Part 44 (2/2)
I discovered her in the steerage, by Wolf Larsen's bunk I looked at him, the man who had been hurled down from the topmost pitch of life to be buried alive and be worse than dead There seemed a relaxation of his expressionless face which was new Maud looked at me and I understood
”His life flickered out in the storm,” I said
”But he still lives,” she answered, infinite faith in her voice
”He had too great strength”
”Yes,” she said, ”but now it no longer shackles him He is a free spirit”
”He is a free spirit surely,” I answered; and, taking her hand, I led her on deck
The storht, which is to say that it diminished as slowly as it had arisen After breakfast next , when I had hoisted Wolf Larsen's body on deck ready for burial, it was still blowing heavily and a large sea was running The deck was continually aith the sea which cah the scuppers The wind sust, and she heeled over till her lee rail was buried, the roar in her rigging rising in pitch to a shriek We stood in the water to our knees as I bared my head
”I remember only one part of the service,” I said, ”and that is, 'And the body shall be cast into the sea'”
Maud looked atI had seen before was strong upon ive service to Wolf Larsen as Wolf Larsen had once given service to another man I lifted the end of the hatch cover and the canvas-shrouded body slipped feet first into the sea The weight of iron dragged it down It was gone
”Good-bye, Lucifer, proud spirit,” Maud whispered, so low that it was drowned by the shouting of the wind; but I saw theto the lee rail and worked our way aft, I happened to glance to leeward The Ghost, at the ht a clear view of a s and pitching, head on to the sea, as it steamed toward us It was painted black, and fronized it as a United States revenue cutter I pointed it out to Maud and hurriedly led her aft to the safety of the poop
I started to rush below to the flag-locker, then reotten to -halyard
”We need no distress signal,” Maud said ”They have only to see us”
”We are saved,” I said, soberly and solemnly And then, in an exuberance of joy, ”I hardly knohether to be glad or not”
I looked at her Our eyes were not loath to meet We leaned toward each other, and before I knew it my arms were about her
”Need I?” I asked
And she answered, ”There is no need, though the telling of it would be sweet, so sweet”
Her lips ination I know not, the scene in the cabin of the Ghost flashed upon htly on my lips and said, ”Hush, hush”
”My wo her shoulder in the way all lovers know though never learn in school
”Myat me for an instant with tremulous lids which fluttered down and veiled her eyes as she snuggled her head against h
I looked toward the cutter It was very close A boat was being lowered
”One kiss, dear love,” I whispered ”One kiss more before they come”
”And rescue us from ourselves,” she completed, with a most adorable smile, whimsical as I had never seen it, for it himsical with love