Part 35 (2/2)
”Miss Brewster and , as you can see for yourself, bow on to the beach”
”There are seals here,” he said ”They wokeyet I heard the that I was on a lee shore It's a rookery, the kind of a thing I've hunted for years Thanks to hted on a fortune It's a s?”
”Haven't the least idea,” I said ”But you ought to know quite closely What were your last observations?”
He smiled inscrutably, but did not answer
”Well, where's all hands?” I asked ”How does it coain to set aside my question, and was surprised at the readiness of his reply
”My brother got h no fault of ht with only the watch on deck Hunters went back onit Did it right before o-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 exa to where theshould have been
”They have been cut with a knife!” I exclaihed ”It was a neater job Look again”
I looked The lanyards had been alh left to hold the shrouds till some severe strain should be put upon theh 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 oing on?” I asked
”My best, you may be sure, which wasn't much under the circue's work
”I guess I'll sit down and take the sunshi+ne,” 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 hih he were brushi+ng 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 troubleon now”
He slipped down fro posture till he lay on the deck Then he rolled over on his side, his head resting on the biceps of the under ar his eyes froly
”Now's your chance, Hump,” he said
”I don't understand,” I lied, for I thoroughly understood