawaythedirk,andtheirbattlehadbecomeanissueofsheerphysicalstrengthbetweenthem。Itwasaquestionnowastowhoshouldmastertheother。TwiceshehadfoughtWilburtohisknees,theheelofherhanduponhisface,hisheadthrustbackbetweenhisshoulders,andtwicehehadwrenchedaway,risingtohisfeetagain,panting,bleedingeven,butwithhisteethsetandallhisresolutionatthesticking-
point。Oncehesawhischance,andplantedhisknucklessquarelybetweenhereyeswhereherfrownwasknottedhard,hopingtostunherandendthefightonceandforall。Buttheblowdidnotseemtoaffectherintheleast。BythistimehesawthatherBerserkerragehadworkeditselfclearasfermentingwineclearsitself,andthatsheknewnowwithwhomshewasfighting;andheseemednowtounderstandtheincomprehensible,andtosympathizewithherjoyinmeasuringherstrengthagainsthis;andyetheknewthatthecombatwasdeadlyserious,andthatmorethanlifewasatstake。Morandespisedaweakling。
Foraninstant,astheyfellapart,shestoodoff,breathinghardandrollinguphersleeve;then,asshestartedforwardagain,Wilburmetherhalf-way,caughtherroundtheneckandunderthearm,grippingherleftwristwithhisrighthandbehindher;then,exertingeveryounceofstrengthheyetretained,hethrustherdownandfromhim,untilatlength,usinghishipasapivot,heswungheroffherfeet,threwherfairlyonherback,andheldherso,onekneeuponherchest,hishandsclosedvise-likeonherwrists。
ThensuddenlyMorangaveup,relaxinginhisgraspallinasecond,and,tohisgreatsurprise,suddenlysmiled。
\"Ho!mate,\"sheexclaimed;\"thatwasatoughone;butI’mbeaten——
you’restrongerthanIthoughtfor。\"
Wilburreleasedherandrosetohisfeet。
\"Here,\"shecontinued,\"givemeyourhand。I’masweakasakitten。\"AsWilburhelpedhertoherfeet,sheputherhandtoherforehead,wherehisknuckleshadlefttheirmark,andfrownedathim,butnotill-naturedly。
\"Nexttimeyoudothat,\"shesaid,\"usearockorabelaying-pin,orsomethingthatwon’thurt——notyourfist,mate。\"Shelookedathimadmiringly。\"Whatatwo-fisted,brawnydray-horseitis!I
toldyouIwasstrongerthanmostmen,didn’tI?ButI’mtheweakerofustwo,andthat’safact。You’vebeaten,mate——Iadmitit;you’veconqueredme,and,\"shecontinued,smilingagainandshakinghimbytheshoulder——\"and,mate,doyouknow,Iloveyouforit。\"
XI
ACHANGEINLEADERS
\"Well,\"exclaimedWilburatlength,theexcitementofthefightreturninguponhim。\"Wehaveplentytodoyet。Comeon,Moran。\"
ItwasnolongerMoranwhotooktheinitiative——whowastheleader。Thebrieffightupontheshorehadchangedallthat。ItwasWilburwhowasnowthemaster,itwasWilburwhowasaggressive。Hehadknownwhatitmeanttokill。Hewasnolongerafraidofanything,nolongerhesitating。Hehadfeltasuddenquadruplingofallhisstrength,moralandphysical。
Allthatwasstrongandvirileandbrutalinhimseemedtohardenandstiffeninthemomentafterhehadseenthebeach-combercollapselimplyonthesandunderthelaststrongknife-blow;andasenseoftriumph,ofboundlessself-confidence,leapedwithinhim,sothatheshoutedaloudinaveryexcessofexhilaration;
andsnatchingupaheavycutting-inspade,thathadbeendroppedinthefightneartheburningcabin,tossedithighintotheair,catchingitagainasitdescended,likeanyexultantsavage。
\"Comeon!\"hecriedtoMoran;\"wherearethebeach-combersgone?
I’mgoingtogetonemorebeforetheshowisover。\"
Thetwopassedoutofthezoneofsmoke,andreachedtheothersideoftheburningcabinjustintimetoseethelastofthestruggle。Thewholeaffairhadnottakenmorethanaquarterofanhour。Intheendthebeach-combershadbeenbeaten。Fourhadfledintothewasteofsandandsagethatlaybackoftheshore,andhadnotbeenpursued。Afifthhadbeenalmosthamstrungbyoneofthe\"Bertha’s\"coolies,andhadgivenhimselfup。Asixth,squealingandshriekinglikeatiger-cat,hadbeenmadeprisoner;
andWilburhimselfhadaccountedfortheseventh。
AsWilburandMorancamearoundthecabintheysawthe\"BerthaMillner’s\"Chinameninagroup,notfarfromthewater’sedge,reassembledafterthefight——pantingandbloody,someofthembaretothebelt,theirweaponsstillintheirhands。Hereandtherewasabandagedarmorhead;buttheirnumberwascomplete——orno,wasitcomplete?
\"Oughttobeonemore,\"saidWilbur,anxiouslyhasteningfor-ward。
Asthetwocameupthecooliesparted,andWilbursawoneofthem,hisheadproppeduponarolled-upblouse,lyingominouslystillonthetrampledsand。
\"It’sCharlie!\"exclaimedMoran。
\"Where’shehurt?\"criedWilburtothegroupofcoolies。\"Jim!——
where’sJim?Where’shehurt,Jim?\"
Jim,theonlymemberofthecrewbesidesCharliewhocouldunderstandorspeakEnglish,answered:
\"Kai-ginghhimfin’pistol,you’pistol;Charliehimfightplenty;
bime-by,whenhenosee,one-pieceeKai-ginghhecomeupbehin’,shootumCharlieinside——savvy?\"
\"Didhekillhim?Ishedead?\"
\"No,Itinkumdieplentysoon;himnosavvynuttin’now,himall-
samesleep。Plentysoonbime-byhimsleepforgood,Itink。\"
TherewaslittlebloodtobeseenwhenWilburgentlyunwrappedthetornsleeveofablousethathadbeenusedasabandage。Justunderthearmpitwasthemarkofthebullet——asmallpuncturealreadyclosed,halfhiddenunderaclotortwoofblood。Thecoolielayquiteunconscious,hiseyeswideopen,drawingafaint,quickbreathatirregularintervals。
\"Whatdoyouthink,mate?\"askedMoraninalowvoice。
\"Ithinkhe’sgotitthroughthelungs,\"answeredWilbur,frowningindistressandperplexity。\"PooroldCharlie!\"
Moranwentdownonaknee,andputafingerontheslim,cordedwrist,yellowasoldivory。
\"Charlie,\"shecalled——\"Charlie,here,don’tyouknowme?Wakeup,oldchap!It’sMoran。You’renothurtsoverybad,areyou?\"
Charlie’seyesclosedandopenedacoupleoftimes。
\"Nocantell,\"heansweredfeebly;\"hurtplentybig\";thenhebegantocough。
Wilburdrewasighofrelief。\"He’sallright!\"heexclaimed。
\"Yes,Ithinkhe’sallright,\"assentedMoran。
\"Firstthingtodonowistogethimaboardtheschooner,\"saidWilbur。\"We’lltakehimrightacrossinthebeach-combers’doryhere。ByJove!\"heexclaimedonasudden。\"Theambergris——I’dforgottenallaboutit。\"Hisheartsank。Inthehideousconfusionofthatmorning’swork,allthoughtoftheloothadbeenforgotten。Hadthebattlebeenfornothing,afterall?Themomentthebeach-combershadbeenmadeawareofthemeditatedattack,itwouldhavebeenaneasymatterforthemtohavehiddentheambergris——destroyediteven。
IntwostridesWilburhadreachedthebeach-combers’doryandwasgropingintheforwardcuddy。Thenheutteredagreatshoutofsatisfaction。The\"stuff\"wasthere,allofit,thoughthemasshadbeencutintoquarters,threepartsofitstowedintea-
flails,thefourthstillreevedupinthehammocknetting。
\"We’vegotit!\"hecriedtoMoran,whohadfollowedhim。\"We’vegotit,Moran!Over$100,000。We’rerich——richasboodlers,youandI。Oh,itwasworthfightingfor,afterall,wasn’tit?Nowwe’llgetoutofhere——nowwe’llcutforhome。\"
\"It’sonlyCharlieI’mthinkingabout,\"answeredMoran,hesitating。\"Ifitwasn’tforthatwe’dbeallright。Idon’tknowwhetherwedidright,afterall,injumpingthecamphere。I
wouldn’tliketofeelthatI’dgotCharlieintoourquarrelonlytohavehimkilled。\"
WilburstaredatthisnewMoraninnolittleamazement。Wherewasthereckless,untamedgirlofthepreviousnight,whohadswornathimanddenouncedhisnigglingmisgivingsastorightandwrong?
\"Hoh!\"heretortedimpatiently,\"Charlie’srightenough。And,besides,Ididn’tforcehimtoanything。I——we,thatis——tookthesamechances。IfIhadn’tdoneformymantherebehindthecabin,hewouldhavedoneforme。Atallevents,wecarriedourpoint。
Wegottheloot。Theytookitfromus,andwewerestrongenoughtogetitback。\"
Moranmerelynodded,asthoughsatisfiedwithhisdecision,andadded:
\"Well,whatnext,mate?\"
\"We’llgetbacktothe’Bertha’nowandputtoseaassoonaswecancatchthetide。I’llsendJimandtwooftheothermenacrossinthedorywithCharlie。Therestofuswillgoaroundbytheshore。We’vegottohaveachin-chinwithHoang,ifhedon’tgetlooseaboardthereandfiretheboatbeforewecangetback。I
don’tproposetakingthesebeach-combersbackto’Friscowithus。\"
\"Whatwillwedowiththetwoprisoners?\"sheasked。
\"Letthemgo;we’vegottheirarms。\"
Thepositionsofthetwowerereversed。ItwasWilburwhoassumedcontrolanddirectionofwhatwentforward,Morantakinghisadviceandrelyinguponhisjudgment。
InaccordancewithWilbur’sorders,Charliewascarriedaboardthedory;which,withtwoChinamenattheoars,andtheambergrisstowedagainintothecuddy,atoncesetofffortheschooner。
Wilburhimselfcuttheropesonthetwoprisoners,andbadethemshiftforthemselves。Therestofthepartyreturnedtothe\"BerthaMillner\"aroundthewidesweepofthebeach。
Itwasonlybyhighnoon,underthefloggingofamercilesssun,thattheentirecrewofthelittleschooneroncemorereassembledundertheshadowofherstrandedhulk。Theywerequitewornout;
andassoonasCharliewasliftedaboard,andtheambergris——or,astheyspokeofitnow,the\"loot\"——wassafelystowedinthecabin,WilburallowedtheChinamenthreeorfourhours’rest。
Theyhadhadneitherbreakfastnordinner;buttheirexhaustionwasgreaterthantheirhunger,andinafewmomentstheentirehalf-dozenwerestretchedoutasleepontheforwarddeckintheshadowoftheforesailraisedforthepurposeofshelteringthem。
However,WilburandMoransoughtoutHoang,whomtheyfoundastheyhadlefthim——bounduponthefloorofthecabin。
\"Nowwehaveatalk——savvy?\"Wilburtoldhimasheloosedtheropesabouthiswristsandankles。\"Wegotourlootbackfromyou,oldman,andwegotoneofyourmenintothebargain。Youwokeupthewrongcrowd,Hoang,whenyouwentupagainstthisoutfit。You’reinabadway,myfriend。Yourjunkiswrecked;
allyouroilandblubberfromthewhaleislost;fourofyourmenhaverunaway,oneiskilled,anotheronewecaughtandletgo,anotheronehasbeenhamstrung;andyouyourselfareourprisoner,withyourteethfileddowntoyourgums。Now,\"continuedWilbur,withtheprofoundestgravity,\"Ihopethiswillbealessontoyou。Don’ttryandgettoomuchthenexttime。Justbecontentwithwhatisyoursbyright,orwhatyouarestrongenoughtokeep,anddon’ttrytofightwithwhitepeople。Othercoolies,I
don’tsay。Butwhenyoutrytogetthebetterofwhitepeopleyouareoutofyourclass。\"
Thelittlebeach-comber(hewasscarcelyabovefivefeet)rubbedhischafedwrists,andfixedWilburwithhistiny,twinklingeyes。
\"Whatyoudonow?\"
\"Wegohome。I’mgoingtomaroonyouandyourpeoplehereonthisbeach。YoudeservethatIshouldletyoueatyourfistsbywayoftable-board;butI’mnosuchdirtasyou。Whenourmenlefttheschoonertheybroughtoffwiththemagoodshareofourprovisions。I’llleavethemhereforyou——andthere’splentyofturtleandabalonetobehadforthecatching。SomeoftheAmericanmen-of-war,Ibelieve,comedowntothisbayfortarget-
practicetwiceayear,andifwespeakanyonthewayupwe’llaskthemtocallhereforcastaways。That’swhatI’lldoforyou,andthat’sall!Ifyoudon’tlikeit,youcansetouttomarchupthecoasttillyouhitatown;butIwouldn’tadviseyoutotryit。
Nowwhathaveyougottosay?\"
Hoangwassilent。Hisqueuehadbecomeunboundforhalfitslength,andheplaiteditanew,winkinghiseyesthoughtfully。
\"Well,whatdoyousay?\"saidMoran。
\"Iloseface,\"answeredHoangatlength,calmly。
\"Youloseface?Whatdoyoumean?\"
\"Iloseface,\"heinsisted;thenadded:\"Iheap’shamed。YoufighteemyChinaboy,youcatcheeme。Myboynomo’habmefo’
boss——savvy?Igoback,himnolikeeme。Mebbeallsamekilleeme。Iloseface——nomo’boss。\"
\"Whataherdofwildcattle!\"mutteredWilbur。
\"There’ssomethinginwhathesays,don’tyouthink,mate?\"
observedMoran,bringingabraidovereachshoulderandstrokingitaccordingtoherhabit。
\"We’llaskJimaboutit,\"decidedWilbur。
ButJimatonceconfirmedHoang’sstatement。\"Oh,Kai-ginghkillumno-goodboss,fo’sure,\"hedeclared。
\"Don’tyouthink,mate,\"saidMoran,\"we’dbettertakehimupto’Friscowithus?We’vehadenoughfightingandkilling。\"
Soitwasarrangedthatthedefeatedbeach-comber,thewhippedbuccaneer,whohad\"lostface\"andnolongerdaredlookhismenintheeye,shouldbetakenaboard。
Byfouro’clocknextmorningWilburhadthehandsatworkdiggingthesandfromaroundthe\"BerthaMillner’s\"bow。Thelinebywhichshewastobewarpedoffwasrunouttotheledgeoftherock;freshwaterwastakenon;provisionsforthemaroonedbeach-
comberswerecacheduponthebeach;thedorywastakenaboard,gasketswerecastoff,andhatchesbatteneddown。
Athightide,allhandsstraininguponthewarp,theschoonerwasfloatedoff,andundertouchofthelightestairsdrewalmostimperceptiblyawayfromtheland。Theywerequiteanhourcrawlingouttotheheadsofthebay。Butherethebreezewasfreshening。Morantookthewheel;theflying-jibandstaysailwereset;thewakebegantowhitenundertheschooner’sstern,theforefootsang;thePacificopenedoutmoreandmore;andby12:30
o’clockMoranputthewheelover,and,astheschooner’sbowswungtothenorthward,criedtoWilbur:
\"Mate,lookyourlastofMagdalenaBay!\"
Standingatherside,Wilburturnedandsweptthecurveofthecoastwithasingleglance。Thevast,heat-scourgedhoopofyellowsand,thestill,smoothshieldofindigowater,withitsbedsofkelp,hadbecomeinsensiblydeartohim。Itwasallfamiliar,friendly,andhospitable。Hardlyanacreofthatsweepofbeachthatdidnotholdtheimpressofhisfoot。TherewasthepointnearbythecreekwhereheandMoranfirstlandedtofillthewater-casksandtogatherabalones;thecreekitself,wherehehadsnaredquail;thesandspitwithitswhitenedwhale’sskull,whereheandMoranhadbeachedtheschooner;andthere,lastofall,thatspotofblackoverwhichstillhungahazeofbrown-graysmoke,thecharredruinsoftheoldPortuguesewhaling-cabin,wheretheyhadoutfoughtthebeach-combers。
ForamomentWilburandMoranlookedbackwithoutspeaking。Theystoodonthequarter-deck;intheshadowofthemain-sail,shutofffromthesightoftheschooner’screw,andfortheinstantquitealone。
\"Well,Moran,it’sgood-bytotheoldplaces,isn’tit?\"saidWilburatlength。
\"Yes,\"shesaid,herdeepvoicepitchedevendeeperthanusual。
\"Mate,greatthingshavehappenedthere。\"
\"Itdoesn’tlooklikeaplaceforaTongrowwithChinesepirates,though,doesit?\"hesaid;butevenashespokethewords,heguessedthatthatwasnotwhathemeant。
\"Oh,whatdidthatamountto?\"shesaid,withanimpatientmovementofherhead。\"ItwastherethatIfirstknewmyself;andknewthat,afterall,youwereamanandIwasawoman;andthattherewasjustus——youandI——intheworld;andthatyoulovedmeandIlovedyou,andthatnothingelsewasworththinkingof。\"
Wilburshuthishanddownoverhersasitgrippedaspokeofthewheel。
\"Moran,Iknewthatlongsince,\"hesaid。\"Suchamonthasthishasbeen!Why,IfeelasthoughIhadonlybeguntolivesinceI
begantoloveyou。\"
\"Andyoudo,mate?\"sheanswered——\"youdoloveme,andalwayswill?Oh,youdon’tknow,\"shewenton,interruptinghisanswer,\"youhaven’taguess,howthelasttwodayshavechangedme。
Somethinghashappenedhere\"——andsheputbothherhandsoverherbreast。\"I’malldifferenthere,mate。It’sallyouinsidehere——
allyou!Andithurts,andI’mproudthatitdoeshurt。Oh!\"shecried,ofasudden,\"Idon’tknowhowtoloveyet,andIdoitverybadly,andIcan’ttellyouhowIfeel,becauseIcan’teventellittomyself。Butyoumustbegoodtomenow。\"Thedeepvoicetrembledalittle。\"Goodtome,mate,andtruetome,mate,becauseI’veonlyyou,andallofmeisyours。Mate,begoodtome,andalwaysbekindtome。I’mnotMorananymore。I’mnotproudandstrongandindependent,andIdon’twanttobelonely。
Iwantyou——Iwantyoualwayswithme。I’mjustawomannow,dear——justawomanthatlovesyouwithaheartshe’sjustfound。\"
Wilburcouldfindnowordstoanswer。TherewassomethingsopatheticandatthesametimesonobleinMoran’scompletesurrenderofherself,andherdependenceuponhim,herunquestionedtrustinhimandhisgoodness,thathewassuddenlysmittenwithaweatthesacrednessoftheobligationthusimposedonhim。Shewashisnow,tohaveandtohold,tokeep,toprotect,andtodefend——shewhowasoncesogloriousofherstrength,ofhersavageisolation,herinviolate,pristinemaidenhood。Allwordsseemedfutileandinadequatetohim。
Shecameclosetohim,andputherhandsuponhisshoulders,and,lookinghimsquarelyintheeye,said:
\"Youdoloveme,mate,andyoualwayswill?\"
\"Always,Moran,\"saidWilbur,simply。Hetookherinhisarms,andshelaidhercheekagainsthisforamoment,thentookhisheadbetweenherhandsandkissedhim。
Twodayspassed。The\"BerthaMillner\"heldsteadilytohernorthwardcourse,Morankeepingherwellintowardtheland。
Wilburmaintainedalookoutfromthecrow’s-nestinthehopeofsightingsomewhitecruiserorbattleshiponherwaysouthfortarget-practice。Inthecacheofprovisionshehadleftforthebeach-combershehadinsertedamessage,writtenbyHoang,totheeffectthattheymightexpecttobetakenoffbyaUnitedStatesman-of-warwithinthemonth。
Hoangdidnotreadilyrecoverhis\"lossofface。\"The\"Bertha’s\"
ChinamenwouldhavenothingtodowiththismemberofahostileTong;andthehumiliatedbeach-comberkeptalmostentirelytohimself,sittingontheforecastle-headalldaylong,smokinghissui-yen-huandbroodingsilentlytohimself。
MoranhadtakenthelumpofambergrisfromoutKitchell’soldhammock,andhadslungthehammockitselfintheschooner’swaist,andCharliewasmadeascomfortableaspossibletherein。Theycoulddobutlittleforhim,however;andhewastakenfromtimetotimewithspellsofcoughingthatrackedhimwithadreadfulagony。Atlengthonenoon,justafterMoranhadtakenthesunandhadcalculatedthatthe\"Bertha\"wassomeeightmilestothesouthwestofSanDiego,shewassurprisedtohearWilburcallinghersharply。Sherantohim,andfoundhimstandinginthewaistbyCharlie’shammock。
TheChinamanwasdying,andknewit。HewastalkinginafaintandfeeblevoicetoWilburasshecameup,andwastryingtoexplaintohimthathewassorryhehaddesertedtheschoonerduringthescareinthebay。
\"Plantymucheesolly,\"hesaid;\"Chinaboy,himheapflaidofFeng-shui。WhenFeng-shuinolikee,wethenmustgochop-chop。
PlentymuchsollyIleave-umschoonerthatnight;sollyplenty——
savvy?\"
\"Ofcoursewesavvy,Charlie,\"saidMoran。\"Youweren’tafraidwhenitcametofighting。\"
\"Idieplettysoon,\"saidCharliecalmly。\"Yousayyougibmefifteenhundleddollah?\"
\"Yes,yes;thatwasourpromise。Whatdoyouwantdonewithit,Charlie?\"
\"IwantplentyfinefuneralinChinatowninSanFrancisco。Oh,heapfine!Youbuyumfirst-chopcoffin——savvy?Silverheapmuch——
costumbigmoney。YougibmymoneytoHopSingAssociation,topsideMingYentemple。YousavvyHopSing?——oneSixCompanies。\"
\"Yes,yes。\"
\"TellumHopSingIwantfuneral——four-pieceehorse。Younoflogetteehorse?\"headdedapprehensively。
\"No,I’llnotforgetthehorsesCharlie。Youshallhavefour。\"
\"Wantsix-pieceebandmusicians——Chinamusic——heapplentygong。
Younoflogettee?Twopieceepriest,alldressumwhite——savvy?Youmus’buyumcoffinyo’self。Vellyfinecoffin,heapmuchsilver,an’four-pieceehorse。Youcatchumfireclacker——one,five,sevenhundledfireclacker,makeumbignoise;an’loastpig,an’plentylicean’Chinablandy。Heapfinefuneral,costumfifteenhundleddollah。IbeburyallsameMandarin——allsameLittlePete。Youplomise,sure?\"
\"Ipromiseyou,Charlie。YoushallhaveafuneralfinerthanlittlePete’s。\"
Charlienoddedhisheadcontentedly,drawingabreathofsatisfaction。
\"BimebyHopSingsendumbodybackChina。\"Heclosedhiseyesandlayforalongtime,wornoutwiththeeffortofspeaking,asifasleep。Suddenlyheopenedhiseyeswide。\"Younoflogetteehorse?\"
\"Fourhorses,Charlie。I’llremember。\"
Hedroopedoncemore,onlytorouseagainattheendofafewminuteswith:
\"First-chopcoffin,plentymuchsilver\";andagain,alittlelaterandveryfeebly:\"Six-piecee——bandmusic——Chinamusic——four-
piecee——gong——four。\"
\"Ipromiseyou,Charlie,\"saidWilbur。
\"Now,\"answeredCharlie——\"nowIdie。\"
Andthelow-casteCantonesecoolie,withallthedignityandcalmnessofaCicero,composedhimselffordeath。
AnhourlaterWilburandMoranknewthathewasdead。Yet,thoughtheyhadneverleftthehammock,theycouldnothavetoldatjustwhatmomenthedied。
Later,onthatsameafternoon,Wilbur,fromthecrow’s-nest,sawthelighthouseonPointLomaandthehugeramblingbulkoftheCoronadoHotelspreadingoutandalongthebeach。
Itwastheoutpostofcivilization。Theyweregettingbacktotheworldagain。Withinanhour’srideofthehotelwereSanDiego,railroads,newspapers,andpolicemen。Justoffthehotel,however,WilburcoulddiscernthegleamingwhitehullofaUnitedStatesman-of-war。Withtheglasshecouldmakeherouttobeoneofthemonitors——the\"Monterey\"inallprobability。
AfteradvisingwithMoran,itwasdecidedtoputintoland。Thereportastothecastawayscouldbemadetothe\"Monterey,\"andCharlie’sbodyforwardedtohisTonginSanFrancisco。
Intwohours’timetheschoonerwaswellup,andWilburstoodbyMoran’ssideatthewheel。watchingandstudyingthefamiliaraspectofCoronadoBeach。
\"It’sagreatwinterresort,\"hetoldher。\"Iwasdownherewithapartytwoyearsago。Nothinghaschanged。Youseethatbigsortofroundwing,Moran,allfullofwindows?That’sthedining-
room。Andthere’sthebathhouseandthebowling-alley。Seethepeopleonthebeach,andthegirlsinwhiteduckskirts;andlookuptherebytheveranda——letmetaketheglass——yes,there’satally-hocoach。Isn’titqueertogetbacktothissortofthingafterMagdalenaBayandthebeach-combers?\"
Moranspunthewheelwithoutreply,andgaveanordertoJimtoeaseofftheforesheet。
XII
NEWCONDITIONS
ThewinterseasonattheHoteldelCoronadohadbeenunusuallygaythatyear,andtheyoungladywhowrotethesocietynewsindiaryformforoneoftheSanFranciscoweeklypapershadheldforthatmuchlengthuponthehotel’s\"unbrokensuccessionoffestivities。\"
Shehadalsonotedthat\"prominentamongthenewestarrivals\"hadbeenMr。NatRidgeway,ofSanFrancisco,whohadbroughtdownfromthecity,aboardhiselegantandsumptuouslyfittedyacht\"Petrel,\"ajollyparty,composedlargelyoftheseason’sdebutantes。TobementionedinthelattercategorywasMissJosieHerrick,whoselavendercoming-outteaatthebeginningoftheseasonwasstillasubjectofcommentamongthegossips——andalltherestofit。
The\"Petrel\"hadbeenintheharborbutafewdays,andonthiseveningadancewasgivenatthehotelinhonorofherarrival。
Itwastobeacotillon,andNatRidgewaywasgoingtoleadwithJosieHerrick。TherehadbeenacoachingpartytoTiaJuanathatday,andMissHerrickhadreturnedtothehotelonlyintimetodress。By9:30sheemergedfromtheprocess——whichhadinvolvedhermother,heryoungersister,hermaid,andoneofthehotelchambermaids——adainty,firm-corsetedlittlebody,alltulle,whitesatin,andhigh-piledhair。ShecarriedMarechalNielroses,orderedbywirefromMonterey;andaboutanhourlater,whenRidgewaygavethenodtothewaitingmusicians,andswungherofftothebeatofatwo-step,therewasnotamoregracefullittlefigureupontheflooroftheincomparableroundballroomoftheCoronadoHotel。
Thecotillonwasagreatsuccess。Theensignsandyoungerofficersofthemonitor——atthattimeanchoredoffthehotel——
attendedinuniform;andenoughofthemembersofwhatwasknowninSanFranciscoasthe\"dancingset\"werepresenttogivetheaffairthenecessaryentrain。EvenJerryHaight,whobelongedmoredistinctlytothe\"country-clubset,\"andwhohadspenttheearlypartofthatwintershootingelkinOregon,wasamongtheranksofthe\"rovers,\"whogroupedthemselvesaboutthedraughtydoorways,andendeavoredtoappearunconsciouseachtimeRidgewaygavethesignalfora\"break。\"
Thefigureshadgoneroundthehallonce。The\"firstset\"wasoutagain,andasRidgewayguidedMissHerrickbythe\"rovers\"shelookedoverthearrayofshirt-fronts,searchingforJerryHaight。
\"DoyouseeMr。Haight?\"sheaskedofRidgeway。\"Iwantedtofavorhimthisbreak。Iowehimtwoalready,andhe’llneverforgivemeifIoverlookhimnow。\"
JerryHaighthadgonetothehotelofficeforafewmoments’restandacigarette,andwasnowhereinsight。Butwhenthesetbroke,andMissHerrick,despairingofJerry,hadstartedouttofavoroneoftheyoungerensigns,shesuddenlyjostledagainsthim,pushinghiswayeagerlyacrossthefloorinthedirectionofthemusicians’platform。
\"Oh!\"shecried,\"Mr。Haight,you’vemissedyourchance——I’vebeenlookingforyou。\"
ButJerrydidnothear——heseemedveryexcited。Hecrossedthefloor,almostrunning,andwentupontheplatformwherethemusiciansweremeanderingsoftlythroughthemazesof\"LaPaloma,\"
andbroughtthemtoanabruptsilence。
\"Here,Isay,Haight!\"exclaimedRidgeway,whowasnearby,\"youcan’tbreakupmyfigurelikethat。\"
\"Gi’meacallthereonthebugle,\"saidHaightrapidlytothecornetist。\"Anythingtomake’emkeepquietamoment。\"
Thecornetistsoundedacoupleofnotes,andthecotillonpausedintheveryactofthebreak。Theshufflingoffeetgrewstill,andtheconversationceased。Adiamondbroochhadbeenfound,nodoubt,orsomesupperannouncementwastobemade。ButJerryHaight,withagreatsweepofhisarm,theforgottencigarettebetweenhisfingers,shoutedoutbreathlessly:
\"RossWilburisoutintheofficeofthehotel!\"
Therewasaninstant’ssilence,andthenagreatshout。Wilburfound!RossWilburcomebackfromthedead!RossWilbur,huntedforandbootlesslytracedfromBuenosAyresinthesouthtotheAleutianIslandsinthenorth。RossWilbur,thepuzzleofeverydetectivebureauonthecoast;thesubjectofathousandtheories;
whosenamehadfiguredinthescareheadsofeverynewspaperwestoftheMississippi。RossWilbur,seenatafashionableteaandhisclubofanafternoon,thensuddenlyblottedoutfromtheworldofmen;swallowedupandengulfedbytheunknown,withnotsomuchasabuttonleftbehind。RossWilburthesuicide;RossWilbur,themurdered;RossWilbur,victimofabandofkidnappers,theheroofsomedreadfulstorythatwasnevertobetold,themystery,thelegend——beholdhewasthere!Backfromtheunknown,droppedfromtheclouds,spewedupagainfromthebowelsoftheearth——averitablegodfromthemachinewhoinasingleinstantwastodisentanglealltheunexplainedcomplicationsofthosepastwintermonths。
\"Herehecomes!\"shoutedJerry,hiseyescaughtbyagroupofmeninfulldressandgoldlacewhocametrampingdownthehalltotheballroom,bearinganondescriptfigureontheirshoulders。\"Herehecomes——theboysarebringinghiminhere!Oh!\"hecried,turningtothemusicians,\"can’tyouplaysomething?——any-thing!
Hititupforallyou’reworth!Ridgeway——Nat,lookhere!RosswasYale,y’know——Yale’95;ain’tweenoughYalemenheretogivehimtheyell?\"
Outofalltimeandtune,butwithavigorthatmadeupforboth,themusiciansbangedintoapatrioticair。Jerry,standingonachairthatitselfwasstandingontheplatform,ledhalfadozenfranticmeninthelongthunderofthe\"Brek-kek-kek-kek,co-ex,co-ex。\"
Aroundtheedgesofthehallexcitedgirls,andchaperonsthemselvesnolessagitated,werestandinguponchairsandbenches,splittingtheirglovesandbreakingtheirfansintheirenthusiasm;whileeverymaledanceronthefloor——ensignsintheirgold-faceduniformsand\"rovers\"instarchedandimmaculateshirt-
bosoms——cheeredandcheeredandstruggledwithoneanothertoshakehandswithamanwhomtwooftheirnumberoldYalegrads,withmemoriesofathletictriumphsyetintheirminds——carriedintothatball-room,bornehighupontheirshoulders。
Andtheherooftheoccasion,thecentreofallthisenthusiasm——
thuscarriedasifintriumphintothisassemblyineveningdress,inwhitetulleandwhiterkid,odorousofdelicatesachetsandscarce-perceptibleperfumes——wasafigureunhandsomeandunkemptbeyonddescription。Hishairwaslong,andhangingoverhiseyes。
Athick,uncared-forbeardconcealedthemouthandchin。HewasdressedinaChinaman’sblouseandjeans——thelatterthrustintoslashedandtatteredboots。Thetanandweatherbeatingsofnearlyhalfayearofthetropicswerespreadoverhisface;apartlyhealedscardisfiguredonetempleandcheek-bone;thehands,totheveryfinger-nails,weregraywithgrime;thejeansandblouseandbootswerefouledwithgrease,withoil,withpitch,andallmannerofthedirtofanuncared-forship。Andasthedancersofthecotillonpressedabout,andahundredkid-glovedhandsstretchedtowardhisownpalms,therefellfromWilbur’sbeltuponthewaxedflooroftheballroomtheknifehehadsogrimlyusedinthefightuponthebeach,theuglystainsstillblackeningonthehaft。
Therewasnomorecotillonthatnight。Theyputhimdownatlast;
andinhalfadozensentencesWilburtoldthemofhowhehadbeenshanghaied——toldthemofMagdalenaBay,hisfortuneintheambergris,andthefightwiththebeach-combers。
\"Youpeoplearegoingdowntherefortarget-practice,aren’tyou?\"
hesaid,turningtooneofthe\"Monterey’s\"officersinthecrowdabouthim。\"Yes?Well,you’llfindthecooliesthere,onthebeach,waitingforyou。Allbutone,\"headded,grimly。
\"Wemaroonedsixofthem,buttheseventhdidn’tneedtobemarooned。Theytriedtoplunderusofourboat,but,by————-,wemadeitinterestingfor’em!\"
\"Isay,steady,oldman!\"exclaimedNatRidgeway,glancingnervouslytowardthegirlsinthesurroundinggroup。\"Thisisn’tMagdalenaBay,youknow。\"
AndforthefirsttimeWilburfeltagenuinepangofdisappointmentandregretasherealizedthatitwasnot。
Halfanhourlater,Ridgewaydrewhimaside。\"Isay,Ross,let’sgetoutofhere。Youcan’tstandheretalkingallnight。JerryandyouandIwillgouptomyrooms,andwecantalkthereinpeace。I’llorderupthreequartsoffizz,and——\"
\"Oh,rotyourfizz!\"declaredWilbur。\"Ifyouloveme,givemeChristiantobacco。\"
Astheyweregoingoutoftheballroom,WilburcaughtsightofJosieHerrick,and,breakingawayfromtheothers,ranovertoher。
\"Oh!\"shecried,breathless。\"Tothinkandtothinkofyourcomingbackafterall!No,Idon’trealizeit——Ican’t。Itwilltakemeuntilmorningtofindoutthatyou’vereallycomeback。I
justknownowthatI’mhappierthanIeverwasinmylifebefore。
Oh!\"shecried,\"doIneedtotellyouhowgladIam?It’sjusttoosplendidforwords。Doyouknow,Iwasthoughttobethelastpersonyouhadeverspokentowhilealive,andthereportersandall——oh,butwemusthavesuchatalkwhenallisquietagain!Andourdance——we’veneverhadourdance。I’vegotyourcardyet。
Remembertheoneyouwroteformeatthetea——afacsimileofitwaspublishedinallthepapers。YouaregoingtobeaherowhenyougetbacktoSanFrancisco。Oh,Ross!Ross!\"shecried,thetearsstartingtohereyes,\"you’vereallycomeback,andyouarejustasgladasIam,aren’tyou——gladthatyou’vecomeback——comebacktome?\"
Lateron,inRidgeway’sroom,WilburtoldhisstoryagainmoreindetailtoRidgewayandJerry。Allbutoneportionofit。Hecouldnotmakeuphismindtospeaktothem——thesesocietyfellows,clubmenandcitybred——ofMoran。Howhewasgoingtoorderhislifehenceforward——hislife,thathefelttobevoidofinterestwithouther——hedidnotknow。Thatwasaquestionforlaterconsideration。
\"We’llgiveanothercotillon!\"exclaimedRidgeway,\"upinthecity——giveitforyou,Ross,andyou’lllead。It’llbetheeventoftheseason!\"
Wilburutteredanexclamationofcontempt。\"I’vedonewiththatsortoffoolery,\"heanswered。
\"Nonsense;why,think,we’llhaveitinyourhonor。Everysmartgirlintownwillcome,andyou’llbethelionof——\"
\"Youdon’tseemtounderstand!\"criedWilburimpatiently。\"Doyouthinkthere’sanyfuninthatformenow?Why,man,I’vefought——
foughtwithanakeddirk,foughtwithacooliewhosnappedatmelikeanape——andyoutalktomeofdancingandfunctionsandgermanfavors!Itwouldn’tdosomeofyoupeopleabitofharmifyouwereshanghaiedyourselves。Thatsortoflife,ifitdon’tdoanythingelse,knocksabigbitofseriousnessintoyou。Youfellowsmakemesick,\"hewentonvehemently。\"Asthoughtherewasn’tanythingelsetodobutleadcotillonsandgetupnewfigures!\"
\"Well,whatdoyouproposetodo?\"askedNatRidgeway。\"Whereareyougoingnow——backtoMagdalenaBay?\"
\"No。\"
\"Where,then?\"
Wilbursmotethetablewithhisfist。
\"Cuba!\"hecried。\"I’vegotacracklittleschooneroutinthebayhere,andI’vegotahundredthousanddollars’worthoflootaboardofher。I’vetriedbeach-combingforawhile,andnowI’lltryfilibustering。Itmaybeacrazyidea,butit’sbetterthandancing。I’dratherleadanexpeditionthanagerman,andyoucanchewonthat,NathanielRidgeway。\"
Jerrylookedathimashestoodtherebeforetheminthefilthy,reekingblouseandjeans,theraggedboots,andthemaneofhairandtangledbeard,andrememberedtheWilburheusedtoknow——theWilburofthecarefullycreasedtrousers,thesatinscarfsandfancywaistcoats。
\"You’readifferentsortthanwhenyouwentaway,Ross,\"saidJerry。
\"Rightyouare,\"answeredWilbur。
\"ButIwillventureaprophecy,\"continuedJerry,lookingkeenlyathim。
\"Ross,youareaborn-and-bredcityman。It’sinthebloodofyouandthebonesofyou。I’llgiveyouthreeyearsforthisnewnotionofyourstowearitselfout。Youthinkjustnowyou’regoingtospendtherestofyourlifeasanamateurbuccaneer。Inthreeyears,attheoutside,you’llbeusingyour’loot,’asyoucallit,ortheinterestofit,topayyourtaxesandyourtailor,yourpewrentandyourclubdues,andyou’llbewhatthebiographerscall’arespectablememberofthecommunity。’\"
\"Didyoueverkillaman,Jerry?\"askedWilbur。\"No?Well,youkillonesomeday——killhiminafairgive-and-takefight——andseehowitmakesyoufeel,andwhatinfluenceithasonyou,andthencomebackandtalktome。\"
Itwaslongaftermidnight。Wilburrose。
\"We’llringforaboy,\"saidRidgeway,\"andgetyouaroom。Icanfixyououtwithclothesenoughinthemorning\"
Wilburstaredinsomesurprise,andthensaid:
\"Why,I’vegottheschoonertolookafter。Ican’tleavethosecooliesaloneallnight。\"
\"Youdon’tmeantosayyou’regoingonboardatthistimeinthemorning?\"
\"Ofcourse!\"
\"Why——but——butyou’llcatchyourdeathofcold。\"
WilburstaredatRidgeway,thennoddedhelplessly,and,scratchinghishead,said,halfaloud:
\"No,what’stheuse;Ican’tmake’emunderstand。Good-nightI’llseeyouinthemorning。\"
\"We’llallcomeoutandvisityouonyouryacht,\"Ridgewaycalledafterhim;butWilburdidnothear。
InanswertoWilbur’swhistle,Jimcameinwiththedoryandtookhimofftotheschooner。Moranmethimashecameovertheside。
\"Itookthewatchmyselfto-nightandlettheboyturnin,\"shesaid。\"Howisitashore,mate?\"
\"We’vecomebacktotheworldoflittlethings,Moran,\"saidWilbur。\"Butwe’llpulloutofhereinthemorningandgetbacktotheplaceswherethingsarereal。\"
\"Andthat’sagoodhearing,mate。\"
\"Let’sgetuphereonthequarterdeck,\"addedWilbur。\"I’vesomethingtoproposetoyou。\"
Moranlaidanarmacrosshisshoulder,andthetwowalkedaft。
ForhalfanhourWilburtalkedtoherearnestlyabouthisnewideaoffilibustering;andashetoldherofthewarhewarmedtothesubject,hisfaceglowing,hiseyessparkling。Suddenly,however,hebrokeoff。
\"Butno!\"heexclaimed。\"Youdon’tunderstand,Moran。Howcanyou——you’reforeign-born。It’snoaffairofyours!\"
\"Mate!mate!\"criedMoran,herhandsuponhisshoulders。\"It’syouwhodon’tunderstand——don’tunderstandme。Don’tyouknow——
can’tyousee?Yourpeopleareminenow。I’mhappyonlyinyourhappiness。Youwereright——thebesthappinessisthehappinessoneshares。Andyoursorrowsbelongtome,justasIbelongtoyou,dear。Yourenemiesaremine,andyourquarrelsaremyquarrels。\"Shedrewhisheadquicklytowardherandkissedhim。
Inthemorningthetwohadmadeuptheirmindstoacertainvaguecourseofaction。Togetaway——anywhere——wastheironeaim。
Moranwasbynatureacreatureunfitforcivilization,andtheloveofadventureandthedesireforactionhadsuddenlyleapedtolifeinWilbur’sbloodandwasnottoberesisted。TheywouldgetuptoSanFrancisco,disposeoftheir\"loot,\"outfitthe\"BerthaMillner\"asafilibuster,andputtoseaagain。TheyhaddiscussedtheadvisabilityofroundingtheHorninsosmallashipasthe\"BerthaMillner,\"butMoranhadsettledthatatonce。
\"I’vegottoknowherprettywell,\"shetoldWilbur。\"She’ssoundasanut。Onlylet’sgetawayfromthisplace。\"
Buttowardteno’clockonthemorningaftertheirarrivaloffCoronado,andjustastheywerepreparingtogetunderway,HoangtouchedWilbur’selbow。
\"Seeumlilone-piecesmoke-boat;himcomechop-chop。\"
Infact,alittlesteam-launchwasrapidlyapproachingtheschooner。Inanotherinstantshewasalongside。Jerry,NatRidgeway,JosieHerrick,andanelderlywoman,whomWilburbarelyknewasMissHerrick’smarriedsister,wereaboard。
\"We’vecomeofftoseeyouryacht!\"criedMissHerricktoWilburasthelaunchbumpedalongtheschooner’scounter。\"Canwecomeaboard?\"Shelookedveryprettyinhercrisppinkshirt-waistherwhiteduckskirt,andwhitekidshoes,hersailorhattiltedatabarelyperceptibleangle。Themenwereinwhiteflannelsandsmartyachtingsuits。\"Canwecomeaboard?\"sherepeated。
Wilburgaspedandstared。\"GoodLord!\"hemuttered。\"Oh,comealong,\"headded,desperately。
Thepartycameovertheside。
\"Oh,my!\"saidMissHerrickblankly,stoppingshort。
Thedecks,masts,andrailsoftheschoonerwereshinywithablackcoatingofdirtandgrease;thesailsweregraywithgrime;
astranglingodorofoilandtar,ofcookingandofopium,ofChinesepunkanddryingfish,pervadedalltheair。Inthewaist,HoangandJim,baretothebelt,theirqueuesloopedaroundtheirneckstobeoutoftheway,werestowingthedoryandexchanginghigh-pitchedmonosyllables。MissHerrick’ssisterhadnotcomeaboard。Thethreevisitors——Jerry,Ridgeway,andJosie——stoodnervouslyhuddledtogether,theirelbowsclosein,asiftoavoidcontactwiththeprevailingfilth,theirimmaculatewhiteouting-
clothesdetachingthemselvesviolentlyagainstthesqualorandsordidgrimeoftheschooner’sbackground。
\"Oh,my!\"repeatedMissHerrickindismay,halfclosinghereyes。
\"Tothinkofwhatyoumusthavebeenthrough!Ithoughtyouhadsomekindofayacht。Ihadnoideaitwouldbelikethis。\"Andasshespoke,Morancamesuddenlyuponthegroupfrombehindtheforesail,andpausedinabruptsurprise,herthumbsinherbelt。
Shestillworemen’sclothesandwasbootedtotheknee。Theheavybluewoolenshirtwasopenatthethroat,thesleevesrolledhalf-wayupherlargewhitearms。InherbeltshecarriedherhaftlessScandinaviandirk。Shewashatlessasever,andherheavy,fragrantcablesofrye-huedhairfelloverhershouldersandbreasttofarbelowherbelt。
MissHerrickstartedsharply,andMoranturnedaninquiringglanceuponWilbur。Wilburtookhisresolutioninbothhands。
\"MissHerrick,\"hesaid,\"thisisMoran——MoranSternersen。\"
Morantookastepforward,holdingoutherhand。Josie,allbewildered,puthertight-glovedfingersintothecallousedpalm,lookingupnervouslyintoMoran’sface。
\"I’msure,\"shesaidfeebly,almostbreathlessly,\"I——I’msureI’mverypleasedtomeetMissSternersen。\"
ItwaslongbeforethepictureleftWilbur’simagination。JosieHerrick,petite,gownedinwhite,crispfromhermaid’sgrooming;
andMoran,sea-roveranddaughterofahundredVikings,toweringaboveher,bootedandbelted,gravelyclaspingJosie’shandinherownhugefist。
XIII
MORANSTERNERSEN
SanFranciscooncemore!Fortwodaysthe\"BerthaMillner\"hadbeenbeatingupthecoast,fightingherwayagainstnortherlywinds,buttingintoheadseas。
Thewarmth,thestillness,theplacid,drowsingquietofMagdalenaBay,steamingunderthegoldeneyeofatropicheaven,thewhite,bakedbeach,thebay-heads,striatedwiththemirageinthemorning,thecoruscatingsunset,theenchantedmysteryofthepurplenight,withitssheenofstarsandridingmoon,werenowreplacedbythehaleandvigoroussnortingoftheTrades,therollofbreakerstolandward,andtheunremittinggallopoftheunnumberedmultitudesofgray-greenseas,careeringsilentlypasttheschooner,theircrestsoccasionallyhissingintobrusqueeruptionsofwhitefroth,orsmitingbroadonunderhercounter,showeringherdeckswithasproutoficyspray。Itwascold;attimesthickfogscloakedalltheworldofwater。Totheeastaprocessionofbleakhillsdefiledslowlysouthward;lighthouseswerepassed;streamersofsmokeonthewesternhorizonmarkedthepassageofsteamships;andoncetheymetandpassedclosebyahugeCapeHorner,agreatdeep-seatramp,allsailssetanddrawing,rollingslowlyandleisurelyinseasthatmadetheschoonerdance。
AtlasttheFaralloneslookedovertheocean’sedgetothenorth;
thencamethewhistling-buoy,theSealRocks,theHeads,PointReyes,theGoldenGateflankedwiththeoldredPresidio,LimePointwithitswatchingcannon;andbynoonofagrayandboisterousday,underalustywindandaslantofrain,justfivemonthsafterherdeparture,the\"BerthaMillner\"letgoheranchorinSanFranciscoBaysomefewhundredyardsofftheLifeboatStation。
Inthisberththeschoonerwasstillthreeorfourmilesfromthecityandthewater-front。ButMorandetestedanynearerapproachtocivilization,andWilburhimselfwaswillingtoavoid,atleastforoneday,thepublicitywhichhebelievedthe\"Bertha’s\"
reappearancewassuretoattract。Heremembered,too,thatthelittleboatcarriedwithherafortuneof$100,000,anddecidedthatuntilitcouldbesafelylandedandstoreditwasnotdesirablethatitsexistenceshouldbeknownalong\"theFront。\"
Fordays,weekseven,Wilburhadlookedeagerlyforwardtothisreturntohishome。Hehadseenhimselfagaininhisformerhaunts,inhisclub,andinthehousesalongPacificavenuewherehewasreceived;butnosoonerhadtheanchor-chainceasedrattlinginthe\"Bertha’s\"hawse-pipethanastrangerevulsioncameuponhim。Thenewmanthatseemedtohavesosuddenlysprungtolifewithinhim,theWilburwhowasthemateofthe\"BerthaMillner,\"theWilburwhobelongedtoMoran,believedthathecouldseenothingtobedesiredincitylife。Forhimwastheunsteadydeckofaschooner,andthegreatwindsandthetremendouswheeloftheocean’srim,andthehorizonthateverfledbeforehisfollowingprow;sohetoldhimself,sohebelieved。Whatattractionscouldthecityofferhim?Whatamusements?whatexcitements?Hehadbeenflungoffthesmoothlyspinningcircumferenceofwell-orderedlifeoutintothevoid。
Hehadknownromance,andthespellofthegreat,simple,andprimitiveemotions;hehadsatdowntoeatwithbuccaneers;hehadseenthefierce,quickleapofunleashedpassions,andhadfeltdeathswoopcloseathisnapeandpasslikeaswiftspurtofcoldair。Citylife,hisoldlife,hadnocharmforhimnow。Wilburhonestlybelievedthathewaschangedtohisheart’score。Hethoughtthat,likeMoran,hewashenceforthtobeasailorofthesea,arover,andhesawtherestofhisexistencepassedwithher,aboardtheirfaithfullittleschooner。Theywouldhavethewholeroundworldastheirplayground;theyheldtheearthandthegreatseasinfief;therewasnoonetoletortohinder。Theytwobelongedtoeachother。OnceoutsidetheHeadsagain,andtheysweptthelandofcitiesandoflittlethingsbehindthem,andtheytwowereleftaloneoncemore;aloneinthegreatworldofromance。
Aboutanhourafterherarrivaloffthestation,whileHoangandthehandswerefurlingthejibandforesailandgettingthedoryovertheside,MoranremarkedtoWilbur:
\"It’sgoodwecameinwhenwedid,mate;theglassisgoingdownfast,andthewind’sbreezingupfromthewest;we’regoingtohaveablow;thetidewillbegoingoutinalittlewhile,andwenevercouldhavecomeinagainstwindandtide。\"
\"Moran,\"saidWilbur,\"I’mgoingashore——intothestationhere;
there’satelephonelinethere;seethewires?Ican’tsomuchasturnmyhandoverbeforeIhavesomeshore-goingclothes。WhatdoyousupposetheywoulddotomeifIappearedonKearneyStreetinthisoutfit?I’llringupLangley&Michaels——theyarethewholesalechemistsintown——andhavetheiragentcomeouthereandtalkbusinesstousaboutourambergris。We’vegottopaythementheirprize-money;thenassoonaswegetourownmoneyinhandwecantalkaboutoverhaulingandoutfittingthe’Bertha。’\"
MoranrefusedtoaccompanyhimashoreandintotheLifeboatStation。Roofedhouseswereanobjectofsuspiciontoher。
AlreadyshehadbeguntobeuneasyatthedistantsightofthecityofSanFrancisco,Nob,Telegraph,Russian,andRinconhills,allswarmingwithbuildingsandgroovedwithstreets;eventheland-lockedharborfrettedher。Wilburcouldseeshefeltimprisoned,confined。WhenhehadpointedoutthePalaceHoteltoher——avastgraycubeinthedistance,overtoppingthesurroundingroofs——shehadswornunderherbreath。
\"Andpeoplecanlivethere,goodheavens!Whynotrabbit-burrows,andbedonewithit?Mate,howsooncanwebeouttoseaagain?I
hatethisplace。\"
WilburfoundthecaptainoftheLifeboatStationintheactofsittingdowntoadinnerofboiledbeefandcabbage。Hewasastronglybuiltwell-lookingman,withtheairmoreofasoldierthanasailor。Hehadalreadybeenstudyingtheschoonerthroughhisfrontwindowandhadrecognizedher,andatonceaskedWilburnewsofCaptainKitchell。Wilburtoldhimasmuchofhisstoryaswasnecessary,butfromthecaptain’stalkhegatheredthatthenewsofhisreturnhadlongsincebeenwiredfromCoronado,andthatitwouldbeimpossibletoavoidaninedays’notoriety。Thecaptainofthestation(hisnamewasHodgson)madeWilburroyallywelcome,insisteduponhisdiningwithhim,andhimselfcalledupLangley&Michaelsassoonasthemealwasover。
Itwashewhoofferedtheonlyplausiblesolutionofthemysteryoftheliftingandshakingoftheschoonerandthewreckingofthejunk。ThoughWilburwasnotsatisfiedwithHodgson’sexplanation,itwastheonlyoneheeverheard。
Whenhehadspokenofthematter,Hodgsonhadnoddedhishead。
\"Sulphur-bottoms,\"hesaid。
\"Sulphur-bottoms?\"
\"Yes;they’reakindofright-whale;theygetbarnaclesandakindofmarineliceontheirbacks,andcomeupandscratchthemselvesagainstaship’skeel,justlikeahogunderafence。\"
WhenWilbur’sbusinesswasdone,andhewasmakingreadytoreturntotheschooner,Hodgsonremarkedsuddenly:\"Hearyou’vegotastrappingfinegirlaboardwithyou。Wheredidyoufallinwithher?\"andhewinkedandgrinned。
Wilburstartedasthoughstruck,andtookhimselfhurriedlyaway;
buttheman’swordshadtouchedoffinhisbrainaveritablemineofconjecture。MoraninMagdalenaBaywasconsistent,congruous,andfittedintoherenvironment。Buthow——howwasWilburtoexplainhertoSanFrancisco,andhowcouldhisbehaviorseemelsethanridiculoustothemenofhisclubandtothewomenwhosedinnerinvitationshewaswonttoreceive?Theycouldnotunderstandthechangethathadbeenwroughtinhim;theydidnotknowMoran,thesavage,half-tamedValkyriesosuddenlybecomeawoman。Hurryashewould,theschoonercouldnotbeputtoseaagainwithinafortnight。Eventhoughheelectedtoliveaboardinthemeanwhile,theverybusinessofherpreparationwouldcallhimtothecityagainandagain。Morancouldnotbekeptasecret。Asitwas,alltheworldknewofherbynow。Ontheotherhandhecouldeasilyunderstandherposition;toheritseemedsimplicityitselfthattheytwowholovedeachothershouldsailawayandpasstheirlivestogetheruponthesea,assheandherfatherhaddonebefore。
Likemostmen,Wilburhadtowalkwhenhewasthinkinghard。HesentthedorybacktotheschoonerwithwordtoMoranthathewouldtakeawalkaroundthebeachandreturninanhourortwo。
HesetoffalongtheshoreinthedirectionofFortMason,theoldred-brickfortattheentrancetotheGoldenGate。AtthispointinthePresidioGovernmentreservationthelandissolitary。
Wilburfollowedthelineofthebeachtotheoldfort;andthere,ontheverythresholdoftheWesternworld,attheveryoutpostofcivilization,satdownintheleeofthecrumblingfortification,andscenebyscenereviewedtheextraordinaryeventsofthepastsixmonths。
InfrontofhimranthenarrowchanneloftheGoldenGate;tohisrightwasthebayandthecity;athislefttheopenPacific。
Hesawhimselfthedayofhisadventaboardthe\"Bertha\"inhistophatandfrockcoat;sawhimselflater\"brakingdown\"atthewindlass,the\"Petrel\"withinhailingdistance。
Thenthepicturesbegantothickenfast:thederelictbark\"LadyLetty\"rollingtoherscuppers,abandonedandlonely;the\"boy\"inthewheel-box;Kitchellwrenchingopenthedeskinthecaptain’sstateroom;CaptainSternersenburiedatsea,hisfalseteethupsidedown;theblackfuryofthesquall,andMoranatthewheel;
Moranlyingatfulllengthonthedeck,gettingthealtitudeofastar;MagdalenaBay;theshark-fishing;themysteriousliftingandshudderingoftheschooner;thebeach-combers’junk,withitsstaringredeyes;Hoang,nakedtothewaist,gleamingwithsweatandwhale-oil;theambergris;theracetobeachthesinkingschooner;thenever-to-be-forgottennightwhenheandMoranhadcampedtogetheronthebeach;Hoangtakenprisoner,andthehideousfilingofhisteeth;thebeach-combers,silentandwatchfulbehindtheirsandbreastworks;theChinamanhehadkilledtwitchingandhic-coughingathisfeet;MoranturnedBerserker,burstingdownuponhimthroughahazeofsmoke;Charliedyinginthehammockaboardtheschooner,orderinghisfuneralwithits\"four-pieceehorse\";Coronado;theincongruoussceneintheballroom;and,lastofall,JosieHerrickinwhiteduckandkidshoes,givingherhandtoMoraninherbootsandbelt,hatlessasever,hersleevesrolleduptoabovetheelbows,herwhite,strongarmextended,herruddyface,andpale,milk-blueeyesgravelyobservant,herheavybraids,yellowasripeningrye,hangingoverhershoulderandbreast。
Asuddenexplosionofcoldwind,strikingdownblanket-wiseandbewilderingfromoutthewest,madeWilburlookupquickly。Thegrayskyseemedscuddingalongcloseoverhead。Thebay,thenarrowchanneloftheGoldenGate,theoutsideocean,wereallwhiteningwithcrestsofwaves。Athisfeetthehugegreenground-swellsthunderedtotheattackofthefort’sgranitefoundations。ThroughtheGate,thebayseemedrushingouttothePacific。Abewilderedgullshotby,tackingandslantingagainsttheguststhatwoulddriveitouttosea。Evidentlythestormwasnotfaroff。Wilburrosetohisfeet,andsawthe\"BerthaMillner,\"closein,unbridledandfreeasarunawayhorse,headeddirectlyfortheopensea,andrushingonwithalltheimpetusofwindandtide!
XIV
THEOCEANISCALLINGFORYOU
AlittlewhileafterWilburhadsetoffforthestation,whileMoranwasmakingthelastentriesinthelog-book,seatedatthetableinthecabin,Jimappearedatthedoor。
\"Well,\"shesaid,lookingup。
\"Chinaboyhimwantgoasho’plentybig,seeumflenupChinatowninumcity。\"
\"Shoreleave,isit?\"saidMoran。\"Youdesertedoncebeforewithoutevensayinggood-by;andmyhandinthefire,you’llcomebackthistimedottywithopium。Getawaywithyou。We’llhavemenaboardhereinafewdays。\"
\"Cango?\"inquiredJimsuavely。
\"Isaidso。ReportourarrivaltoyourSixCompanies。\"
HoangrowedJimandthecooliesashore,andthenreturnedtotheschoonerwiththedoryandstreamedherastern。Ashepassedthecabindooronhiswayforward,Moranhailedhim。
\"Ithoughtyouwentashore?\"shecried。
\"Heapflaid,\"heanswered。\"HimotherboygoupChinatown;himtellSamYup;ItinkSamYupallasamekilleeme。Inoleaveumshiptwo,thleeday;bimebyIgoOlegon。Istaytopsideship。
Youwantumcook。Icookplentyfine;standumwatchforyou。\"
Indeed,eversinceleavingCoronadotheex-beach-comberhadmadehimselfveryusefulabouttheschooner;hadbeen,infact,obsequiousnessitself,andseemedtobeparticularlydesirousofgainingthegood-willofthe\"Bertha’s\"officers。HeunderstoodpigeonEnglishbetterthanJim,andspokeitevenbetterthanCharliehaddone。HeactedthepartofinterpreterbetweenWilburandthehands;eventurnedtointhegalleyuponoccasion;andofhisownaccordofferedtogivethevesselacoatofpaintabovethewater-line。Moranturnedbacktoherlog,andHoangwentforward。Standingontheforwarddeck,helookedafterthe\"Bertha’s\"cooliesuntiltheydisappearedbehindarowofpine-
treesonthePresidioReservation,goingcityward。Wilburwasnowhereinsight。ForalongtimeHoangstudiedtheLifeboatStationnarrowly,whilehemadeagreatshowofcoilingalengthofrope。Thestationwasjustoutofhailingdistance。Nobodyseemedstirring。Thewholeshoreandbacklandthereaboutwasdeserted;theedgeofthecitywasfourmilesdistant。Hoangreturnedtotheforecastle-hatchandwentbelow,gropingunderhisbunkinhisditty-box。
\"Well,whatisit?\"exclaimedMoranamomentlater,asthebeach-
comberenteredthecabin,andshutthedoorbehindhim。
Hoangdidnotanswer;butshedidnotneedtorepeatthequestion。
InaninstantMoranknewverywellwhathehadcomefor。
\"God!\"sheexclaimedunderherbreath,springingtoherfeet。
\"Whydidn’twethinkofthis!\"
Hoangslippedhisknifefromthesleeveofhisblouse。Foraninstanttheoldimperiousness,theoldsavageprideandanger,leapedagaininMoran’sbreast——thendiedawayforever。ShewasnolongerthesameMoranofthatfirstfightonboardtheschooner,whenthebeach-combershadplunderedherofher\"loot。\"
Onlyafewweeksago,andshewouldhavefoughtwithHoangwithouthesitationandwithoutmercy;wouldhavewrenchedalegfromthetableandbrainedhimwherehestood。Butshehadlearnedsincetoknowwhatitmeanttobedependent;torelyforprotectionuponsomeonewhowasstrongerthanshe;toknowherweakness;toknowthatshewasatlastawoman,andtobeproudofit。
Shedidnotfight;shehadnothoughtoffighting。Instinctivelyshecriedaloud,\"Mate——mate!——Oh,mate,whereareyou?Helpme!\"
andHoang’sknifenailedthewordswithinherthroat。
The\"loot\"wasinabrass-boundchestunderoneofthecabin’sbunks,stowedintwogunny-bags。Hoangdrewthemout,knottedthetwotogether,and,slingingthemoverhisshoulder,regainedthedeck。
Helookedcarefullyattheangryskyandswellingseas,notingthedirectionofthewindandsetofthetide;thenwentforwardandcasttheanchor-chainsfromthewindlassinsuchamannerthattheschoonermustinevitablywrenchfreewiththefirstheavystrain。
Thedorywasstilltuggingatthelineastern。Hoangdroppedthesacksintheboat,swunghimselfovertheside,androwedcalmlytowardthestation’swharf。Ifanynotionofputtingtoseawiththeschoonerhadenteredtheobscure,pervertedcunningofhismind,hehadalmostinstantlyrejectedit。Chinatownwashisaim;
oncethereandundertheprotectionofhisTong,Hoangknewthathewassafe。Heknewthehiding-placesthattheSeeYupAssociationprovidedforitsmembers——hidingplaceswhoseveryexistencewasunknowntothepoliceoftheWhiteDevil。
Nooneinterrupted——nooneevennoticed——hispassagetothestation。Atbest,itwasnothingmorethanacooliecarryingacoupleofgunny-sacksacrosshisshoulder。Twohourslater,HoangwaslostinSanFrancisco’sChinatown。
**********
Atthesightoftheschoonersweepingouttosea,Wilburwasforaninstantsmittenrigid。Whathadhappened?WherewasMoran?Whywastherenobodyonboard?Aswift,sharpsenseofsomeunnamedcalamityleapedsuddenlyathisthroat。Thenhewasawareofacratteringofhoofsalongtheroadthatledtothefort。Hodgsonthrewhimselffromoneofthehorsesthatwereusedinhandlingthesurf-boat,andrantohimhatlessandpanting。
\"MyGod!\"heshouted。\"Look,yourschooner,doyouseeher?ShebrokeawayafterI’dstartedtotellyou——totellyou——totellyou——yourgirlthereonboard——Itwashorrible!\"
\"Issheallright?\"criedWilbur,attopvoice,fortheclamorofthegalewasincreasingeverysecond。
\"Allright!No;they’vekilledher——somebody——thecoolies,I
think——knifedher!Iwentouttoaskyoupeopletocomeintothestationtohavesupperwithme——\"
\"Killedher——killedher!Who?Idon’tbelieveyou——\"
\"Wait——tohavesupperwithme,andIfoundherthereonthecabinfloor。Shewasstillbreathing。Icarriedherupondeck——therewasnobodyelseaboard。Icarriedherupandlaidheronthedeck——andshediedthere。JustnowIcameafteryoutotellyou,and——\"
\"GoodGodAlmighty,man!whokilledher?Whereisshe?Oh——butofcourseitisn’ttrue!Howdidyouknow?Morankilled!Morankilled!\"
\"AndtheschoonerbrokeawayafterIstarted!\"
\"Morankilled!But——but——she’snotdeadyet;we’llhavetosee——\"
\"Shediedonthedeck;Ibroughtherupandlaidheron——\"
\"Howdoyouknowshe’sdead?Whereisshe?Comeon,we’llgorightbacktoher——tothestation!\"
\"She’sonboard——outthere!\"
\"Where——whereisshe?MyGod,man,tellmewheresheis!\"
\"Outthereaboardtheschooner。Ibroughtherupondeck——Ileftherontheschooner——onthedeck——shewasstabbedinthethroat——
andthencameafteryoutotellyou。ThentheschoonerbrokeawaywhileIwascoming;she’sdriftingouttoseanow!\"
\"Whereisshe?Whereisshe?\"
\"Who——thegirl——theschooner——whichone?Thegirlisontheschooner——andtheschooner——that’sher,rightthere——she’sdriftingouttosea!\"
Wilburputbothhandstohistemples,closinghiseyes。
\"I’llgoback!\"exclaimedHodgson。\"We’llhavethesurf-boatoutandgetafterher;we’llbringthebodyback!\"
\"No,no!\"criedWilbur,\"it’sbetter——thisway。Leaveher,lethergo——she’sgoingouttoseaagain!\"
\"Buttheschoonerwon’tlivetwohoursoutsideinthisweather;
she’llgodown!\"
\"It’sbetter——thatway——lethergo。Iwantitso!\"
\"Ican’tstay!\"criedtheotheragain。\"Ifthepatrolshouldsig-
stormcomingup,andI’vegottobeatmystation。\"
Wilburdidnotanswer;hewaswatchingtheschooner。
\"Ican’tstay!\"criedtheotheragain。\"Ifthepatrolshouldsignal——Ican’tstophere,Imustbeonduty。Comeback,youcan’tdoanything!\"
\"No!\"
\"Ihavegottogo!\"Hodgsonranback,swunghimselfonthehorse,androdeawayatafuriousgallop,inclininghisheadagainstthegusts。
Andtheschoonerinaworldofflyingspray,whitescud,anddrivingspoondrift,hercordagehumming,herforefootchurning,theflagatherpeakstrainingstiffinthegale,cameupintothenarrowpassageoftheGoldenGate,ridinghighupontheoutgoingtide。Onshecame,swingingfromcresttocrestofthewavesthatkepthercompanyandthatrantomeettheocean,shoutingandcallingoutbeyondthereunderthelow,scuddingclouds。
Wilburhadclimbedtothetopoftheoldfort。Erectuponitsgraniteledgehestood,andwatchedandwaited。
Notoncedidthe\"BerthaMillner\"falterinherrace。Likeanunbittedhorse,allrestraintshakenoff,sheranfreetowardtheoceanastoherpasture-land。Shecamenearer,nearer,risingandrollingwiththeseas,herbowspritheldduewest,pointinglikeafingerouttosea,tothewest——outtotheworldofromance。Andthenatlast,asthelittlevesseldrewoppositetheoldfortandpassednotonehundredyardsaway,Wilbur,watchingfromtherampart,sawMoranlyinguponthedeckwithoutstretchedarmsandcalm,upturnedface;lyinguponthedeckofthatlonelyfleeingschoonerasuponabedofhonor,stillandcalm,hergreatbraidssmoothuponherbreast,herarmswide;alonewiththesea;aloneindeathasshehadbeeninlife。Shepassedoutofhislifeasshehadcomeintoit——alone,uponaderelictship,abandonedtothesea。Shewentoutwiththetide,outwiththestorms;out,out,outtothegreatgrayPacificthatknewherandlovedher,andthatshoutedandcalledforher,andthunderedinthejoyofherasshecametomeethimlikeabridetomeetabridegroom。
\"Good-by,Moran!\"shoutedWilburasshepassed。\"Good-by,good-
by,Moran!Youwerenotforme——notforme!Theoceaniscallingforyou,dear;don’tyouhearhim?Don’tyouhearhim?Good-by,good-by,good-by!\"
Theschoonersweptby,shotlikeanarrowthroughtheswirlingcurrentsoftheGoldenGate,anddippedandbowedandcourtesiedtothePacificthatreachedtowardherhismyriadcurlingfingers。
Theyinfoldedher,heldherclose,anddrewherswiftly,swiftlyouttothegreatheavingbosom,tumultuousandbeatinginitsmightyjoy,itssavageexultationofpossession。
Wilburstoodwatching。Thelittleschoonerlessenedinthedistance——becameashadowinmistandflyingspray——ashadowmovinguponthefaceofthegreatwasteofwater。Fainterandfaintershegrew,vanished,reappeared,washeavedupagain——amerespeckuponthewesternsky——aspeckthatdwindledanddwindled,thenslowlymeltedawayintothegrayofthehorizon。