ent and a light none other than of battle.

"Stability, equilibrium," he said, relaxing on the instant and sinking
his body back into repose. "Feet with which to clutch the ground, legs
to stand on and to help withstand, while with arms and hands, teeth and
nails, I struggle to kill and to be not killed. Purpose? Utility is the
better word."

I did not argue. I had seen the mechanism of the primitive fighting
beast, and I was as strongly impressed as if I had seen the engines of a
great battleship or Atlantic liner.

I was surprised, considering the fierce struggle in the forecastle, at
the superficiality of his hurts, and I pride myself that I dressed them
dexterously. With the exception of several bad wounds, the rest were
merely severe bruises and lacerations. The blow which he had received
before going overboard had laid his scalp open several inches. This,
under his direction, I cleansed and sewed together, having first shaved
the edges of the wound. Then the calf of his leg was badly lacerated and
looked as though it had been mangled by a bulldog. Some sailor, he told
me, had laid hold of it by his teeth, at the beginning of the fight, and
hung on and been dragged to the top of the forecastle ladder, when he was
kicked loose.

"By the way, Hump, as I have remarked, you are a handy man," Wolf Larsen
began, when my work was done. "As you know, we're short a mate.
Hereafter you shall stand watches, receive seventy-five dollars per
month, and be addressed fore and aft as Mr. Van Weyden."

"I--I don't understand navigation, you know," I gasped.

"Not necessary at all."

"I really do not care to sit in the high places," I objected. "I find
life precarious enough in my present humble situation. I have no
experience. Mediocrity, you see, has its compensations."

He smiled as though it were all settled.

"I won't be mate on this hell-ship!" I cried defiantly.

I saw his face grow hard and the merciless glitter come into his eyes.
He walked to the door of his room, saying:

"And now, Mr. Van Weyden, good-night."

"Good-night, Mr. Larsen," I answered weakly.

CHAPTER XVI

I cannot say that the position of mate carried with it anything more
joyful than that there were no more dishes to wash. I was ignorant of
the simplest duties of mate, and would have fared badly indeed, had the
sailors not sympathized with me. I knew nothing of the minutiae of ropes
and rigging, of the trimming and se