Part 43 (1/2)
It was Wolf Larsen's last word, ”bosh,” sceptical and invincible to the end The arhtly Then there was no htly, falling apart of their oeight, and the pencil rolled away
”Do you still hear?” I shouted, holding the fingers and waiting for the single pressure which would signify ”Yes” There was no response The hand was dead
”I noticed the lips slightly move,” Maud said
I repeated the question The lips ain I repeated the question ”Yes,” Maud announced We looked at each other expectantly
”What good is it?” I asked ”What can we say now?”
”Oh, ask hi that requires no for an answer,” I suggested ”Then ill know for certainty”
”Are you hungry?” she cried
The lips ers, and she answered, ”Yes”
”Will you have some beef?” was her next query
”No,” she announced
”Beef-tea?”
”Yes, he will have so up at oes we shall be able to communicate with him And after that-”
She looked atup in her eyes She swayed toward ht her in my arms
”Oh, Humphrey,” she sobbed, ”ill it all end? I am so tired, so tired”
She buried her head onShe was like a feather in my arms, so slender, so ethereal ”She has broken down at last,” I thought ”What can I do without her help?”
But I soothed and coether and recuperated mentally as quickly as she ont to do physically
”I ought to be ashamed of myself,” she said Then added, with the whimsical smile I adored, ”but I am only one, small woman”
That phrase, the ”one small woman,” startled me like an electric shock It was my own phrase, my pet, secret phrase, et that phrase?” I demanded, with an abruptness that in turn startled her
”What phrase?” she asked
”One small woman”
”Is it yours?” she asked