The other was lifting a megaphone to his lips. I did not turn my head, though I expected every moment a killing blow from the human brute behind me. At last, after what seemed centuries, unable longer to stand the strain, I looked around. He had not moved. He was standing in the same position, swaying easily to the roll of the ship and lighting a fresh cigar.
? ? ? ? 'What is the matter? Anything wrong?'
? ? ? ? This was the cry from the Lady Mine.
? ? ? ? 'Yes!' I shouted at the top of my lungs. 'Life or death! One thousand dollars if you take me ashore!'
? ? ? ? 'Too much 'Frisco tanglefoot for the health of my crew!' Wolf Larsen shouted after. 'This one'- indicating me with his thumb- 'fancies sea-serpents and monkeys just now.'
? ? ? ? The man on the Lady Mine laughed back through the megaphone. The pilot-boat plunged past.
? ? ? ? 'Give him- for me!' came a final cry, and the two men waved their arms in farewell.
? ? ? ? I leaned despairingly over the rail, watching the trim little schooner swiftly increasing the bleak sweep of ocean between us.
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