? ? ? ? '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 the 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 that he was.
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