Морський вовк

Chapter 37

           AsIstoodthere,hesitant,Iheardhercrysoftly:

           "Oh,Humphrey,Iamlost."

           Ifoundherfumblingatthewalloftheafterbulkhead,and,halfleadingher,halfcarryingher,Itookherupthecompanion-way.Thepureairwaslikenectar.Maudwasonlyfaintanddizzy,andIleftherlyingonthedeckwhenItookmysecondplungebelow.

           ThesourceofthesmokemustbeveryclosetoWolfLarsenmymindwasmadeuptothis,andIwentstraighttohisbunk.AsIfeltaboutamonghisblankets,somethinghotfellonthebackofmyhand.Itburnedme,andIjerkedmyhandaway.ThenIunderstood.Throughthecracksinthebottomoftheupperbunkhehadsetfiretothemattress.Hestillretainedsufficientuseofhisleftarmtodothis.Thedampstrawofthemattress,firedfrombeneathanddeniedair,hadbeensmoulderingallthewhile.

           AsIdraggedthemattressoutofthebunkitseemedtodisintegrateinmid-air,atthesametimeburstingintoflames.Ibeatouttheburningremnantsofstrawinthebunk,thenmadeadashforthedeckforfreshair.

           Severalbucketsofwatersufficedtoputouttheburningmattressinthemiddleofthesteeragefloor;andtenminuteslater,whenthesmokehadfairlycleared,IallowedMaudtocomebelow.WolfLarsenwasunconscious,butitwasamatterofminutesforthefreshairtorestorehim.Wewereworkingoverhim,however,whenhesignedforpaperandpencil.

           "Praydonotinterruptme,"hewrote."Iamsmiling."

           "Iamstillabitoftheferment,yousee,"hewrotealittlelater

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