His head dropped forward on the table and was buried in his hands.From time to time it rocked back and forward as with pain.Once, when he half raised it, I saw the sweat standing in heavy drops on his forehead about the roots of his hair.
"I am a sick man, a very sick man," he repeated again, and yet once again.
"What is the matter?" I asked, resting my hand on his shoulder."What can I do for you?"But he shook my hand off with an irritated movement, and for a long time I stood by his side in silence.Maud was looking on, her face awed and frightened.What had happened to him we could not imagine.
"Hump," he said at last, "I must get into my bunk.Lend me a hand.I'll be all right in a little while.It's those damn headaches, I believe.Iwas afraid of them.I had a feeling -- no, don't know what I'm talking about.Help me into my bunk."But when I got him into his bunk he again buried his face in his hands, covering his eyes, and as I turned to go I could hear him murmuring, "Iam a sick man, a very sick man."
Maud looked at me inquiringly as I emerged.I shook my head, saying:
"Something has happened to him.What, I don't know.He is helpless, and frightened, I imagine, for the first time in his life.It must have occurred before he received the knife-thrust, which made only a superficial wound.You must have seen what happened."She shook her head."I saw nothing.It is just as mysterious to me.
He suddenly released me and staggered away.But what shall we do? What shall I do?""If you will wait, please, until I come back," I answered.went on deck.
Louis was at the wheel.
"You may go for'ard and turn in," I said, taking it from him.
He was quick to obey, and I found myself alone on the deck of the Ghost.
As quietly as was possible, I clewed up the topsails, lowered the flying jib and staysail, backed the jib over, and flattened the mainsail.Then I went below to Maud.I placed my finger on my lips for silence, and entered Wolf Larsen's room.He was in the same position in which I had left him, and his head was rocking -- almost writhing -- from side to side.
"Anything I can do for you?" I asked.
He made no reply at first, but on my repeating the question he answered, "No, no; I'm all right.Leave me alone till morning."But as I turned to go I noted that his head had resumed its rocking motion.Maud was waiting patiently for me, and I took notice, with a thrill of joy, of the queenly poise of her head and her glorious, calm eyes.Calm and sure they were as her spirit itself.
"Will you trust yourself to me for a journey of six hundred miles or so?" I asked.
"You mean -- ?" she asked, and I knew she had guessed aright.
"Yes, I mean just that," I replied."There is nothing left for us but the open boat.""For me, you mean," she said."You are certainly as safe here as you have been.""No, there is nothing left for us but the open boat," iterated stoutly.
"Will you please dress as warmly as you can, at once, and make into a bundle whatever you wish to bring with you.""And make all haste," I added, as she turned toward her state- room.
The lazarette was directly beneath the cabin, and, opening the trap-door in the floor and carrying a candle with me, I dropped down and began overhauling the ship's stores.I selected mainly from the canned goods, and by the time I was ready, willing hands were extended from above to receive what I passed up.
We worked in silence.I helped myself also to blankets, mittens, oilskins, caps, and such things, from the slop-chest.It was no light adventure, this trusting ourselves in a small boat to so raw and stormy a sea, and it was imperative that we should guard ourselves against the cold and wet.
