re of a twinge or pang like the cut of a
knife when he mentioned her. I thought it a certain silly fastidiousness
on my part, but it persisted in spite of me, and I merely shrugged my
shoulders in answer.

Wolf Larsen pursed his lips in a long, quizzical whistle.

"What's her name, then?" he demanded.

"I don't know," I replied. "She is asleep. She was very tired. In
fact, I am waiting to hear the news from you. What vessel was it?"

"Mail steamer," he answered shortly. "_The City of Tokio_, from 'Frisco,
bound for Yokohama. Disabled in that typhoon. Old tub. Opened up top
and bottom like a sieve. They were adrift four days. And you don't know
who or what she is, eh?--maid, wife, or widow? Well, well."

He shook his head in a bantering way, and regarded me with laughing eyes.

"Are you--" I began. It was on the verge of my tongue to ask if he were
going to take the castaways into Yokohama.

"Am I what?" he asked.

"What do you intend doing with Leach and Johnson?"

He shook his head. "Really, Hump, I don't know. You see, with these
additions I've about all the crew I want."

"And they've about all the escaping they want," I said. "Why not give
them a change of treatment? Take them aboard, and deal gently with them.
Whatever they have done they have been hounded into doing."

"By me?"

"By you," I answered steadily. "And I give you warning, Wolf Larsen,
that I may forget love of my own life in the desire to kill you if you go
too far in maltreating those poor wretches."

"Bravo!" he cried. "You do me proud, Hump! You've found your legs with
a vengeance. You're quite an individual. You were unfortunate in having
your life cast in easy places, but you're developing, and I like you the
better for it."

His voice and expression changed. His face was serious. "Do you believe
in promises?" he asked. "Are they sacred things?"

"Of course," I answered.

"Then here's a compact," he went on, consummate actor. "If I promise not
to lay my hands upon Leach will you promise, in turn, not to attempt to
kill me?"

"Oh, not that I'm afraid of you, not that I'm afraid of you," he hastened
to add.

I could hardly believe my ears. What was coming over the man?

"Is it a go?" he asked impatiently.

"A go," I answered.

His hand went out to mine, and as I shook it heartily I could have sworn
I saw the mocking devil shine up for a moment in his eyes.

We strolled across the poop to the lee