Part 19 (1/2)
”What are we going to have?” I asked hiale from the breath iv it, sir,” he answered, ”with a splatter iv rain just to wet our gills an' no hted thee sea and the boat leaped for a moave a spoke and temporized ”They'd never iv made the land, sir, I'm thinkin'”
”Think not?” I queried
”No, sir Did you feel that?” (A puff had caught the schooner, and he was forced to put the wheel up rapidly to keep her out of the wind) ”'Tis no egg-shell'll float on this sea an hour come, an' it's a stroke iv luck for them we're here to pick 'em up”
Wolf Larsen strode aft fro with the rescued iness in his tread was a little ht and snappy
”Three oilers and a fourth engineer,” was his greeting ”But we'll make sailors out of them, or boat-pullers at any rate Nohat of the lady?”
I know not why, but I are of a twinge or pang like the cut of a knife when he ht it a certain silly fastidiousness on ed my shoulders in answer
Wolf Larsen pursed his lips in a long, quizzical whistle
”What's her name, then?” he demanded
”I don't know,” I replied ”She is asleep She was very tired In fact, I a to hear the news from you What vessel was it?”
”Mail steamer,” he answered shortly ”The City of Tokio, from 'Frisco, bound for Yokohama Disabled in that typhoon Old tub Opened up top and bottom like a sieve They were adrift four days And you don't knoho or what she is, eh?-maid, wife, or ? Well, well”
He shook his head in a bantering way, and regarded an It was on the verge ofto take the castaways into Yokohama
”A with Leach and Johnson?”
He shook his head ”Really, Hump, I don't know You see, with these additions I've about all the creant”
”And they've about all the escaping they want,” I said ”Why not give theently with the”
”By ive you warning, Wolf Larsen, that I et love of o too far inthose poor wretches”
”Bravo!” he cried ”You do eance You're quite an individual You were unfortunate in having your life cast in easy places, but you're developing, and I like you the better for it”
His voice and expression changed His face was serious ”Do you believe in pros?”
”Of course,” I answered
”Then here's a compact,” he went on, consummate actor ”If I promise not to lay my hands upon Leach will you promise, in turn, not to attempt to kill me?”
”Oh, not that I'm afraid of you, not that I'm afraid of you,” he hastened to add
I could hardly believe o?” he asked io,” I answered