The Sea-Wolf

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London, Jack

"The Sea-Wolf"

By the light of the lantern I saw the butt twist slowly around till its sides coincided with the sides of the step. Maud made fast and returned to the windlass. Slowly the butt descended the several intervening inches, at the same time slightly twisting again. Once more Maud rectified the twist with the watch-tackle, and once more she lowered away from the windlass. Square fitted into square. The mast was stepped.

? ? ? ? I raised a shout, and she ran down to see. In the yellow lantern-light we peered at what we had accomplished. We looked at each other, and our hands felt their way and clasped. The eyes of both of us, I think, were moist with the joy of success.

? ? ? ? 'It was done so easily, after all,' I remarked. 'All the work was in the preparation.'

? ? ? ? 'And all the wonder in the completion,' Maud added. 'I can scarcely bring myself to realize that that great mast is really up and in- that you have lifted it from the water, swung it through the air, and deposited it here where it belongs. It is a Titan's task.

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Experiments and Considerations Touching Colours (1664) (page 140) The Swiss Family Robinson; or Adventures in a Desert Island (page 396) The Universal Copyright Convention (1988) (page 23)

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London, Jack

"The Sea-Wolf"