? ? ? ? 'What's the matter?' I asked. 'Are you sick?'
? ? ? ? He shook his head, and with a deep sigh, as of awakening, caught his breath.
? ? ? ? 'You better get on your course, then,' I chided.
? ? ? ? He put a few spokes over, and I watched the compass-card swing slowly to NNW and steady itself with slight oscillations.
? ? ? ? I took a fresh hold on my bedclothes and was preparing to start on, when some movement caught my eye, and I looked astern to the rail. A sinewy hand, dripping with water, was clutching the rail. A second hand took form in the darkness beside it. I watched, fascinated. What visitant from the gloom of the deep was I to behold? Whatever it was, I knew that it was climbing aboard by the log-line. I saw a head, the hair wet and straight, shape itself, and then the unmistakable eyes and face of Wolf Larsen. His right cheek was red with blood, which flowed from some wound in the head.
? ? ? ? He drew himself inboard with a quick effort, and rose to his feet, glancing swiftly, as he did so, at the man at the wheel, as though to assure himself of his identity and that there was nothing to fear from him.
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