London, Jack-The Human Drift

7/31/2019 London, Jack-The Human Drift

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/london-jack-the-human-drift 1/67

Thisetextwaspreparedfromthe1919MillsandBooneditionbyDavidPrice,[email protected]

THEHUMANDRIFT

byJackLondon

Contents:

TheHumanDriftSmall-BoatSailing

FourHorsesandaSailorNothingthatEverCametoAnythingThatDeadMenRiseupNeverAClassicoftheSeaAWickedWoman(CurtainRaiser)TheBirthMark(Sketch)

THEHUMANDRIFT

"TheRevelationsofDevoutandLearn'dWhorosebeforeus,andasProphetsBurn'd,Areallbutstories,which,awokefromSleep,Theytoldtheircomrades,andtoSleepreturn'd."

Thehistoryofcivilisationisahistoryofwandering,swordinhand,insearchoffood.Inthemistyyoungerworldwecatchglimpsesofphantomraces,rising,slaying,findingfood,buildingrudecivilisations,decaying,fallingundertheswordsofstrongerhands,andpassingutterlyaway.Man,likeanyotheranimal,hasrovedovertheearthseekingwhathemightdevour;andnotromance

andadventure,butthehunger-need,hasurgedhimonhisvastadventures.WhetherabankruptgentlemansailingtocoloniseVirginiaoraleanCantonesecontractingtolabouronthesugarplantationsofHawaii,ineachcase,gentlemanandcoolie,itisadesperateattempttogetsomethingtoeat,togetmoretoeatthanhecangetathome.

Ithasalwaysbeenso,fromthetimeofthefirstpre-humananthropoidcrossingamountain-divideinquestofbetterberry-bushesbeyond,downtothelatestSlovak,arrivingonourshores



to-day,togotoworkinthecoal-minesofPennsylvania.Thesemigratorymovementsofpeopleshavebeencalleddrifts,andthewordisapposite.Unplanned,blind,automatic,spurredonbythepainofhunger,manhasliterallydriftedhiswayaroundtheplanet.Therehavebeendriftsinthepast,innumerableandforgotten,andsoremotethatnorecordshavebeenleft,orcomposedofsuchlow-typedhumansorpre-humansthattheymadenoscratchingsonstoneorboneandleftnomonumentstoshowthattheyhadbeen.

Theseearlydriftsweconjectureandknowmusthaveoccurred,justasweknowthatthefirstupright-walkingbrutesweredescendedfromsomekinofthequadrumanathroughhavingdeveloped"apairofgreattoesoutoftwoopposablethumbs."Dominatedbyfear,andbytheirveryfearacceleratingtheirdevelopment,theseearlyancestorsofours,sufferinghunger-pangsveryliketheonesweexperienceto-day,driftedon,huntingandbeinghunted,eatingandbeingeaten,wanderingthroughthousand-year-longodysseysofscreamingprimordialsavagery,untiltheylefttheirskeletonsinglacialgravels,someofthem,andtheirbone-scratchingsincave-men'slairs.

Therehavebeendriftsfromeasttowestandwesttoeast,fromnorthtosouthandbackagain,driftsthathavecriss-crossedone

another,anddriftscollidingandrecoilingandcaromingoffinnewdirections.FromCentralEuropetheAryanshavedriftedintoAsia,andfromCentralAsiatheTuranianshavedriftedacrossEurope.Asiahasthrownforthgreatwavesofhungryhumansfromtheprehistoric"round-barrow""broad-heads"whooverranEuropeandpenetratedtoScandinaviaandEngland,downthroughthehordesofAttilaandTamerlane,tothepresentimmigrationofChineseandJapanesethatthreatensAmerica.ThePhoeniciansandtheGreeks,withunremembereddriftsbehindthem,colonisedtheMediterranean.RomewasengulfedinthetorrentofGermanictribesdriftingdownfromthenorthbeforeafloodofdriftingAsiatics.TheAngles,Saxons,andJutes,afterhavingdriftedwhencenomanknows,pouredintoBritain,andtheEnglishhavecarriedthisdrifton

aroundtheworld.Retreatingbeforestrongerbreeds,hungryandvoracious,theEskimohasdriftedtotheinhospitablepolarregions,thePigmytothefever-rottenjunglesofAfrica.Andinthisdaythedriftoftheracescontinues,whetheritbeofChineseintothePhilippinesandtheMalayPeninsula,ofEuropeanstotheUnitedStatesorofAmericanstothewheat-landsofManitobaandtheNorthwest.

PerhapsmostamazinghasbeentheSouthSeaDrift.Blind,fortuitous,precariousasnootherdrifthasbeen,neverthelesstheislandsinthatwasteofoceanhavereceiveddriftafterdriftoftheraces.DownfromthemainlandofAsiapouredanAryandriftthatbuiltcivilisationsinCeylon,Java,andSumatra.Only

themonumentsoftheseAryansremain.Theythemselveshaveperishedutterly,thoughnotuntilafterleavingevidencesoftheirdriftclearacrossthegreatSouthPacifictofarEasterIsland.Andonthatdrifttheyencounteredraceswhohadaccomplishedthedriftbeforethem,andthey,theAryans,passed,inturn,beforethedriftofotherandsubsequentraceswhomweto-daycallthePolynesianandtheMelanesian.

Manearlydiscovereddeath.Assoonashisevolutionpermitted,hemadehimselfbetterdevicesforkillingthantheoldnatural



onesoffangandclaw.Hedevotedhimselftotheinventionofkillingdevicesbeforehediscoveredfireormanufacturedforhimselfreligion.Andtothisday,hisfinestcreativeenergyandtechnicalskillaredevotedtothesameoldtaskofmakingbetterandeverbetterkillingweapons.Allhisdays,downallthepast,havebeenspentinkilling.Andfromthefear-stricken,jungle-lurking,cave-hauntingcreatureoflongago,hewontoemperyoverthewholeanimalworldbecausehedevelopedintothemostterribleandawfulkillerofalltheanimals.Hefoundhimselfcrowded.Hekilledtomakeroom,andashemaderoomeverheincreasedandfoundhimselfcrowded,andeverhewentonkillingtomakemoreroom.Likeasettlerclearinglandofitsweedsandforestbushesinordertoplantcorn,somanwascompelledtoclearallmanneroflifeawayinordertoplanthimself.And,swordinhand,hehasliterallyhewnhiswaythroughthevastmassesoflifethatoccupiedtheearthspacehecovetedforhimself.Andeverhehascarriedthebattlewiderandwider,untilto-daynotonlyisheafarmorecapablekillerofmenandanimalsthaneverbefore,buthehaspressedthebattlehometotheinfiniteandinvisiblehostsofmenacinglivesintheworldofmicro-organisms.

Itistrue,thattheythatrosebytheswordperishedbythesword.Andyet,notonlydidtheynotallperish,butmorerosebytheswordthanperishedbyit,elsemanwouldnotto-daybe

over-runningtheworldinsuchhugeswarms.Also,itmustnotbeforgottenthattheywhodidnotrisebythesworddidnotriseatall.Theywerenot.Inviewofthis,thereissomethingwrongwithDoctorJordan'swar-theory,whichistotheeffectthatthebestbeingsentouttowar,onlythesecondbest,themenwhoareleft,remaintobreedasecond-bestrace,andthat,therefore,thehumanracedeterioratesunderwar.Ifthisbeso,ifwehavesentforththebestwebredandgoneonbreedingfromthemenwhowereleft,andsincewehavedonethisfortenthousandmillenniumsandarewhatwesplendidlyareto-day,thenwhatunthinkablysplendidandgod-likebeingsmusthavebeenourforebearsthosetenthousandmillenniumsago!UnfortunatelyforDoctorJordan'stheory,thoseancientforebearscannotliveuptothisfine

reputation.Weknowthemforwhattheywere,andbeforethemonkeycageofanymenageriewecatchtruerglimpsesandhintsandresemblancesofwhatourancestorsreallywerelongandlongago.Andbykilling,incessantkilling,bymakingashamblesoftheplanet,thoseape-likecreatureshavedevelopedevenintoyouandme.AsHenleyhassaidin"TheSongoftheSword":

"TheSwordSinging-

Drivingthedarkness,EvenasthebannersAndspearoftheMorning;

Siftingthenations,TheSlagfromthemetal,ThewasteandtheweakFromthefitandthestrong;Fightingthebrute,TheabysmalFecundity;CheckingthegrossMultitudinousblunders,Thegroping,thepurblindExcessesinservice



OftheWombuniversal,Theabsolutedrudge."

Astimepassedandmanincreased,hedriftedeverfartherafieldinsearchofroom.Heencounteredotherdriftsofmen,andthekillingofmenbecameprodigious.Theweakandthedecadentfellunderthesword.Nationsthatfaltered,thatwaxedprosperousinfatvalleysandrichriverdeltas,weresweptawaybythedriftsofstrongermenwhowerenourishedonthehardshipsofdesertsandmountainsandwhoweremorecapablewiththesword.Unknownandunnumberedbillionsofmenhavebeensodestroyedinprehistorictimes.DrapersaysthatinthetwentyyearsoftheGothicwar,Italylost15,000,000ofherpopulation;"andthatthewars,famines,andpestilencesofthereignofJustiniandiminishedthehumanspeciesbythealmostincrediblenumberof100,000,000."Germany,intheThirtyYears'War,lost6,000,000inhabitants.TherecordofourownAmericanCivilWarneedscarcelyberecalled.

Andmanhasbeendestroyedinotherwaysthanbythesword.Flood,famine,pestilenceandmurderarepotentfactorsinreducingpopulation--inmakingroom.AsMr.CharlesWoodruff,inhis"ExpansionofRaces,"hasinstanced:In1886,whenthedikes

oftheYellowRiverburst,7,000,000peopleweredrowned.ThefailureofcropsinIreland,in1848,caused1,000,000deaths.ThefaminesinIndiaof1896-7and1899-1900lessenedthepopulationby21,000,000.TheT'ai'pingrebellionandtheMohammedanrebellion,combinedwiththefamineof1877-78,destroyedscoresofmillionsofChinese.Europehasbeensweptrepeatedlybygreatplagues.InIndia,fortheperiodof1903to1907,theplaguedeathsaveragedbetweenoneandtwomillionsayear.Mr.Woodruffisresponsiblefortheassertionthat10,000,000personsnowlivingintheUnitedStatesaredoomedtodieoftuberculosis.Andinthissamecountrytenthousandpersonsayeararedirectlymurdered.InChina,betweenthreeandsixmillionsofinfantsareannuallydestroyed,whilethetotal

infanticiderecordofthewholeworldisappalling.InAfrica,now,humanbeingsaredyingbymillionsofthesleepingsickness.

Moredestructiveoflifethanwar,isindustry.Inallcivilisedcountriesgreatmassesofpeoplearecrowdedintoslumsandlabour-ghettos,wherediseasefesters,vicecorrodes,andfamineischronic,andwheretheydiemoreswiftlyandingreaternumbersthandothesoldiersinourmodernwars.TheveryinfantmortalityofaslumparishintheEastEndofLondonisthreetimesthatofamiddle-classparishintheWestEnd.IntheUnitedStates,inthelastfourteenyears,atotalofcoal-miners,greaterthanourentirestandingarmy,hasbeenkilledandinjured.TheUnitedStatesBureauofLabourstatesthatduring

theyear1908,therewerebetween30,000and35,000deathsofworkersbyaccidents,while200,000morewereinjured.Infact,thesafestplaceforaworking-manisinthearmy.Andevenifthatarmybeatthefront,fightinginCubaorSouthAfrica,thesoldierintherankshasabetterchanceforlifethantheworking-manathome.

Andyet,despitethisterriblerollofdeath,despitetheenormouskillingofthepastandtheenormouskillingofthepresent,thereareto-dayaliveontheplanetabillionandthreequartersof



humanbeings.Ourimmediateconclusionisthatmanisexceedinglyfecundandverytough.Neverbeforehavetherebeensomanypeopleintheworld.Inthepastcenturiestheworld'spopulationhasbeensmaller;inthefuturecenturiesitisdestinedtobelarger.Andthisbringsustothatoldbugbearthathasbeensofrequentlylaughedawayandthatstillpersistsinraisingitsgrislyhead--namely,thedoctrineofMalthus.Whileman'sincreasingefficiencyoffood-production,combinedwithcolonisationofwholevirgincontinents,hasforgenerationsgiventheapparentlietoMalthus'mathematicalstatementoftheLawofPopulation,neverthelesstheessentialsignificanceofhisdoctrineremainsandcannotbechallenged.PopulationDOESpressagainstsubsistence.Andnomatterhowrapidlysubsistenceincreases,populationiscertaintocatchupwithit.

Whenmanwasinthehuntingstageofdevelopment,wideareaswerenecessaryforthemaintenanceofscantpopulations.Withtheshepherdstages,themeansofsubsistencebeingincreased,alargerpopulationwassupportedonthesameterritory.Theagriculturalstagegavesupporttoastilllargerpopulation;and,to-day,withtheincreasedfood-gettingefficiencyofamachinecivilisation,anevenlargerpopulationismadepossible.Noristhistheoretical.Thepopulationishere,abillionandthreequartersofmen,women,andchildren,andthisvastpopulationis

increasingonitselfbyleapsandbounds.

AheavyEuropeandrifttotheNewWorldhasgoneonandisgoingon;yetEurope,whosepopulationacenturyagowas170,000,000,hasto-day500,000,000.Atthisrateofincrease,providedthatsubsistenceisnotovertaken,acenturyfromnowthepopulationofEuropewillbe1,500,000,000.AndbeitnotedofthepresentrateofincreaseintheUnitedStatesthatonlyone-thirdisduetoimmigration,whiletwo-thirdsisduetoexcessofbirthsoverdeaths.Andatthispresentrateofincrease,thepopulationoftheUnitedStateswillbe500,000,000inlessthanacenturyfromnow.

Man,thehungryone,thekiller,hasalwayssufferedforlackofroom.Theworldhasbeenchronicallyovercrowded.Belgiumwithher572personstothesquaremileisnomorecrowdedthanwasDenmarkwhenitsupportedonly500palaeolithicpeople.AccordingtoMr.Woodruff,cultivatedlandwillproduce1600timesasmuchfoodashuntingland.FromthetimeoftheNormanConquest,forcenturiesEuropecouldsupportnomorethan25tothesquaremile.To-dayEuropesupports81tothesquaremile.TheexplanationofthisisthatfortheseveralcenturiesaftertheNormanConquestherpopulationwassaturated.Then,withthedevelopmentoftradingandcapitalism,ofexplorationandexploitationofnewlands,andwiththeinventionoflabour-savingmachineryandthediscoveryandapplicationofscientificprinciples,wasbrought

aboutatremendousincreaseinEurope'sfood-gettingefficiency.Andimmediatelyherpopulationsprangup.

AccordingtothecensusofIreland,of1659,thatcountryhadapopulationof500,000.Onehundredandfiftyyearslater,herpopulationwas8,000,000.FormanycenturiesthepopulationofJapanwasstationary.Thereseemednowayofincreasingherfood-gettingefficiency.Then,sixtyyearsago,cameCommodorePerry,knockingdownherdoorsandlettingintheknowledgeandmachineryofthesuperiorfood-gettingefficiencyoftheWesternworld.



Immediatelyuponthisriseinsubsistencebegantheriseofpopulation;anditisonlytheotherdaythatJapan,findingherpopulationonceagainpressingagainstsubsistence,embarked,swordinhand,onawestwarddriftinsearchofmoreroom.And,swordinhand,killingandbeingkilled,shehascarvedoutforherselfFormosaandKorea,anddriventhevanguardofherdriftfarintotherichinteriorofManchuria.

ForanimmenseperiodoftimeChina'spopulationhasremainedat400,000,000--thesaturationpoint.TheonlyreasonthattheYellowRiverperiodicallydrownsmillionsofChineseisthatthereisnootherlandforthosemillionstofarm.Andaftereverysuchcatastrophethewaveofhumanliferollsupandnowmillionsfloodoutuponthatprecariousterritory.Theyaredriventoit,becausetheyarepressedremorselesslyagainstsubsistence.ItisinevitablethatChina,soonerorlater,likeJapan,willlearnandputintoapplicationourownsuperiorfood-gettingefficiency.Andwhenthattimecomes,itislikewiseinevitablethatherpopulationwillincreasebyunguessedmillionsuntilitagainreachesthesaturationpoint.Andthen,inoculatedwithWesternideas,mayshenot,likeJapan,takeswordinhandandstartforthcolossallyonadriftofherownformoreroom?Thisisanotherreputedbogie--theYellowPeril;yetthemenofChinaareonlymen,likeanyotherraceofmen,andallmen,downallhistory,

havedriftedhungrily,here,thereandeverywhereovertheplanet,seekingforsomethingtoeat.Whatothermendo,maynottheChinesedo?

Butachangehaslongbeencomingintheaffairsofman.Themorerecentdriftsofthestrongerraces,carvingtheirwaythroughthelesserbreedstomoreearth-space,hasledtopeace,evertowiderandmorelastingpeace.Thelesserbreeds,underpenaltyofbeingkilled,havebeencompelledtolaydowntheirweaponsandceasekillingamongthemselves.Thescalp-talkingIndianandthehead-huntingMelanesianhavebeeneitherdestroyedorconvertedtoabeliefinthesuperiorefficacyofcivilsuitsandcriminalprosecutions.Theplanetisbeingsubdued.Thewildandthe

hurtfulareeithertamedoreliminated.Fromthebeastsofpreyandthecannibalhumansdowntothedeath-dealingmicrobes,noquarterisgiven;anddaily,widerandwiderareasofhostileterritory,whetherofawarringdesert-tribeinAfricaorapestilentialfever-holelikePanama,aremadepeaceableandhabitableformankind.Asforthegreatmassofstay-at-homefolk,whatpercentageofthepresentgenerationintheUnitedStates,England,orGermany,hasseenwarorknowsanythingofwaratfirsthand?Therewasneversomuchpeaceintheworldasthereisto-day.

Waritself,theoldredanarch,ispassing.Itissafertobeasoldierthanaworking-man.Thechanceforlifeisgreaterinan

activecampaignthaninafactoryoracoal-mine.Inthematterofkilling,warisgrowingimpotent,andthisinfaceofthefactthatthemachineryofwarwasneversoexpensiveinthepastnorsodreadful.War-equipmentto-day,intimeofpeace,ismoreexpensivethanofoldintimeofwar.Astandingarmycostsmoretomaintainthanitusedtocosttoconqueranempire.Itismoreexpensivetobereadytokill,thanitusedtobetodothekilling.ThepriceofaDreadnoughtwouldfurnishthewholearmyofXerxeswithkillingweapons.And,inspiteofitsmagnificentequipment,warnolongerkillsasitusedtowhenitsmethodswere



simpler.Abombardmentbyamodernfleethasbeenknowntoresultinthekillingofonemule.Thecasualtiesofatwentiethcenturywarbetweentwoworld-powersaresuchastomakeaworkerinaniron-foundryturngreenwithenvy.Warhasbecomeajoke.Menhavemadeforthemselvesmonstersofbattlewhichtheycannotfaceinbattle.Subsistenceisgenerousthesedays,lifeisnotcheap,anditisnotinthenatureoffleshandbloodtoindulgeinthecarnagemadepossiblebypresent-daymachinery.Thisisnottheoretical,aswillbeshownbyacomparisonofdeathsinbattleandmeninvolved,intheSouthAfricanWarandtheSpanish-AmericanWarontheonehand,andtheCivilWarortheNapoleonicWarsontheother.

Notonlyhaswar,byitsownevolution,rendereditselffutile,butmanhimself,withgreaterwisdomandhigherethics,isopposedtowar.Hehaslearnedtoomuch.Warisrepugnanttohiscommonsense.Heconceivesittobewrong,tobeabsurd,andtobeveryexpensive.Forthedamagewroughtandtheresultsaccomplished,itisnotworththeprice.Justasinthedisputesofindividualsthearbitrationofacivilcourtinsteadofabloodfeudismorepractical,so,mandecides,isarbitrationmorepracticalinthedisputesofnations.

Warispassing,diseaseisbeingconquered,andman'sfood-getting

efficiencyisincreasing.Itisbecauseofthesefactorsthatthereareabillionandthreequartersofpeoplealiveto-dayinsteadofabillion,orthree-quartersofabillion.Anditisbecauseofthesefactorsthattheworld'spopulationwillverysoonbetwobillionsandclimbingrapidlytowardthreebillions.Thelifetimeofthegenerationisincreasingsteadily.Menlivelongerthesedays.Lifeisnotsoprecarious.Thenewborninfanthasagreaterchanceforsurvivalthanatanytimeinthepast.Surgeryandsanitationreducethefatalitiesthataccompanythemischancesoflifeandtheravagesofdisease.Menandwomen,withdeficienciesandweaknessesthatinthepastwouldhaveeffectedtheirrapidextinction,liveto-dayandfatherandmotheranumerousprogeny.Andhighasthefood-gettingefficiencymay

soar,populationisboundtosoarafterit."Theabysmalfecundity"oflifehasnotaltered.Giventhefood,andlifewillincrease.Asmallpercentageofthebillionandthree-quartersthatliveto-daymayhushtheclamouroflifetobeborn,butitisonlyasmallpercentage.Inthisparticular,thelifeintheman-animalisverylikethelifeintheotheranimals.

Andstillanotherchangeiscominginhumanaffairs.Thoughpoliticiansgnashtheirteethandcryanathema,andman,whosesuperficialbook-learningisvitiatedbycrystallisedprejudice,assuresusthatcivilisationwillgotosmash,thetrendofsociety,to-day,theworldover,istowardsocialism.Theoldindividualismispassing.Thestateinterferesmoreandmorein

affairsthathithertohavebeenconsideredsacredlyprivate.Andsocialism,whenthelastwordissaid,ismerelyaneweconomicandpoliticalsystemwherebymoremencangetfoodtoeat.Inshort,socialismisanimprovedfood-gettingefficiency.

Furthermore,notonlywillsocialismgetfoodmoreeasilyandingreaterquantity,butitwillachieveamoreequitabledistributionofthatfood.Socialismpromises,foratime,togiveallmen,women,andchildrenalltheywanttoeat,andtoenablethemtoeatalltheywantasoftenastheywant.



Subsistencewillbepushedback,temporarily,anexceedinglylongway.Inconsequence,thefloodoflifewillriselikeatidalwave.Therewillbemoremarriagesandmorechildrenborn.Theenforcedsterilitythatobtainsto-dayformanymillions,willnolongerobtain.Norwillthefecundmillionsintheslumsandlabour-ghettos,whoto-daydieofalltheillsduetochronicunderfeedingandovercrowding,andwhodiewiththeirfecunditylargelyunrealised,dieinthatfuturedaywhentheincreasedfood-gettingefficiencyofsocialismwillgivethemalltheywanttoeat.

Itisundeniablethatpopulationwillincreaseprodigiously-justasithasincreasedprodigiouslyduringthelastfewcenturies,followingupontheincreaseinfood-gettingefficiency.Themagnitudeofpopulationinthatfuturedayiswellnighunthinkable.Butthereisonlysomuchlandandwateronthesurfaceoftheearth.Man,despitehismarvellousaccomplishments,willneverbeabletoincreasethediameteroftheplanet.Theolddaysofvirgincontinentswillbegone.Thehabitableplanet,fromice-captoice-cap,willbeinhabited.Andinthematteroffood-getting,asineverythingelse,manisonlyfinite.Undreamed-ofefficienciesinfood-gettingmaybeachieved,but,soonorlate,manwillfindhimselffacetofacewithMalthus'grimlaw.Notonlywillpopulationcatchupwith

subsistence,butitwillpressagainstsubsistence,andthepressurewillbepitilessandsavage.Somewhereinthefutureisadatewhenmanwillface,consciously,thebitterfactthatthereisnotfoodenoughforallofhimtoeat.

Whenthisdaycomes,whatthen?Willtherebearecrudescenceofoldobsoletewar?Inasaturatedpopulationlifeisalwayscheap,asitischeapinChina,inIndia,to-day.Willnewhumandriftstakeplace,questingforroom,carvingearth-spaceoutofcrowdedlife.WilltheSwordagainsing:

"Follow,Ofollow,then,

Heroes,myharvesters!WherethetallgrainisripeThrustinyoursickles!StrippedandadustInastubbleofempireScythingandbindingThefullsheavesofsovereignty."

Evenif,asofold,manshouldwanderhungrily,swordinhand,slayingandbeingslain,thereliefwouldbeonlytemporary.Evenifoneracealoneshouldhewdownthelastsurvivorofalltheotherraces,thatonerace,driftingtheworldaround,would

saturatetheplanetwithitsownlifeandagainpressagainstsubsistence.Andinthatday,thedeathrateandthebirthratewillhavetobalance.Menwillhavetodie,orbepreventedfrombeingborn.Undoubtedlyahigherqualityoflifewillobtain,andalsoaslowlydecreasingfecundity.Butthisdecreasewillbesoslowthatthepressureagainstsubsistencewillremain.Thecontrolofprogenywillbeoneofthemostimportantproblemsofmanandoneofthemostimportantfunctionsofthestate.Menwillsimplybenotpermittedtobeborn.



Disease,fromtimetotime,willeasethepressure.Diseasesareparasites,anditmustnotbeforgottenthatjustastherearedriftsintheworldofman,soaretheredriftsintheworldofmicro-organisms--hunger-questsforfood.Littleisknownofthemicro-organicworld,butthatlittleisappalling;andnocensusofitwilleverbetaken,forthereisthetrue,literal"abysmalfecundity."Multitudinousasmanis,allhistotalityofindividualsisasnothingincomparisonwiththeinconceivablevastnessofnumbersofthemicro-organisms.Inyourbody,orinmine,rightnow,areswarmingmoreindividualentitiesthantherearehumanbeingsintheworldto-day.Itistousaninvisibleworld.Weonlyguessitsnearestconfines.Withourpowerfulmicroscopesandultramicroscopes,enlargingdiameterstwentythousandtimes,wecatchbuttheslightestglimpsesofthatprofundityofinfinitesimallife.

Littleisknownofthatworld,saveinageneralway.Weknowthatoutofitarisediseases,newtous,thatafflictanddestroyman.Wedonotknowwhetherthesediseasesaremerelythedrifts,inafreshdirection,ofalready-existingbreedsofmicro-organisms,orwhethertheyarenew,absolutelynew,breedsthemselvesjustspontaneouslygenerated.Thelatterhypothesisistenable,forwetheorisethatifspontaneousgenerationstilloccursontheearth,itisfarmorelikelytooccurintheformof

simpleorganismsthanofcomplicatedorganisms.

Anotherthingweknow,andthatisthatitisincrowdedpopulationsthatnewdiseasesarise.Theyhavedonesointhepast.Theydosoto-day.Andnomatterhowwiseareourphysiciansandbacteriologists,nomatterhowsuccessfullytheycopewiththeseinvaders,newinvaderscontinuetoarise--newdriftsofhungrylifeseekingtodevourus.Andsowearejustifiedinbelievingthatinthesaturatedpopulationsofthefuture,whenlifeissuffocatinginthepressureagainstsubsistence,thatnew,andevernew,hostsofdestroyingmicro-organismswillcontinuetoariseandflingthemselvesuponearth-crowdedmantogivehimroom.Theremayevenbeplaguesof

unprecedentedferocitythatwilldepopulategreatareasbeforethewitofmancanovercomethem.Andthisweknow:thatnomatterhowoftentheseinvisiblehostsmaybeovercomebyman'sbecomingimmunetothemthroughacruelandterribleselection,newhostswilleverariseofthesemicro-organismsthatwereintheworldbeforehecameandthatwillbehereafterheisgone.

Afterheisgone?Willhethensomedaybegone,andthisplanetknowhimnomore?Isitthitherthatthehumandriftinallitstotalityistrending?GodHimselfissilentonthispoint,thoughsomeofHisprophetshavegivenusvividrepresentationsofthatlastdaywhentheearthshallpassintonothingness.Nordoesscience,despiteitsradiumspeculationsanditsattempted

analysesoftheultimatenatureofmatter,giveusanyotherwordthanthatmanwillpass.Sofarasman'sknowledgegoes,lawisuniversal.Elementsreactundercertainunchangeableconditions.Oneoftheseconditionsistemperature.Whetheritbeinthetesttubeofthelaboratoryortheworkshopofnature,allorganicchemicalreactionstakeplaceonlywithinarestrictedrangeofheat.Man,thelatestoftheephemera,ispitifullyacreatureoftemperature,struttinghisbriefdayonthethermometer.Behindhimisapastwhereinitwastoowarmforhimtoexist.Aheadofhimisafuturewhereinitwillbetoocoldforhimtoexist.He



cannotadjusthimselftothatfuture,becausehecannotalteruniversallaw,becausehecannotalterhisownconstructionnorthemoleculesthatcomposehim.

ItwouldbewelltopondertheselinesofHerbertSpencer'swhichfollow,andwhichembody,possibly,thewildestvisionthescientificmindhaseverachieved:

"MotionaswellasMatterbeingfixedinquantity,itwouldseemthatthechangeinthedistributionofMatterwhichMotioneffects,comingtoalimitinwhicheverdirectionitiscarried,theindestructibleMotionthereuponnecessitatesareversedistribution.Apparently,theuniversally-co-existentforcesofattractionandrepulsion,which,aswehaveseen,necessitaterhythminallminorchangesthroughouttheUniverse,alsonecessitaterhythminthetotalityofitschanges--producenowanimmeasurableperiodduringwhichtheattractiveforcespredominating,causeuniversalconcentration,andthenanimmeasurableperiodduringwhichtherepulsiveforcespredominating,causeuniversaldiffusion--alternateerasofEvolutionandDissolution.ANDTHUSTHEREISSUGGESTEDTHECONCEPTIONOFAPASTDURINGWHICHTHEREHAVEBEENSUCCESSIVEEVOLUTIONSANALOGOUSTOTHATWHICHISNOWGOINGON;AFUTURE

DURINGWHICHSUCCESSIVEOTHEREVOLUTIONSMAYGOON--EVERTHESAMEINPRINCIPLEBUTNEVERTHESAMEINCONCRETERESULT."

Thatisit--themostweknow--alternateerasofevolutionanddissolution.Inthepasttherehavebeenotherevolutionssimilartothatoneinwhichwelive,andinthefuturetheremaybeothersimilarevolutions--thatisall.Theprincipleofalltheseevolutionsremains,buttheconcreteresultsarenevertwicealike.Manwasnot;hewas;andagainhewillnotbe.Ineternitywhichisbeyondourcomprehension,theparticularevolutionofthatsolarsatellitewecallthe"Earth"occupiedbutaslightfractionoftime.Andofthatfractionoftimeman

occupiesbutasmallportion.Allthewholehumandrift,fromthefirstape-mantothelastsavant,isbutaphantom,aflashoflightandaflutterofmovementacrosstheinfinitefaceofthestarrynight.

Whenthethermometerdrops,manceases--withallhislustsandwrestlingsandachievements;withallhisrace-adventuresandrace-tragedies;andwithallhisredkillings,billionsuponbillionsofhumanlivesmultipliedbyasmanybillionsmore.ThisisthelastwordofScience,unlesstherebesomefurther,unguessedwordwhichSciencewillsomedayfindandutter.Inthemeantimeitseesnofartherthanthestarryvoid,wherethe"fleetingsystemslapselikefoam."Ofwhatledger-accountisthe

tinylifeofmaninavastnesswherestarssnuffoutlikecandlesandgreatsunsblazeforatime-tickofeternityandaregone?

Andforuswholive,noworsecanhappenthanhashappenedtotheearliestdriftsofman,markedto-daybyruinedcitiesofforgottencivilisation--ruinedcities,which,onexcavation,arefoundtorestonruinsofearliercities,cityuponcity,andfourteencities,downtoastratumwhere,stillearlier,wanderingherdsmendrovetheirflocks,andwhere,evenprecedingthem,wildhunterschasedtheirpreylongafterthecave-manandthemanof



thesquatting-placecrackedtheknuckle-bonesofwildanimalsandvanishedfromtheearth.Thereisnothingterribleaboutit.WithRichardHovey,whenhefacedhisdeath,wecansay:"Behold!Ihavelived!"Andwithanotherandgreaterone,wecanlayourselvesdownwithawill.Theonedropofliving,theonetasteofbeing,hasbeengood;andperhapsourgreatestachievementwillbethatwedreamedimmortality,eventhoughwefailedtorealiseit.

SMALL-BOATSAILING

Asailorisborn,notmade.Andby"sailor"ismeant,nottheaverageefficientandhopelesscreaturewhoisfoundto-dayintheforecastleofdeepwaterships,butthemanwhowilltakeafabriccompoundedofwoodandironandropeandcanvasandcompelittoobeyhiswillonthesurfaceofthesea.Barringcaptainsandmatesofbigships,thesmall-boatsailoristherealsailor.Heknows--hemustknow--howtomakethewindcarryhiscraftfromonegivenpointtoanothergivenpoint.Hemustknowabouttidesandripsandeddies,barandchannelmarkings,anddayandnight

signals;hemustbewiseinweather-lore;andhemustbesympatheticallyfamiliarwiththepeculiarqualitiesofhisboatwhichdifferentiateitfromeveryotherboatthatwaseverbuiltandrigged.Hemustknowhowtogentleherabout,asoneinstanceofamyriad,andtofillherontheothertackwithoutdeadeningherwayorallowinghertofallofftoofar.

Thedeepwatersailorofto-dayneedsknownoneofthesethings.Andhedoesn't.Hepullsandhaulsasheisordered,swabsdecks,washespaint,andchipsiron-rust.Heknowsnothing,andcaresless.Puthiminasmallboatandheishelpless.Hewillcutanevenbetterfigureonthehurricanedeckofahorse.

Ishallneverforgetmychild-astonishmentwhenIfirstencounteredoneofthesestrangebeings.HewasarunawayEnglishsailor.Iwasaladoftwelve,withadecked-over,fourteen-foot,centre-boardskiffwhichIhadtaughtmyselftosail.Isatathisfeetasatthefeetofagod,whilehediscoursedofstrangelandsandpeoples,deedsofviolence,andhair-raisinggalesatsea.Then,oneday,Itookhimforasail.Withallthetrepidationoftheveriestlittleamateur,Ihoistedsailandgotunderway.Herewasaman,lookingoncritically,Iwassure,whoknewmoreinonesecondaboutboatsandthewaterthanIcouldeverknow.Afteraninterval,inwhichIexceededmyself,hetookthetillerandthesheet.Isatonthelittlethwartamidships,open-mouthed,preparedtolearnwhatrealsailingwas.Mymouth

remainedopen,forIlearnedwhatarealsailorwasinasmallboat.Hecouldn'ttrimthesheettosavehimself,henearlycapsizedseveraltimesinsqualls,and,onceagain,byblunderinglyjibingover;hedidn'tknowwhatacentre-boardwasfor,nordidheknowthatinrunningaboatbeforethewindonemustsitinthemiddleinsteadofontheside;andfinally,whenwecamebacktothewharf,herantheskiffinfulltilt,shatteringhernoseandcarryingawaythemast-step.Andyethewasareallytrulysailorfreshfromthevastydeep.



Whichpointsmymoral.Amancansailintheforecastlesofbigshipsallhislifeandneverknowwhatrealsailingis.FromthetimeIwastwelve,Ilistenedtothelureofthesea.WhenIwasfifteenIwascaptainandownerofanoyster-piratesloop.BythetimeIwassixteenIwassailinginscow-schooners,fishingsalmonwiththeGreeksuptheSacramentoRiver,andservingassailorontheFishPatrol.AndIwasagoodsailor,too,thoughallmycruisinghadbeenonSanFranciscoBayandtheriverstributarytoit.Ihadneverbeenontheoceaninmylife.

Then,themonthIwasseventeen,Isignedbeforethemastasanableseamanonathree-top-mastschoonerboundonaseven-months'cruiseacrossthePacificandbackagain.Asmyshipmatespromptlyinformedme,Ihadhadmynervewithmetosignonasableseaman.Yetbehold,IWASanableseaman.Ihadgraduatedfromtherightschool.Ittooknomorethanminutestolearnthenamesandusesofthefewnewropes.Itwassimple.Ididnotdothingsblindly.Asasmall-boatsailorIhadlearnedtoreasonoutandknowtheWHYofeverything.Itistrue,Ihadtolearnhowtosteerbycompass,whichtookmaybehalfaminute;butwhenitcametosteering"full-and-by"and"close-and-by,"Icouldbeattheaverageofmyshipmates,becausethatwastheverywayIhadalwayssailed.InsidefifteenminutesIcouldboxthecompassaroundandbackagain.Andtherewaslittleelsetolearnduring

thatseven-months'cruise,exceptfancyrope-sailorising,suchasthemorecomplicatedlanyardknotsandthemakingofvariouskindsofsennitandrope-mats.Thepointofallofwhichisthatitisbymeansofsmall-boatsailingthattherealsailorisbestschooled.

Andifamanisabornsailor,andhasgonetotheschoolofthesea,neverinallhislifecanhegetawayfromtheseaagain.Thesaltofitisinhisbonesaswellashisnostrils,andtheseawillcalltohimuntilhedies.Oflateyears,Ihavefoundeasierwaysofearningaliving.Ihavequittheforecastleforkeeps,butalwaysIcomebacktothesea.InmycaseitisusuallySanFranciscoBay,thanwhichnolustier,tougher,sheet

ofwatercanbefoundforsmall-boatsailing.

ItreallyblowsonSanFranciscoBay.Duringthewinter,whichisthebestcruisingseason,wehavesoutheasters,southwesters,andoccasionalhowlingnorthers.Throughoutthesummerwehavewhatwecallthe"sea-breeze,"anunfailingwindoffthePacificthatonmostafternoonsintheweekblowswhattheAtlanticCoastyachtsmenwouldnameagale.Theyarealwayssurprisedbythesmallspreadofcanvasouryachtscarry.Someofthem,withschoonerstheyhavesailedaroundtheHorn,havelookedproudlyattheirownloftysticksandhugespreads,thenpatronisinglyandevenpityinglyatours.Then,perchance,theyhavejoinedinaclubcruisefromSanFranciscotoMareIsland.Theyfoundthe

morningrunuptheBaydelightful.Intheafternoon,whenthebravewestwindrampedacrossSanPabloBayandtheyfaceditonthelongbeathome,thingsweresomewhatdifferent.Onebyone,likeaflightofswallows,ourmoremeagrelysparredandcanvassedyachtswentby,leavingthemwallowinganddeadandshorteningdowninwhattheycalledagalebutwhichwecalledadandysailingbreeze.Thenexttimetheycameout,wewouldnoticetheirstickscutdown,theirboomsshortened,andtheirafter-leechesnearertheluffsbywholecloths.



Asforexcitement,thereisallthedifferenceintheworldbetweenashipintroubleatsea,andasmallboatintroubleonland-lockedwater.Yetforgenuineexcitementandthrill,givemethesmallboat.Thingshappensoquickly,andtherearealwayssofewtodothework--andhardwork,too,asthesmall-boatsailorknows.Ihavetoiledallnight,bothwatchesondeck,inatyphoonoffthecoastofJapan,andbeenlessexhaustedthanbytwohours'workatreefingdownathirty-footsloopandheavinguptwoanchorsonaleeshoreinascreamingsouth-easter.

Hardworkandexcitement?Letthewindbaffleanddropinaheavytide-wayjustasyouaresailingyourlittlesloopthroughanarrowdraw-bridge.Beholdyoursails,uponwhichyouaredepending,flapwithsuddenemptiness,andthenseetheimpishwind,withahaulofeightpoints,fillyourjibabackwithagustypuff.Aroundshegoes,andsweeps,notthroughtheopendraw,butbroadsideonagainstthesolidpiles.Heartheroarofthetide,suckingthroughthetrestle.Andhearandseeyourpretty,fresh-paintedboatcrashagainstthepiles.Feelherstoutlittlehullgivetotheimpact.Seetherailactuallypinchin.Hearyourcanvastearing,andseetheblack,square-endedtimbersthrustingholesthroughit.Smash!Theregoesyourtopmaststay,andthetopmastreelsoverdrunkenlyaboveyou.Thereisarippingandcrunching.Ifitcontinues,yourstarboard

shroudswillbetornout.Grabarope--anyrope--andtakeaturnaroundapile.Butthefreeendoftheropeistooshort.Youcan'tmakeitfast,andyouholdonandwildlyyellforyouronecompaniontogetaturnwithanotherandlongerrope.Holdon!Youholdontillyouarepurpleintheface,tillitseemsyourarmsaredraggingoutoftheirsockets,tillthebloodburstsfromtheendsofyourfingers.Butyouhold,andyourpartnergetsthelongerropeandmakesitfast.Youstraightenupandlookatyourhands.Theyareruined.Youcanscarcelyrelaxthecrooksofthefingers.Thepainissickening.Butthereisnotime.Theskiff,whichisalwaysperverse,ispoundingagainstthebarnaclesonthepileswhichthreatentoscrapeitsgunwaleoff.It'sdropthepeak!Downjib!Thenyourunlines,andpullandhauland

heave,andexchangeunpleasantremarkswiththebridge-tenderwhoisalwayswillingtomeetyoumorethanhalfwayinsuchrepartee.Andfinally,attheendofanhour,withachingback,sweat-soakedshirt,andslaughteredhands,youarethroughandswingingalongontheplacid,beneficenttidebetweennarrowbankswherethecattlestandknee-deepandgazewonderinglyatyou.Excitement!Work!Canyoubeatitinacalmdayonthedeepsea?

I'vetrieditbothways.Irememberlabouringinafourteendays'galeoffthecoastofNewZealand.Wewereatrampcollier,rustyandbattered,withsixthousandtonsofcoalinourhold.Lifelineswerestretchedforeandaft;andonourweatherside,attachedtosmokestackguysandrigging,werehugerope-nettings,

hungthereforthepurposeofbreakingtheforceoftheseasandsosavingourmess-roomdoors.Butthedoorsweresmashedandthemess-roomswashedoutjustthesame.Andyet,outofitall,arosebuttheonefeeling,namely,ofmonotony.

Incontrastwiththeforegoing,abouttheliveliesteightdaysofmylifewerespentinasmallboatonthewestcoastofKorea.NevermindwhyIwasthusvoyaginguptheYellowSeaduringthemonthofFebruaryinbelow-zeroweather.ThepointisthatIwasinanopenboat,asampan,onarockycoastwheretherewereno



light-housesandwherethetidesranfromthirtytosixtyfeet.MycrewwereJapanesefishermen.Wedidnotspeakeachother'slanguage.Yettherewasnothingmonotonousaboutthattrip.NevershallIforgetoneparticularcoldbitterdawn,when,inthethickofdrivingsnow,wetookinsailanddroppedoursmallanchor.Thewindwashowlingoutofthenorthwest,andwewereonaleeshore.Aheadandastern,allescapewascutoffbyrockyheadlands,againstwhosebasesbursttheunbrokenseas.Towindwardashortdistance,seenonlybetweenthesnow-squalls,wasalowrockyreef.ItwasthisthatinadequatelyprotectedusfromthewholeYellowSeathatthunderedinuponus.

TheJapanesecrawledunderacommunalricematandwenttosleep.Ijoinedthem,andforseveralhourswedozedfitfully.Thenaseadelugedusoutwithicywater,andwefoundseveralinchesofsnowontopthemat.Thereeftowindwardwasdisappearingundertherisingtide,andmomentbymomenttheseasbrokemorestronglyovertherocks.Thefishermenstudiedtheshoreanxiously.SodidI,andwithasailor'seye,thoughIcouldseelittlechanceforaswimmertogainthatsurf-hammeredlineofrocks.Imadesignstowardtheheadlandsoneitherflank.TheJapaneseshooktheirheads.Iindicatedthatdreadfulleeshore.Stilltheyshooktheirheadsanddidnothing.Myconclusionwasthattheywereparalysedbythehopelessnessofthesituation.Yetour

extremityincreasedwitheveryminute,fortherisingtidewasrobbingusofthereefthatservedasbuffer.Itsoonbecameacaseofswampingatouranchor.Seasweresplashingonboardingrowingvolume,andwebaledconstantly.Andstillmyfishermencreweyedthesurf-batteredshoreanddidnothing.

Atlast,aftermanynarrowescapesfromcompleteswamping,thefishermengotintoaction.Allhandstailedontotheanchorandhoveitup.For'ard,astheboat'sheadpaidoff,wesetapatchofsailaboutthesizeofaflour-sack.Andweheadedstraightforshore.Iunlacedmyshoes,unbottonedmygreat-coatandcoat,andwasreadytomakeaquickpartialstripaminuteorsobeforewestruck.Butwedidn'tstrike,and,aswerushedin,Isawthe

beautyofthesituation.Beforeusopenedanarrowchannel,frilledatitsmouthwithbreakingseas.Yet,longbefore,whenIhadscannedtheshoreclosely,therehadbeennosuchchannel.IHADFORGOTTENTHETHIRTY-FOOTTIDE.AnditwasforthistidethattheJapanesehadsoprecariouslywaited.Weranthefrillofbreakers,curvedintoatinyshelteredbaywherethewaterwasscarcelyflawedbythegale,andlandedonabeachwherethesaltseaofthelasttidelayfrozeninlongcurvinglines.Andthiswasonegaleofthreeinthecourseofthoseeightdaysinthesampan.Wouldithavebeenbeatenonaship?Ifearmetheshipwouldhavegoneagroundontheoutlyingreefandthatitspeoplewouldhavebeenincontinentlyandmonotonouslydrowned.

Thereareenoughsurprisesandmishapsinathree-days'cruiseinasmallboattosupplyagreatshipontheoceanforafullyear.Iremember,once,takingoutonhertrialtripalittlethirty-footerIhadjustbought.Insixdayswehadtwostiffblows,and,inaddition,onepropersouthwesterandoneripsnortingsoutheaster.Theslightintervalsbetweentheseblowsweredeadcalms.Also,inthesixdays,wewereagroundthreetimes.Then,too,wetieduptothebankintheSacramentoRiver,and,groundingbyanaccidentonthesteepslopeonafallingtide,nearlyturnedasidesomersaultdownthebank.Inastarkcalm



andheavytideintheCarquinezStraits,whereanchorsskateonthechannel-scouredbottom,weweresuckedagainstabigdockandsmashedandbumpeddownaquarterofamileofitslengthbeforewecouldgetclear.Twohoursafterward,onSanPabloBay,thewindwaspipingupandwewerereefingdown.Itisnofuntopickupaskiffadriftinaheavyseaandgale.Thatwasournexttask,forourskiff,swamping,partedbothtowingpainterswehadbenton.Beforewerecovereditwehadnearlykilledourselveswithexhaustion,andwecertainlyhadstrainedthesloopineverypartfromkeelsontotruck.Andtocapitall,comingintoourhomeport,beatingupthenarrowestpartoftheSanAntonioEstuary,wehadashaveofinchesfromcollisionwithabigshipintowofatug.Ihavesailedtheoceaninfarlargercraftayearatatime,inwhichperiodoccurrednosuchchapterofmovingincident.

Afterall,themishapsarealmostthebestpartofsmall-boatsailing.Lookingback,theyprovetobepunctuationsofjoy.Atthetimetheytryyourmettleandyourvocabulary,andmaymakeyousopessimisticastobelievethatGodhasagrudgeagainstyou--butafterward,ah,afterward,withwhatpleasureyourememberthemandwithwhatgustodoyourelatethemtoyourbrotherskippersinthefellowhoodofsmall-boatsailing!

Anarrow,windingslough;ahalftide,exposingmudsurfacedwithgangrenousslime;thewateritselffilthyanddiscolouredbythewastefromthevatsofanear-bytannery;themarshgrassoneithersidemottledwithalltheshadesofadecayingorchid;acrazy,ramshackled,ancientwharf;andattheendofthewharfasmall,white-paintedsloop.Nothingromanticaboutit.Nohintofadventure.Asplendidpictorialargumentagainsttheallegedjoysofsmall-boatsailing.PossiblythatiswhatCloudesleyandIthought,thatsombre,leadenmorningasweturnedouttocookbreakfastandwashdecks.Thelatterwasmystunt,butonelookatthedirtywateroversideandanotheratmyfresh-painteddeck,deterredme.Afterbreakfast,westartedagameofchess.Thetidecontinuedtofall,andwefeltthesloopbegintolist.We

playedonuntilthechessmenbegantofallover.Thelistincreased,andwewentondeck.Bow-lineandstern-lineweredrawntaut.Aswelookedtheboatlistedstillfartherwithanabruptjerk.Thelineswerenowverytaut.

"Assoonasherbellytouchesthebottomshewillstop,"Isaid.

Cloudesleysoundedwithaboat-hookalongtheoutside.

"Sevenfeetofwater,"heannounced."Thebankisalmostupanddown.Thefirstthingthattoucheswillbehermastwhensheturnsbottomup."

Anominous,minutesnappingnoisecamefromthestern-line.Evenaswelooked,wesawastrandfrayandpart.Thenwejumped.Scarcelyhadwebentanotherlinebetweenthesternandthewharf,whentheoriginallineparted.Aswebentanotherlinefor'ard,theoriginalonetherecrackledandparted.Afterthat,itwasaninfernoofworkandexcitement.

Weranmoreandmorelines,andmoreandmorelinescontinuedtopart,andmoreandmoretheprettyboatwentoveronherside.Webentalloursparelines;weunrovesheetsandhalyards;weused



ourtwo-inchhawser;wefastenedlinespartwayupthemast,halfwayup,andeverywhereelse.WetoiledandsweatedandenouncedourmutualandsincereconvictionthatGod'sgrudgestillheldagainstus.Countryyokelscamedownonthewharfandsniggeredatus.WhenCloudesleyletacoilofropeslipdowntheinclineddeckintothevileslimeandfisheditoutwithseasickcountenance,theyokelssniggeredlouderanditwasallIcoulddotopreventhimfromclimbinguponthewharfandcommittingmurder.

Bythetimethesloop'sdeckwasperpendicular,wehadunbenttheboom-liftfrombelow,madeitfasttothewharf,and,withtheotherendfastnearlytothemast-head,heavedittautwithblockandtackle.Theliftwasofsteelwire.Wewereconfidentthatitcouldstandthestrain,butwedoubtedtheholding-powerofthestaysthatheldthemast.

Thetidehadtwomorehourstoebb(anditwasthebigrun-out),whichmeantthatfivehoursmustelapseerethereturningtidewouldgiveusachancetolearnwhetherornotthesloopwouldrisetoitandrightherself.

Thebankwasalmostupanddown,andatthebottom,directlybeneathus,thefast-ebbingtideleftapitofthevilest,illest-

smelling,illest-appearingmucktobeseeninmanyaday'sride.SaidCloudesleytomegazingdownintoit:

"Iloveyouasabrother.I'dfightforyou.I'dfaceroaringlions,andsuddendeathbyfieldandflood.Butjustthesame,don'tyoufallintothat."Heshudderednauseously."Forifyoudo,Ihaven'tthegrittopullyouout.Isimplycouldn't.You'dbeawful.ThebestIcoulddowouldbetotakeaboat-hookandshoveyoudownoutofsight."

Wesatontheupperside-wallofthecabin,dangledourlegsdownthetopofthecabin,leanedourbacksagainstthedeck,andplayedchessuntiltherisingtideandtheblockandtackleonthe

boom-liftenabledustogetheronarespectablekeelagain.Yearsafterward,downintheSouthSeas,ontheislandofYsabel,Iwascaughtinasimilarpredicament.Inordertocleanhercopper,IhadcareenedtheSnarkbroadsideontothebeachandoutward.Whenthetiderose,sherefusedtorise.Thewatercreptinthroughthescuppers,mountedovertherail,andtheleveloftheoceanslowlycrawleduptheslantofthedeck.Webatteneddowntheengine-roomhatch,andthesearosetoitandoveritandclimbedperilouslyneartothecabincompanion-wayandskylight.Wewereallsickwithfever,butweturnedoutintheblazingtropicsunandtoiledmadlyforseveralhours.Wecarriedourheaviestlinesashorefromourmast-headsandheavedwithourheaviestpurchaseuntileverythingcrackledincludingourselves.

Wewouldspelloffandliedownlikedeadmen,thengetupandheaveandcrackleagain.Andintheend,ourlowerrailfivefeetunderwaterandthewaveletslappingthecompanion-waycombing,thesturdylittlecraftshiveredandshookherselfandpointedhermastsoncemoretothezenith.

Thereisneverlackofexerciseinsmall-boatsailing,andthehardworkisnotonlypartofthefunofit,butitbeatsthedoctors.SanFranciscoBayisnomillpond.Itisalargeanddraughtyandvariegatedpieceofwater.Iremember,onewinter



evening,tryingtoenterthemouthoftheSacramento.Therewasafreshetontheriver,thefloodtidefromthebayhadbeenbeatenbackintoastrongebb,andthelustywestwinddieddownwiththesun.Itwasjustsunset,andwithafairtomiddlingbreeze,deadaft,westoodstillintherapidcurrent.Weweresquarelyinthemouthoftheriver;buttherewasnoanchorageandwedriftedbackward,fasterandfaster,anddroppedanchoroutsideasthelastbreathofwindleftus.Thenightcameon,beautifulandwarmandstarry.Myonecompanioncookedsupper,whileondeckIputeverythinginshapeBristolfashion.Whenweturnedinatnineo'clocktheweather-promisewasexcellent.(IfIhadcarriedabarometerI'dhaveknownbetter.)Bytwointhemorningourshroudswerethrumminginapipingbreeze,andIgotupandgavehermorescopeonherhawser.Insideanotherhourtherewasnodoubtthatwewereinforasoutheaster.

Itisnotnicetoleaveawarmbedandgetoutofabadanchorageinablackblowynight,butwearosetotheoccasion,putintworeefs,andstartedtoheaveup.Thewinchwasold,andthestrainofthejumpingheadseawastoomuchforit.Withthewinchoutofcommission,itwasimpossibletoheaveupbyhand.Weknew,becausewetrieditandslaughteredourhands.Nowasailorhatestoloseananchor.Itisamatterofpride.Ofcourse,wecouldhavebuoyedoursandslippedit.Instead,however,Igaveher

stillmorehawser,veeredher,anddroppedthesecondanchor.

Therewaslittlesleepafterthat,forfirstoneandthentheotherofuswouldberolledoutofourbunks.Theincreasingsizeoftheseastoldusweweredragging,andwhenwestruckthescouredchannelwecouldtellbythefeelofitthatourtwoanchorswerefairlyskatingacross.Itwasadeepchannel,thefartheredgeofitrisingsteeplylikethewallofacanyon,andwhenouranchorsstartedupthatwalltheyhitinandheld.

Yet,whenwefetchedup,throughthedarknesswecouldheartheseasbreakingonthesolidshoreastern,andsonearwasitthatweshortenedtheskiff'spainter.

Daylightshowedusthatbetweenthesternoftheskiffanddestructionwasnomorethanascoreoffeet.Andhowitdidblow!Thereweretimes,inthegusts,whenthewindmusthaveapproachedavelocityofseventyoreightymilesanhour.Buttheanchorsheld,andsonoblythatourfinalanxietywasthatthefor'ardbittswouldbejerkedcleanoutoftheboat.Alldaythesloopalternatelyduckedhernoseunderandsatdownonherstern;anditwasnottilllateafternoonthatthestormbrokeinonelastandworstmadgust.Forafullfiveminutesanabsolutedeadcalmprevailed,andthen,withthesuddennessofathunderclap,thewindsnortedoutofthesouthwest--ashiftofeightpointsandaboisterousgale.Anothernightofitwastoomuchforus,and

wehoveupbyhandinacrosshead-sea.Itwasnotstiffwork.Itwasheart-breaking.AndIknowwewerebothneartocryingfromthehurtandtheexhaustion.Andwhenwedidgetthefirstanchorup-and-downwecouldn'tbreakitout.Betweenseaswesnubbedhernosedowntoit,tookplentyofturns,andstoodclearasshejumped.Almosteverythingsmashedandpartedexcepttheanchor-hold.Thechockswerejerkedout,therailtornoff,andtheverycovering-boardsplintered,andstilltheanchorheld.Atlast,hoistingthereefedmain-sailandslackingoffafewofthehard-wonfeetofthechain,wesailedtheanchorout.Itwasnip



andtuck,though,andthereweretimeswhentheboatwasknockeddownflat.Werepeatedthemanoeuvrewiththeremaininganchor,andinthegatheringdarknessfledintotheshelteroftheriver'smouth.

IwasbornsolongagothatIgrewupbeforetheeraofgasolene.Asaresult,Iamold-fashioned.Ipreferasail-boattoamotor-boat,anditismybeliefthatboat-sailingisafiner,moredifficult,andsturdierartthanrunningamotor.Gasoleneenginesarebecomingfool-proof,andwhileitisunfairtosaythatanyfoolcanrunanengine,itisfairtosaythatalmostanyonecan.Notso,whenitcomestosailingaboat.Moreskill,moreintelligence,andavastdealmoretrainingarenecessary.Itisthefinesttrainingintheworldforboyandyouthandman.Iftheboyisverysmall,equiphimwithasmall,comfortableskiff.Hewilldotherest.Hewon'tneedtobetaught.Shortlyhewillbesettingatinyleg-of-muttonandsteeringwithanoar.Thenhewillbegintotalkkeelsandcentreboardsandwanttotakehisblanketsoutandstopaboardallnight.

Butdon'tbeafraidforhim.Heisboundtorunrisksandencounteraccidents.Remember,thereareaccidentsinthenurseryaswellasoutonthewater.Moreboyshavediedfromhot-houseculturethanhavediedonboatslargeandsmall;andmoreboys

havebeenmadeintostrongandreliantmenbyboat-sailingthanbylawn-croquetanddancing-school.

Andonceasailor,alwaysasailor.Thesavourofthesaltneverstales.Thesailornevergrowssooldthathedoesnotcaretogobackforonemorewrestlingboutwithwindandwave.Iknowitofmyself.Ihaveturnedrancher,andlivebeyondsightofthesea.YetIcanstayawayfromitonlysolong.Afterseveralmonthshavepassed,Ibegintogrowrestless.Ifindmyselfday-dreamingoverincidentsofthelastcruise,orwonderingifthestripedbassarerunningonWingoSlough,oreagerlyreadingthenewspapersforreportsofthefirstnorthernflightsofducks.Andthen,suddenly,thereisahurriedpackofsuit-casesand

overhaulingofgear,andweareoffforVallejowherethelittleRoamerlies,waiting,alwayswaiting,fortheskifftocomealongside,forthelightingofthefireinthegalley-stove,forthepullingoffofgaskets,theswingingupofthemainsail,andtherat-tat-tatofthereef-points,fortheheavingshortandthebreakingout,andforthetwirlingofthewheelasshefillsawayandheadsupBayordown.

JACKLONDONOnBoardRoamer,SonomaCreek,April15,1911

FOURHORSESANDASAILOR

"Huh!Drivefourhorses!Iwouldn'tsitbehindyou--notforathousanddollars--overthemmountainroads."

SosaidHenry,andheoughttohaveknown,forhedrivesfour



horseshimself.

SaidanotherGlenEllenfriend:"What?London?Hedrivefourhorses?Can'tdriveone!"

Andthebestofitisthathewasright.Evenaftermanagingtogetafewhundredmileswithmyfourhorses,Idon'tknowhowtodriveone.Justtheotherday,swingingdownasteepmountainroadandroundinganabruptturn,Icamefulltiltonahorseandbuggybeingdrivenbyawomanupthehill.Wecouldnotpassonthenarrowroad,wherewasonlyafoottospare,andmyhorsesdidnotknowhowtoback,especiallyup-hill.Abouttwohundredyardsdownthehillwasaspotwherewecouldpass.Thedriverofthebuggysaidshedidn'tdarebackdownbecauseshewasnotsureofthebrake.AndasIdidn'tknowhowtotackleonehorse,Ididn'ttryit.Soweunhitchedherhorseandbackeddownbyhand.Whichwasverywell,tillitcametohitchingthehorsetothebuggyagain.Shedidn'tknowhow.Ididn'teither,andIhaddependedonherknowledge.Ittookusabouthalfanhour,withfrequentdebatesandconsultations,thoughitisanabsolutecertaintythatneverinitslifewasthathorsehitchedinthatparticularway.

No;Ican'tharnessuponehorse.ButIcanfour,whichcompelsmetobackupagaintogettomybeginning.Havingselected

SonomaValleyforourabidingplace,CharmianandIdecideditwasabouttimeweknewwhatwehadinourowncountyandtheneighbouringones.Howtodoit,wasthefirstquestion.Amongourmanyweaknessesistheoneofbeingold-fashioned.Wedon'tmixwithgasoleneverywell.And,astruesailorsshould,wenaturallygravitatetowardhorses.Beingoneofthoseluckyindividualswhocarrieshisofficeunderhishat,Ishouldhavetotakeatypewriterandaloadofbooksalong.Thisputsaddle-horsesoutoftherunning.Charmiansuggesteddrivingaspan.Shehadfaithinme;besides,shecoulddriveaspanherself.ButwhenIthoughtofthemanymountainstocross,andofcrossingthemforthreemonthswithapoortiredspan,Ivetoedthepropositionandsaidwe'dhavetocomebacktogasoleneafterall.

Thisshevetoedjustasemphatically,andadeadlockobtaineduntilIreceivedinspiration.

"Whynotdrivefourhorses?"Isaid.

"Butyoudon'tknowhowtodrivefourhorses,"washerobjection.

Ithrewmychestoutandmyshouldersback."Whatmanhasdone,Icando,"Iproclaimedgrandly."Andpleasedon'tforgetthatwhenwesailedontheSnarkIknewnothingofnavigation,andthatItaughtmyselfasIsailed."

"Verywell,"shesaid.(Andthere'sfaithforyou!)"Theyshall

befoursaddlehorses,andwe'llstrapoursaddlesonbehindtherig."

Itwasmyturntoobject."Oursaddlehorsesarenotbrokentoharness."

"Thenbreakthem."

AndwhatIknewabouthorses,muchlessaboutbreakingthem,wasjustaboutasmuchasanysailorknows.Havingbeenkicked,



buckedoff,fallenoverbackwardupon,andthrownoutandrunover,onverynumerousoccasions,Ihadamightyvigorousrespectforhorses;butawife'sfaithmustbelivedupto,andIwentatit.

KingwasapoloponyfromSt.Louis,andPrinceamany-gaitedlove-horsefromPasadena.Thehardestthingwastogetthemtodiginandpull.Theyrollickedalongonthelevelsandgallopeddownthehills,butwhentheystruckanup-gradeandfelttheweightofthebreaking-cart,theystoppedandturnedaroundandlookedatme.ButIpassedthem,andmytroublesbegan.Mildawasfourteenyearsold,anunadulteratedbroncho,andintemperamentwasacombinationofmuleandjack-rabbitblendedequally.Ifyoupressedyourhandonherflankandtoldhertogetover,shelaydownonyou.Ifyougotherbytheheadandtoldhertoback,shewalkedforwardoveryou.Andifyougotbehindherandshovedandtoldherto"Giddap!"shesatdownonyou.Also,shewouldn'twalk.ForendlesswearymilesIstrovewithher,butnevercouldIgethertowalkastep.Finally,shewasamanger-glutton.Nomatterhownearorfarfromthestable,whensixo'clockcamearoundsheboltedforhomeandnevermissedthedirectestcross-road.ManytimesIrejectedher.

ThefourthandmostrejectedhorseofallwastheOutlaw.From

theageofthreetosevenshehaddefiedallhorse-breakersandbrokenanumberofthem.Thenalong,lankycowboy,withafifty-poundsaddleandaMexicanbithadgotherproudgoat.Iwasthenextowner.Shewasmyfavouriteridinghorse.CharmiansaidI'dhavetoputherinasawheelerwhereIwouldhavemorecontroloverher.NowCharmianhadafavouriteridingmarecalledMaid.IsuggestedMaidasasubstitute.Charmianpointedoutthatmymarewasabrandedrangehorse,whileherswasanear-thoroughbred,andthatthelegsofhermarewouldberuinedforeverifsheweredrivenforthreemonths.Iacknowledgedhermare'sthoroughbredness,andatthesametimedefiedhertofindanythoroughbredwithassmallanddelicately-viciouslypointedearsasmyOutlaw.SheindicatedMaid'sexquisitelythin

shinbone.ImeasuredtheOutlaw's.Itwasequallythin,although,Iinsinuated,possiblymoredurable.ThisstabbedCharmian'spride.Ofcoursehernear-thoroughbredMaid,carryingthebloodof"old"Lexington,Morella,andastreakofthesuper-enduringMorgan,couldrun,walk,andworkmyunregisteredOutlawintotheground;andthatwastheveryprecisereasonwhysuchaparagonofasaddleanimalshouldnotbedegradedbyharness.

SoitwasthatCharmianremainedobdurate,until,oneday,IgotherbehindtheOutlawforaforty-miledrive.ForeveryinchofthosefortymilestheOutlawkickedandjumped,inbetweenthekicksandjumpsfindingtimeandspaceinwhichtoseizeitsteam-matebythebackoftheneckandattempttodragittotheground.

AnothertricktheOutlawdevelopedduringthatdrivewassuddenlytoturnatrightanglesinthetracesandendeavourtobuttitsteam-mateoverthegrade.ReluctantlyandnoblydidCharmiangiveinandconsenttotheuseofMaid.TheOutlaw'sshoeswerepulledoff,andshewasturnedoutonrange.

Finally,thefourhorseswerehookedtotherig--alightStudebakertrap.Withtwohoursandahalfofpractice,inwhichtheexcitementwasnotabatedbyseveraljack-polesandnumerouskickingmatches,Iannouncedmyselfasreadyforthestart.Came



themorning,andPrince,whowastohavebeenawheelerwithMaid,showedupwithabadlykickedshoulder.Hedidnotexactlyshowup;wehadtofindhim,forhewasunabletowalk.Hislegswelledandcontinuallyswelledduringtheseveraldayswewaitedforhim.RemainedonlytheOutlaw.Infrompastureshecame,shoeswerenailedon,andshewasharnessedintothewheel.Friendsandrelativesstrovetopressaccidentpoliciesonme,butCharmianclimbedupalongside,andNakatagotintotherearseatwiththetypewriter--Nakata,whosailedcabin-boyontheSnarkfortwoyearsandwhohadshownhimselfafraidofnothing,notevenofmeandmyamateurjamboreesinexperimentingwithnewmodesoflocomotion.Andwedidverynicely,thankyou,especiallyafterthefirsthourorso,duringwhichtimetheOutlawhadkickedaboutfiftyvarioustimes,chieflytothedamageofherownlegsandthepaintwork,andaftershehadbittenacoupleofhundredtimes,tothedamageofMaid'sneckandCharmian'stemper.Itwashardenoughtohaveherfavouritemareintheharnesswithoutalsoenduringthespectacleofitsbeingeatenalive.

Ourleaderswerejoys.KingbeingapoloponyandMildaarabbit,theyroundedcurvesbeautifullyanddartedaheadlikecoyotesoutofthewayofthewheelers.Milda'sbesettingweaknesswasafranticdesirenottohavethelead-barstrikeherhocks.Whenthishappened,oneofthreethingsoccurred:eithershesatdown

onthelead-bar,kickeditupintheairuntilshegotherbackunderit,orexplodedinastraight-ahead,harness-disruptingjump.Notuntilshecarriedthelead-barcleanawayanddancedabreak-downonitandthetraces,didshebehavedecently.NakataandImadetherepairswithgoodold-fashionedbale-rope,whichisstrongerthanwrought-ironanytime,andwewentonourway.

InthemeantimeIwaslearning--Ishallnotsaytotoolafour-in-hand--butjustsimplytodrivefourhorses.Nowitisallrightenoughtobeginwithfourwork-horsespullingaloadofseveraltons.Buttobeginwithfourlighthorses,allrunning,andalightrigthatseemstooutrunthem--well,whenthingshappentheyhappenquickly.Myweaknesswastotalignorance.Inparticular,

myfingerslackedtraining,andImadethemistakeofdependingonmyeyestohandlethereins.Thisbroughtmeupagainstadisastrousopticalillusion.Thebightoftheoffhead-line,beinglongerandheavierthanthatoftheoffwheel-line,hunglower.Inamomentrequiringquickaction,Iinvariablymistookthetwolines.PullingonwhatIthoughtwasthewheel-line,inordertostraightentheteam,Iwouldseetheleadersswingabruptlyaroundintoajack-pole.Nowforsensationsofsheerimpotence,nothingcancomparewithajack-pole,whenthehorrifieddriverbeholdshisleadersprancinggailyuptheroadandhiswheelersjoggingsteadilydowntheroad,allatthesametimeandallharnessedtogetherandtothesamerig.

Inolongerjack-pole,andIdon'tmindadmittinghowIgotoutofthehabit.Itwasmyeyesthatenslavedmyfingersintoillpractices.SoIshutmyeyesandletthefingersgoitalone.To-daymyfingersareindependentofmyeyesandworkautomatically.Idonotseewhatmyfingersdo.Theyjustdoit.AllIseeisthesatisfactoryresult.

Stillwemanagedtogetoverthegroundthatfirstday--downsunnySonomaValleytotheoldtownofSonoma,foundedbyGeneralVallejoastheremotestoutpostonthenorthernfrontierforthe



purposeofholdingbacktheGentiles,asthewildIndiansofthosedayswerecalled.Herehistorywasmade.HerethelastSpanishmissionwasreared;heretheBearflagwasraised;andhereKitCarson,andFremont,andallourearlyadventurerscameandrestedinthedaysbeforethedaysofgold.

Weswungonoverthelow,rollinghills,throughmilesofdairyfarmsandchickenrancheswhereeveryblessedheniswhite,anddowntheslopestoPetalumaValley.Here,in1776,CaptainQuiroscameupPetalumaCreekfromSanPabloBayinquestofanoutlettoBodegaBayonthecoast.Andhere,later,theRussians,withAlaskanhunters,carriedskinboatsacrossfromFortRosstopoachforsea-ottersontheSpanishpreserveofSanFranciscoBay.Here,too,stilllater,GeneralVallejobuiltafort,whichstillstands--oneofthefinestexamplesofSpanishadobethatremaintous.Andhere,attheoldfort,tobringthechronicleuptodate,ourhorsesproceededtomakepeculiarlypersonalhistorywithastonishingsuccessanddispatch.King,ourpeerless,polo-ponyleader,wentlame.Sohopelesslylamedidhegothatnoexpert,thenandafterward,coulddeterminewhetherthelamenesswasinhisfrogs,hoofs,legs,shoulders,orhead.Maidpickedupanailandbegantolimp.Milda,figuringthedayalreadysufficientlyspentandmaniacalwithmanger-gluttony,begantorabbit-jump.Allthatheldherwasthebale-rope.AndtheOutlaw,gametothe

last,exceededallpreviousexhibitionsofskin-removing,paint-marring,andhorse-eating.

AtPetalumawerestedoverwhileKingwasreturnedtotheranchandPrincesenttous.NowPrincehadprovedhimselfanexcellentwheeler,yethehadtogointotheleadandlettheOutlawretainhisoldplace.Thereisanaxiomthatagoodwheelerisapoorleader.Iobjecttothelastadjective.Agoodwheelermakesaninfinitelyworsekindofaleaderthanthat.Iknow...now.Ioughttoknow.SincethatdayIhavedrivenPrinceafewhundredmilesinthelead.Heisneitheranybetternoranyworsethanthefirstmileheraninthelead;andhisworstisevenextremelyworsethanwhatyouarethinking.Notthatheisvicious.Heis

merelyagood-naturedroguewhoshakeshandsforsugar,stepsonyourtoesoutofsheerexcessivefriendliness,andjustgoesonlovingyouinyourharshestmoments.

Buthewon'tgetoutoftheway.Also,wheneverheisreprovedforbeinginthewrong,heaccusesMildaofitandbitesthebackofherneck.SobadhasthisbecomethatwheneverIyell"Prince!"inaloudvoice,Mildaimmediatelyrabbit-jumpstotheside,straightahead,orsitsdownonthelead-bar.Allofwhichisquitedisconcerting.Pictureityourself.Youareswingingroundasharp,down-grade,mountaincurve,atafasttrot.Therockwallistheoutsideofthecurve.Theinsideofthecurveisaprecipice.Thecontinuanceofthecurveisanarrow,unrailed

bridge.Youhitthecurve,throwingtheleadersinagainstthewallandmakingthepolo-horsedothework.Allislovely.Theleadersarehuggingthewalllikenestlingdoves.Butthemomentcomesintheevolutionwhentheleadersmustshootoutahead.Theyreallymustshoot,orelsethey'llhitthewallandmissthebridge.Also,behindthemarethewheelers,andtherig,andyouhavejusteasedthebrakeinordertoputsufficientsnapintothemanoeuvre.Ifeverteam-workisrequired,nowisthetime.Mildatriestoshoot.Shedoesherbest,butPrince,bubblingoverwithroguishness,lagsbehind.Heknowsthetrick.Mildaishalfa



lengthaheadofhim.Hetimesittothefractionofasecond.Maid,inthewheel,over-runninghim,naturallybiteshim.ThisdisturbstheOutlaw,whohasbeenbehavingbeautifully,andsheimmediatelyreachesacrossforMaid.Simultaneously,withafinedisplayoffirmconvictionthatit'sallMilda'sfault,PrincesinkshisteethintothebackofMilda'sdefencelessneck.Thewholethinghasoccurredinlessthanasecond.Underthesurpriseandpainofthebite,Mildaeitherjumpsaheadtotheimminentperilofharnessandlead-bar,orsmashesintothewall,stopsshortwiththelead-baroverherback,andemitsacoupleofhystericalkicks.TheOutlawinvariablyselectsthismomenttoremovepaint.Andafterthingsareuntangledandyouhavehadtimetoappreciatethecloseshave,yougouptoPrinceandreprovehimwithyourchoicestvocabulary.AndPrince,gazelle-eyedandtender,offerstoshakehandswithyouforsugar.Ileaveittoanyone:aboatwouldneveractthatway.

WehavesomehistorynorthoftheBay.Nearlythreecenturiesandahalfago,thatdoughtypirateandexplorer,SirFrancisDrake,combingthePacificforSpanishgalleons,anchoredinthebightformedbyPointReyes,onwhichto-dayisoneoftherichestdairyregionsintheworld.Here,lessthantwodecadesafterDrake,SebastienCarmenonpiledupontherockswithasilk-ladengalleonfromthePhilippines.AndinthissamebayofDrake,long

afterward,theRussianfur-poachersrendezvous'dtheirbidarkasandstoleinthroughtheGoldenGatetotheforbiddenwatersofSanFranciscoBay.

Fartherupthecoast,inSonomaCounty,wepilgrimagedtothesitesoftheRussiansettlements.AtBodegaBay,southofwhatto-dayiscalledRussianRiver,wastheiranchorage,whilenorthoftherivertheybuilttheirfort.AndmuchofFortRossstillstands.Log-bastions,church,andstablesholdtheirown,andsowell,withrustyhingescreaking,thatwewarmedourselvesatthehundred-years-olddoublefireplaceandsleptunderthehand-hewnroofbeamsstillheldtogetherbyspikesofhand-wroughtiron.

Wewenttoseewherehistoryhadbeenmade,andwesawsceneryaswell.Oneofourstretchesinaday'sdrivewasfrombeautifulInvernessonTomalesBay,downtheOlemaValleytoBolinasBay,alongtheeasternshoreofthatbodyofwatertoWillowCamp,andupoverthesea-bluffs,aroundthebastionsofTamalpais,anddowntoSausalito.FromtheheadofBolinasBaytoWillowCampthedriveontheedgeofthebeach,andactually,forhalf-milestretches,inthewatersofthebayitself,wasadelightfulexperience.Thewonderfulpartwastocome.VeryfewSanFranciscans,muchlessCalifornians,knowofthatdrivefromWillowCamp,tothesouthandeast,alongthepoppy-blowncliffs,withtheseathunderinginthesheerdepthshundredsoffeetbelowandtheGoldenGateopeningupahead,disclosingsmokySan

Franciscoonhermanyhills.Faroff,blurredonthebreastofthesea,canbeseentheFarallones,whichSirFrancisDrakepassedonaS.W.courseinthethickofwhathedescribesasa"stynkingfog."Wellmighthecallitthat,andafewothernames,foritwasthefogthatrobbedhimofthegloryofdiscoveringSanFranciscoBay.

ItwasonthispartofthedrivethatIdecidedatlastIwaslearningrealmountain-driving.Toconfessthetruth,fordelicioustitillationofone'snerve,Ihavesincedrivenoverno



mountainroadthatwasworse,orbetter,rather,thanthatpiece.

Andthenthecontrast!FromSausalito,overexcellent,park-likeboulevards,throughthesplendidredwoodsandhomesofMillValley,acrosstheblossomedhillsofMarinCounty,alongtheknoll-studdedpicturesquemarshes,pastSanRafaelrestingwarmlyamongherhills,overthedivideandupthePetalumaValley,andontothegrassyfeetofSonomaMountainandhome.Wecoveredfifty-fivemilesthatday.Notsobad,eh,forPrincetheRogue,thepaint-removingOutlaw,thethin-shankedthoroughbred,andtherabbit-jumper?Andtheycameincoolanddry,readyfortheirmangersandthestraw.

Oh,wedidn'tstop.Weconsideredwewerejuststarting,andthatwasmanyweeksago.Wehavekeptongoingoversixcountieswhicharecomfortablylarge,evenforCalifornia,andwearestillgoing.Wehavetwistedandtabled,criss-crossedourtracks,madefascinatingandlengthydivesintotheinteriorvalleysintheheartsofNapaandLakeCounties,travelledthecoastforhundredsofmilesonend,andarenowinEureka,onHumboldtBay,whichwasdiscoveredbyaccidentbythegold-seekers,whoweretryingtofindtheirwaytoandfromtheTrinitydiggings.Evenhere,thewhiteman'shistoryprecededthem,fordimtraditionsaysthattheRussiansonceanchoredhereandhuntedsea-otterbeforethefirst

YankeetraderroundedtheHorn,orthefirstRockyMountaintrapperthirstedacrossthe"GreatAmericanDesert"andtrickleddownthesnowySierrastothesun-kissedland.No;wearenotrestingourhorseshereonHumboldtBay.Wearewritingthisarticle,gorgingonabalonesandmussels,diggingclams,andcatchingrecord-breakingsea-troutandrock-codintheintervalsinwhichwearenotsailing,motor-boating,andswimminginthemosttemperatelyequableclimatewehaveeverexperienced.

Thesecomfortablylargecounties!Theyareveritableempires.TakeHumboldt,forinstance.ItisthreetimesaslargeasRhodeIsland,oneandahalftimesaslargeasDelaware,almostaslargeasConnecticut,andhalfaslargeasMassachusetts.Thepioneer

hasdonehisworkinthisnorthofthebayregion,thefoundationsarelaid,andallisreadyfortheinevitableinrushofpopulationandadequatedevelopmentofresourceswhichsofarhavebeennomorethanskimmed,andcasuallyandcarelesslyskimmedatthat.Thisregionofthesixcountiesalonewillsomedaysupportapopulationofmillions.Inthemeanwhile,Oyouhome-seekers,youwealth-seekers,and,aboveall,youclimate-seekers,nowisthetimetogetinonthegroundfloor.

RobertIngersolloncesaidthatthegenialclimateofCaliforniawouldinafairlybrieftimeevolvearaceresemblingtheMexicans,andthatintwoorthreegenerationstheCalifornianswouldbeseenofaSundaymorningontheirwaytoacockfightwith

aroosterundereacharm.Neverwasmadearashergeneralisation,basedonsoabsoluteanignoranceoffacts.Itistolaugh.Hereisaclimatethatbreedsvigour,withjustsufficientgenialitytopreventtheexpenditureofmostofthatvigourinfightingtheelements.Hereisaclimatewhereamancanworkthreehundredandsixty-fivedaysintheyearwithouttheslightesthintofenervation,andwhereforthreehundredandsixty-fivenightshemustperforcesleepunderblankets.Whatmorecanonesay?Iconsidermyselfsomewhatofclimateexpert,havingadventuredamongmostoftheclimatesoffiveoutofthesixzones.Ihave



notyetbeenintheAntarctic,butwhateverclimateobtainstherewillnotdetermefromdrawingtheconclusionthatnowhereisthereaclimatetocomparewiththatofthisregion.MaybeIamaswrongasIngersollwas.NeverthelessItakemymedicinebycontinuingtoliveinthisclimate.Also,itistheonlymedicineIevertake.

Buttoreturntothehorses.Thereissomeimprovement.Mildahasactuallylearnedtowalk.Maidhasprovedherthoroughbrednessbynevertiringonthelongestdays,and,whilebeingthestrongestandhighestspiritedofall,bynevercausinganytroublesaveforanoccasionalkickattheOutlaw.AndtheOutlawrarelygallops,nolongerbutts,onlyperiodicallykicks,comesintothepoleanddoesherworkwithoutattemptingtovivisectMaid'smedullaoblongata,and--marvelofmarvels--isreallyandtrulygettinglazy.ButPrinceremainsthesameincorrigible,lovingandlovableroguehehasalwaysbeen.

Andthecountrywe'vebeenover!ThedrivesthroughNapaandLakeCounties!One,fromSonomaValley,viaSantaRosa,wecouldnotrefrainfromtakingseveralways,andonallthewayswefoundtheroadsexcellentformachinesaswellashorses.Oneroute,andamoredelightfuloneforanautomobilecannotbefound,isoutfromSantaRosa,pastoldAltruriaandMarkWestSprings,thentothe

rightandacrosstoCalistogainNapaValley.Bykeepingtotheleft,thedriveholdsonuptheRussianRiverValley,throughthemilesofthenotedAstiVineyardstoCloverdale,andthenbywayofPieta,Witter,andHighlandSpringstoLakeport.Stillanotherwaywetook,wasdownSonomaValley,skirtingSanPabloBay,andupthelovelyNapaValley.FromNapaweresideexcursionsthroughPopeandBerryessaValleys,ontoAEtnaSprings,andstillon,intoLakeCounty,crossingthefamousLangtryRanch.

ContinuinguptheNapaValley,walledoneitherhandbygreatrockpalisadesandredwoodforestsandcarpetedwithendlessvineyards,andcrossingthemanystonebridgesforwhichtheCountyisnotedandwhichareajoytothebeauty-lovingeyesaswellastothe

four-horsetyrodriver,pastCalistogawithitsoldmud-bathsandchicken-soupsprings,withSt.Helenaanditsgiantsaddleevertoweringbeforeus,weclimbedthemountainsonagoodgradeanddroppeddownpastthequicksilverminestothecanyonoftheGeysers.Afterastopovernightandanexplorationoftheminiature-grandvolcanicscene,wepulledonacrossthecanyonandtookthegradewherethecicadassimmeredaudiblyinthenoonsunshineamongthehillsidemanzanitas.Then,higher,camethebigcattle-dotteduplandpastures,andtherockysummit.Andhereonthesummit,abruptly,wecaughtavision,orwhatseemedamirage.Theoceanwehadleftlongdaysbefore,yetfardownandawayshimmeredabluesea,framedonthefarthershorebyruggedmountains,onthenearshorebyfatandrollingfarmlands.Clear

Lakewasbeforeus,andlikepropersailorswereturnedtooursea,goingforasail,afish,andaswimerethedaywasdoneandturningintotiredLakeportblanketsintheearlyevening.WellhasLakeCountybeencalledtheWalled-inCounty.Buttherailroadiscoming.TheysaytheapproachwemadetoClearLakeissimilartotheapproachtoLakeLucerne.Bethatasitmay,thescenery,withitsdistantsnow-cappedpeaks,canwellbecalledAlpine.

AndwhatcanbemoreexquisitethanthedriveoutfromClearLake



toUkiahbywayoftheBlueLakeschain!--everyturnbringingintoviewapictureofbreathlessbeauty;everyglancebackwardrevealingsomeperfectcompositioninlineandcolour,theintenseblueofthewatermarginedwithsplendidoaks,greenfields,andswathsoforangepoppies.Butthosesideglancesandbackwardglanceswereprovocativeoftrouble.CharmianandIdisagreedastowhichwaytheconnectingstreamofwaterran.Westilldisagree,foratthehotel,wherewesubmittedtheaffairtoarbitration,thehotelmanagerandtheclerklikewisedisagreed.Iassume,now,thatweneverwillknowwhichwaythatstreamruns.Charmiansuggests"bothways."Irefusesuchacompromise.NostreamofwaterIeversawcouldaccomplishthatfeatatoneandthesametime.ThegreatestconcessionIcanmakeisthatsometimesitmayrunonewayandsometimestheother,andthatinthemeantimeweshouldbothconsultanoculist.

MorevalleyfromUkiahtoWillits,andthenweturnedwestwardthroughthevirginSherwoodForestofmagnificentredwood,stoppingatAlpineforthenightandcontinuingonthroughMendocinoCountytoFortBraggand"saltwater."WealsocametoFortBraggupthecoastfromFortRoss,keepingourcoastjourneyintactfromtheGoldenGate.Thecoastweatherwascoolanddelightful,thecoastdrivingsuperb.EspeciallyintheFortRosssectiondidwefindtheroadsthrilling,whileallthewayalong

wefollowedthesea.Ateverystream,theroadskirteddizzycliff-edges,diveddownintolushgrowthsofforestandfernsandclimbedoutalongthecliff-edgesagain.Thewaywaslinedwithflowers--wildlilac,wildroses,poppies,andlupins.Suchlupins!--giantclumpsofthem,ofeverylupin-shadeand-colour.AnditwasalongtheMendocinoroadsthatCharmiancausedmanydelaysbyinsistingongettingouttopickthewildblackberries,strawberries,andthimble-berrieswhichgrewsoprofusely.Andeverwecaughtpeeps,fardown,ofsteamschoonersloadinglumberintherockycoves;everweskirtedthecliffs,dayafterday,crossingstretchesofrollingfarmlandsandpassingthroughthrivingvillagesandsaw-milltowns.Memorablewasourlaunch-tripfromMendocinoCityupBigRiver,wherethesteeringgearsof

thelaunchesworkthereverseofanywhereelseintheworld;wherewesawastreamoflogs,ofsixtotwelveandfifteenfeetindiameter,whichfilledtheriverbedformilestotheobliterationofanysignofwater;andwhereweweretoldofawhiteoralbinoredwoodtree.Wedidnotseethislast,socannotvouchforit.

Allthestreamswerefilledwithtrout,andmorethanoncewesawtheside-hillsalmonontheslopes.No,side-hillsalmonisnotaperipateticfish;itisadeeroutofseason.Butthetrout!AtGualalaCharmiancaughtherfirstone.OncebeforeinmylifeIhadcaughttwo...onangleworms.OnoccasionIhadtriedflyandspinnerandnevergotastrike,andIhadcometobelievethatallthistalkoffly-fishingwasjustsomuchnature-faking.But

ontheGualalaRiverIcaughttrout--alotofthem--onflyandspinners;andIwasbeginningtofeelquiteanexpert,untilNakata,fishingonbottomwithapelletofbreadforbait,caughtthebiggesttroutofall.Inowaffirmthereisnothinginsciencenorinart.Nevertheless,sincethatdaypolesandbasketshavebeenaddedtoourbaggage,wetackleeverystreamwecometo,andwenolongerareabletorememberthegrandtotalofourcatch.

AtUsal,manyhillyandpicturesquemilesnorthofFortBragg,we



turnedagainintotheinteriorofMendocino,crossingtherangesandcomingoutinHumboldtCountyonthesouthforkofEelRiveratGarberville.Throughoutthetrip,fromMarinCountynorth,wehadbeenwarnedof"badroadsahead."Yetweneverfoundthosebadroads.Weseemedalwaystobejustaheadofthemorbehindthem.Thefartherwecamethebettertheroadsseemed,thoughthiswasprobablyduetothefactthatwewerelearningmoreandmorewhatfourhorsesandalightrigcoulddoonaroad.AndthusdoIsavemyfacewithallthecounties.Irefusetomakeinvidiousroadcomparisons.Icanaddthatwhile,saveinrareinstancesonsteeppitches,Ihavetrottedmyhorsesdownallthegrades,IhaveneverhadonehorsefalldownnorhaveIhadtosendtherigtoablacksmithshopforrepairs.

Also,Iamlearningtothrowleather.Ifanytyrothinksitiseasytotakeashort-handled,long-lashedwhip,andthrowtheendofthatlashjustwherehewantsit,lethimputonautomobilegogglesandtryit.Onreconsideration,Iwouldsuggestthesubstitutionofawirefencing-maskforthegoggles.FordaysIlookedatthatwhip.Itfascinatedme,andthefascinationwascomposedmostlyoffear.Atmyfirstattempt,CharmianandNakatabecameafflictedwiththesamesortoffascination,andforalongtimeafterward,whenevertheysawmereachforthewhip,theyclosedtheireyesandshieldedtheirheadswiththeirarms.

Here'stheproblem.Insteadofpullinghonestly,PrinceislaggingbackandmanoeuvringforabiteatMilda'sneck.Ihavefourreinsinmyhands.Imustputthesefourreinsintomylefthand,properlygatherthewhiphandleandthebightofthelashinmyrighthand,andthrowthatlashpastMaidwithoutstrikingherandintoPrince.IfthelashstrikesMaid,herthoroughbrednesswillgoupintheair,andI'llhaveacaseofhorsehysteriaonmyhandsforthenexthalfhour.Butfollow.Thewholeproblemisnotyetstated.SupposethatImissMaidandreachtheintendedtarget.Theinstantthelashcracks,thefourhorsesjump,Princemostofall,andhisjump,withspreadwickedteeth,isforthebackofMilda'sneck.Shejumpstoescape--whichis

hersecondjump,forthefirstonecamewhenthelashexploded.TheOutlawreachesforMaid'sneck,andMaid,whohasalreadyjumpedandtriedtobolt,triestoboltharder.AndallthisinfinitesimalfractionoftimeIamtryingtoholdthefouranimalswithmylefthand,whilemywhip-lash,writhingthroughtheair,iscomingbacktome.ThreesimultaneousthingsImustdo:keepholdofthefourreinswithmylefthand;slamonthebrakewithmyfoot;andonthereboundcatchthatflyinglashinthehollowofmyrightarmandgetthebightofitsafelyintomyrighthand.ThenImustgettwoofthefourlinesbackintomyrighthandandkeepthehorsesfromrunningawayorgoingoverthegrade.Tryitsometime.Youwillfindlifeanythingbutwearisome.Why,thefirsttimeIhitthemarkandmadethelash

goofflikearevolvershot,IwassoastoundedanddelightedthatIwasparalysed.Iforgottodoanyofthemultitudinousotherthings,tangledthewhiplashinMaid'sharness,andwasforcedtocalluponCharmianforassistance.Andnow,confession.Icarryafewpebbleshandy.They'regreatforreachingPrinceinatightplace.ButjustthesameI'mlearningthatwhipeveryday,andbeforeIgethomeIhopetodiscardthepebbles.AndaslongasIrelyonpebbles,Icannottruthfullyspeakofmyselfas"toolingafour-in-hand."



FromGarberville,whereweateeeltorepletionandgotacquaintedwiththeaborigines,wedrovedowntheEelRiverValleyfortwodaysthroughthemostunthinkablygloriousbodyofredwoodtimbertobeseenanywhereinCalifornia.FromDyervilleontoEureka,wecaughtglimpsesofrailroadconstructionandofgreatconcretebridgesinthecourseofbuilding,whichadvertisedthatatleastHumboldtCountywasgoingtobelinkedtotherestoftheworld.

Westillconsiderourtripisjustbegun.AssoonasthisismailedfromEureka,it'sheighho!forthehorsesandpullon.Weshallcontinueupthecoast,turninforHoopaReservationandthegoldmines,andshootdowntheTrinityandKlamathriversinIndiancanoestoRequa.Afterthat,weshallgoonthroughDelNorteCountyandintoOregon.Thetripsofarhasjustifiedusintakingtheattitudethatwewon'tgohomeuntilthewinterrainsdriveusin.And,finally,IamgoingtotrytheexperimentofputtingtheOutlawintheleadandrelegatingPrincetohisoldpositioninthenearwheel.Iwon'tneedanypebblesthen.

NOTHINGTHATEVERCAMETOANYTHING

ItwasatQuito,themountaincapitalofEcuador,thatthefollowingpassageatcorrespondencetookplace.Havingoccasiontobuyapairofshoesinashopsixfeetbyeightinsizeandwithwallsthreefeetthick,Inoticedamangyleopardskinonthefloor.IhadnoSpanish.Theshop-keeperhadnoEnglish.ButIwasanadeptatsignlanguage.IwantedtoknowwhereIshouldgotobuyleopardskins.Onmyscribble-padIdrewtheinterestingstreetsofacity.ThenIdrewasmallshop,which,aftermucheffort,Ipersuadedtheproprietorintorecognisingashisshop.Next,Iindicatedinmydrawingthatonthemanystreetsthereweremanyshops.And,finally,Imademyselfintoalivinginterrogationmark,pointingallthewhilefromthemangyleopard

skintothemanyshopsIhadsketched.

Buttheproprietorfailedtofollowme.Sodidhisassistant.Thestreetcameintohelp--thatis,asmanyascouldcrowdintothesix-by-eightshop;whilethosethatcouldnotforcetheirwayinheldanoverflowmeetingonthesidewalk.Theproprietorandtheresttookturnsattalkingtomeinrapid-fireSpanish,and,fromtheexpressionsontheirfaces,allconcludedthatIwasremarkablystupid.AgainIwentthroughmyprogramme,pointingonthesketchfromtheoneshoptothemanyshops,pointingoutthatinthisparticularshopwasoneleopardskin,andthenquestinginterrogativelywithmypencilamongalltheshops.Allregardedmeinblanksilence,untilIsawcomprehensionsuddenlydawnon

thefaceofasmallboy.

"Tigresmontanya!"hecried.

Thisappealedtomeasmountaintigers,namely,leopards;andintokenthatheunderstood,theboymadesignsformetofollowhim,whichIobeyed.Heledmeforaquarterofamile,andpausedbeforethedoorwayofalargebuildingwheresoldiersslouchedonsentrydutyandinandoutofwhichwentothersoldiers.Motioningformetoremain,heraninside.



Fifteenminuteslaterhewasoutagain,withoutleopardskins,butfullofinformation.Bymeansofmycard,ofmyhotelcard,ofmywatch,andoftheboy'sfingers,Ilearnedthefollowing:thatatsixo'clockthateveninghewouldarriveatmyhotelwithtenleopardskinsformyinspection.Further,IlearnedthattheskinswerethepropertyofoneCaptainErnestoBecucci.Also,Ilearnedthattheboy'snamewasEliceo.

Theboywasprompt.Atsixo'clockhewasatmyroom.Inhishandwasasmallrolladdressedtome.OnopeningitIfoundittobemanuscriptpianomusic,theHoraTranquilaValse,or"TranquilHourWaltz,"byErnestoBecucci.Icameforleopardskins,thoughtI,andtheownersendsmesheetmusicinstead.Buttheboyassuredmethathewouldhavetheskinsatthehotelatninenextmorning,andIentrustedtohimthefollowingletterofacknowledgment:

"DEARCAPTAINBECUCCI:

"AthousandthanksforyourkindpresentationofHoraTranquilaValse.Mrs.Londonwillplayitformethisevening.

Sincerelyyours,

"JackLondon."

NextmorningEliceowasback,butwithouttheskins.Instead,hegavemealetter,writteninSpanish,ofwhichthefollowingisafreetranslation:

"Tomydearestandalwaysappreciatedfriend,Isubmitmyself-

"DEARSIR:

"Isentyoulastnightanofferingbythebearerofthisnote,andyoureturnedmealetterwhichItranslated.

"Beitknowntoyou,sir,thatIamgivingthiswaltzawayinthebestsociety,andthereforetoyourhonouredself.Thereforeitisbeholdentoyoutorecognisetheattention,Imeanbyatangiblereturn,asthiscompositionwasmadebymyself.Youwillthereforesendbyyourhumbleservant,thebearer,anyoffering,howeverminute,thatyoumaybepromptedtomake.Senditundercoverofanenvelope.Thebearermaybetrusted.

"Ididnotindulgeinthepleasureofvisitingyourhonourable

selfthismorning,asIfindmybodynottobeenjoyingthenormalexerciseofitsfunctions.

"Asregardstheskinsfromthemountain,youshallbewaitedonbyasmallboyatseveno'clockatnightwithtenskinsfromwhichyoumayselectthosewhichmostsatisfyyouraspirations.

"Inthehopethatyouwilllookuponthisinthesamelightasmyself,Ibegtobeallowedtoremain,



"Yourmostfaithfulservant,

"CAPTAINERNESTOBECUCCI."

Well,thoughtI,thisCaptainErnestoBecuccihasshownhimselftobesuchanundependableperson,that,whileIdon'tmindrewardinghimforhiscomposition,IfearmeifIdoInevershalllayeyesonthoseleopardskins.SotoEliceoIgavethisletterfortheCaptain:

"MYDEARCAPTAINBECUCCI:

"Havetheboybringtheskinsatseveno'clockthisevening,whenIshallbegladtolookatthem.Thiseveningwhentheboybringstheskins,Ishallbepleasedtogivehim,inanenvelope,foryou,atangiblereturnforyourmusicalcomposition.

"Pleaseputthepriceoneachskin,andalsoletmeknowforwhatsumalltheskinswillselltogether.

"Sincerelyyours,

"JACKLONDON."

Now,thoughtI,Ihavehim.Noskins,notangiblereturn;andevidentlyheissetonreceivingthattangiblereturn.

Atseveno'clockEliceowasback,butwithoutleopardskins.Hehandedmethisletter:

"SENORLONDON:

"IwishtoinstilinyouthebeliefthatIlostto-day,athalf

pastthreeintheafternoon,thekeytomycubicle.WhiledistributingrationstothesoldiersIdroppedit.IseeinthislosstheactofGod.

"Ireceivedaletterfromyourhonourableself,deliveredbytheonewhobearsyouthispoorresponseofmine.To-morrowIwillburstopenthedoortopermitmetokeepmywordwithyou.Ifeelmyselfeternallyshamednottobeabletodominatetheevilsthatafflictcolonialmankind.Pleasesendmethetriflethatyouofferedme.Sendmethisproofofyourappreciationbythebearer,whoistobetrusted.Alsogivetohimasmallsumofmoneyforhimself,andearntheundyinggratitudeof

Yourmostfaithfulservant,


Also,inclosedintheforegoingletterwasthefollowingoriginalpoem,eproposneitherofleopardskinsnortangiblereturns,sofarasIcanmakeout:



EFFUSION

Thoucanstnotweep;NoraskIforayearToridmeofmywoesOrmakemylifemoredear.

ThemysticchainsthatboundThyall-fondhearttomine,Alas!asunderedareFornowandforalltime.

Invainyoustrovetohide,Fromvulgargazeofman,TheburningglanceofloveThatnonebutLovecanscan.

GoonthystarlitwayAndleavemetomyfate;Oursoulsmustneedsunite-But,God!'twillbetoolate.

ToallandsundryofwhichIreplied:

"MYDEARCAPTAINBECUCCI:

"IregretexceedinglytohearthatbyactofGod,athalfpastthreethisafternoon,youlostthekeytoyourcubicle.Pleasehavetheboybringtheskinsatseveno'clockto-morrowmorning,atwhichtime,whenhebringstheskins,Ishallbegladtomakeyouthattangiblereturnforyour"TranquilHourWaltz."

"Sincerelyyours,

"JACKLONDON."

Atseveno'clockcamenoskins,butthefollowing:

"SIR:

"Afterofferingyoumymostsincererespects,Ibegtocontinuebytellingyouthatnoone,uptothetimeofwriting,hastreatedmewithsuchlackofattention.ItwasapresenttoGENTLEMENwhoweretoretainthepieceofmusic,andwhohaveall,withoutexception,mademeapresentoffivedollars.Itisbeyondmy

humblecapacitytobelievethatyou,afterhavingofferedtosendmemoneyinanenvelope,shouldfailtodoso.

"Sendme,Iprayofyou,themoneytoremuneratethesmallboyforhisrepeatedvisitstoyou.Pleasebediscreetandsenditinanenvelopebythebearer.

"LastnightIcametothehotelwiththeboy.Youweredining.Iwaitedmorethananhourforyouandthenwenttothetheatre.Givetheboysomesmallamount,andsendmealikeofferingof



largerproportions.

"Awaitingincessantlyaslightattentiononyourpart,


Andhere,likeoneofGeorgeMoore'srealisticstudies,endsthisintercoursewithCaptainErnestoBecucci.Nothinghappened.Nothingevercametoanything.Hegotnotangiblereturn,andIgotnoleopardskins.Thetangiblereturnhemighthavegot,IpresentedtoEliceo,whopromptlyinvesteditinapairoftrousersandatickettothebull-fight.

(NOTETOEDITOR.--ThisisafaithfulnarrationofwhatactuallyhappenedinQuito,Ecuador.)

THATDEADMENRISEUPNEVER

ThemonthinwhichmyseventeenthbirthdayarrivedIsignedon

beforethemastontheSophieSutherland,athree-topmastschoonerboundonaseven-months'seal-huntingcruisetothecoastofJapan.WesailedfromSanFrancisco,andimmediatelyIfoundconfrontingmeaproblemofnoinconsiderableproportions.Thereweretwelvemenofusintheforecastle,tenofwhomwerehardened,tarry-thumbedsailors.NotalonewasIayouthandonmyfirstvoyage,butIhadforshipmatesmenwhohadcomethroughthehardschoolofthemerchantserviceofEurope.Asboys,theyhadhadtoperformtheirship'sduty,and,inaddition,byimmemorialseacustom,theyhadhadtobetheslavesoftheordinaryandable-bodiedseamen.Whentheybecameordinaryseamentheywerestilltheslavesoftheable-bodied.Thus,intheforecastle,withthewatchbelow,anableseaman,lyinginhis

bunk,willorderanordinaryseamantofetchhimhisshoesorbringhimadrinkofwater.NowtheordinaryseamanmaybelyinginHISbunk.Heisjustastiredastheableseaman.Yethemustgetoutofhisbunkandfetchandcarry.Ifherefuses,hewillbebeaten.If,perchance,heissostrongthathecanwhiptheableseaman,thenalltheableseamen,orasmanyasmaybenecessary,pitchuponthelucklessdevilandadministerthebeating.

Myproblemnowbecomesapparent.Thesehard-bitScandinaviansailorshadcomethroughahardschool.Asboystheyhadservedtheirmates,andasableseamentheylookedtobeservedbyotherboys.Iwasaboy--withalwithaman'sbody.Ihadneverbeento

seabefore--withalIwasagoodsailorandknewmybusiness.Itwaseitheracaseofholdingmyownwiththemorofgoingunder.Ihadsignedonasanequal,andanequalImustmaintainmyself,orelseenduresevenmonthsofhellattheirhands.Anditwasthisveryequalitytheyresented.BywhatrightwasIanequal?Ihadnotearnedthathighprivilege.Ihadnotenduredthemiseriestheyhadenduredasmaltreatedboysorbulliedordinaries.Worsethanthat,Iwasaland-lubbermakinghisfirstvoyage.Andyet,bytheinjusticeoffate,ontheship'sarticlesIwastheirequal.



Mymethodwasdeliberate,andsimple,anddrastic.Inthefirstplace,Iresolvedtodomywork,nomatterhowhardordangerousitmightbe,sowellthatnomanwouldbecalledupontodoitforme.Further,Iputgingerinmymuscles.Inevermalingeredwhenpullingonarope,forIknewtheeagleeyesofmyforecastlematesweresquintingforjustsuchevidencesofmyinferiority.Imadeitapointtobeamongthefirstofthewatchgoingondeck,amongthelastgoingbelow,neverleavingasheetortackleforsomeoneelsetocoiloverapin.Iwasalwayseagerfortherunaloftfortheshiftingoftopsailsheetsandtacks,orforthesettingortakinginoftopsails;andinthesemattersIdidmorethanmyshare.

Furthermore,Iwasonahair-triggerofresentmentmyself.Iknewbetterthantoacceptanyabuseortheslightestpatronizing.Atthefirsthintofsuch,Iwentoff--Iexploded.Imightbebeateninthesubsequentfight,butIlefttheimpressionthatIwasawild-catandthatIwouldjustaswillinglyfightagain.MyintentionwastodemonstratethatIwouldtoleratenoimposition.Iprovedthatthemanwhoimposedonmemusthaveafightonhishands.Anddoingmyworkwell,theinnatejusticeofthemen,assistedbytheirwholesomedislikeforaclawingandrendingwild-catruction,soonledthemtogiveovertheirhectoring.

Afterabitofstrife,myattitudewasaccepted,anditwasmypridethatIwastakeninasanequalinspiritaswellasinfact.Fromthenon,everythingwasbeautiful,andthevoyagepromisedtobeahappyone.

Buttherewasoneothermanintheforecastle.CountingtheScandinaviansasten,andmyselfastheeleventh,thismanwasthetwelfthandlast.Weneverknewhisname,contentingourselveswithcallinghimthe"Bricklayer."HewasfromMissouri--atleasthesoinformedusintheonemeagreconfidencehewasguiltyofintheearlydaysofthevoyage.Also,atthattime,welearnedseveralotherthings.Hewasabrick-layerbytrade.Hehadneverevenseensaltwateruntiltheweekbeforehejoinedus,at

whichtimehehadarrivedinSanFranciscoandlookeduponSanFranciscoBay.Whyhe,ofallmen,atfortyyearsofage,shouldhavefelttheprodtogotosea,wasbeyondallofus;foritwasourunanimousconvictionthatnomanlessfittedfortheseahadeverembarkedonit.Buttoseahehadcome.Afteraweek'sstayinasailors'boarding-house,hehadbeenshovedaboardofusasanableseaman.

Allhandshadtodohisworkforhim.Notonlydidheknownothing,butheprovedhimselfunabletolearnanything.Tryastheywould,theycouldneverteachhimtosteer.Tohimthecompassmusthavebeenaprofoundandawfulwhirligig.Henevermastereditscardinalpoints,muchlessthecheckingandsteadying

oftheshiponhercourse.Heneverdidcometoknowwhetherropesshouldbecoiledfromlefttorightorfromrighttoleft.Itwasmentallyimpossibleforhimtolearntheeasymusculartrickofthrowinghisweightonaropeinpullingandhauling.Thesimplestknotsandturnswerebeyondhiscomprehension,whilehewasmortallyafraidofgoingaloft.Bulliedbycaptainandmate,hewasonedayforcedaloft.Hemanagedtogetunderneaththecrosstrees,andtherehefrozetotheratlines.Twosailorshadtogoafterhimtohelphimdown.



Allofwhichwasbadenoughhadtherebeennoworse.Buthewasvicious,malignant,dirty,andwithoutcommondecency.Hewasatall,powerfulman,andhefoughtwitheverybody.Andtherewasnofairnessinhisfighting.Hisfirstfightonboard,thefirstdayout,waswithme,whenhe,desiringtocutaplugofchewingtobacco,tookmypersonaltable-knifeforthepurpose,andwhereupon,I,onahair-trigger,promptlyexploded.Afterthathefoughtwithnearlyeverymemberofthecrew.Whenhisclothingbecametoofilthytobebearablebytherestofus,weputittosoakandstoodoverhimwhilehewashedit.Inshort,theBricklayerwasoneofthosehorribleandmonstrousthingsthatonemustseeinordertobeconvincedthattheyexist.

Iwillonlysaythathewasabeast,andthatwetreatedhimlikeabeast.ItisonlybylookingbackthroughtheyearsthatIrealisehowheartlessweweretohim.Hewaswithoutsin.Hecouldnot,bytheverynatureofthings,havebeenanythingelsethanhewas.Hehadnotmadehimself,andforhismakinghewasnotresponsible.Yetwetreatedhimasafreeagentandheldhimpersonallyresponsibleforallthathewasandthatheshouldnothavebeen.Asaresult,ourtreatmentofhimwasasterribleashewashimselfterrible.Finallywegavehimthesilenttreatment,andforweeksbeforehediedweneitherspoketohimnordidhespeaktous.Andforweekshemovedamongus,orlay

inhisbunkinourcrowdedhouse,grinningatushishatredandmalignancy.Hewasadyingman,andheknewit,andweknewit.Andfurthermore,heknewthatwewantedhimtodie.Hecumberedourlifewithhispresence,andourswasaroughlifethatmaderoughmenofus.Andsohedied,inasmallspacecrowdedbytwelvemenandasmuchaloneasifhehaddiedonsomedesolatemountainpeak.Nokindlyword,nolastword,waspassedbetween.Hediedashehadlived,abeast,andhediedhatingusandhatedbyus.

AndnowIcometothemoststartlingmomentofmylife.Nosoonerwashedeadthanhewasflungoverboard.Hediedinanightofwind,drawinghislastbreathasthementumbledintotheir

oilskinstothecryof"Allhands!"Andhewasflungoverboard,severalhourslater,onadayofwind.Notevenacanvaswrappinggracedhismortalremains;norwashedeemedworthyofbarsofironathisfeet.Wesewedhimupintheblanketsinwhichhediedandlaidhimonahatch-coverfor'ardofthemain-hatchontheportside.Agunnysack,halffullofgalleycoal,wasfastenedtohisfeet.

Itwasbittercold.Theweather-sideofeveryrope,spar,andstaywascoatedwithice,whilealltheriggingwasaharp,singingandshoutingunderthefiercehandofthewind.Theschooner,hoveto,lurchedandflounderedthroughthesea,rollingherscuppersunderandperpetuallyfloodingthedeckwithicysalt

water.Weoftheforecastlestoodinsea-bootsandoilskins.Ourhandsweremittened,butourheadswerebaredinthepresenceofthedeathwedidnotrespect.Ourearsstungandnumbedandwhitened,andweyearnedforthebodytobegone.Buttheinterminablereadingoftheburialservicewenton.Thecaptainhadmistakenhisplace,andwhilehereadonwithoutpurposewefrozeourearsandresentedthisfinalhardshipthrustuponusbythehelplesscadaver.Asfromthebeginning,sototheend,everythinghadgonewrongwiththeBricklayer.Finally,thecaptain'sson,irritatedbeyondmeasure,jerkedthebookfromthe



palsiedfingersoftheoldmanandfoundtheplace.Againthequaveringvoiceofthecaptainarose.Thencamethecue:"Andthebodyshallbecastintothesea."Weelevatedoneendofthehatch-cover,andtheBricklayerplungedoutboardandwasgone.

Backintotheforecastlewecleanedhouse,washingoutthedeadman'sbunkandremovingeveryvestigeofhim.Bysealawandseacustom,weshouldhavegatheredhiseffectstogetherandturnedthemovertothecaptain,who,later,wouldhaveheldanauctioninwhichweshouldhavebidforthevariousarticles.Butnomanwantedthem,sowetossedthemupondeckandoverboardinthewakeofthedepartedbody--thelastill-treatmentwecoulddevisetowreakupontheonewehadhatedso.Oh,itwasraw,believeme;butthelifewelivedwasraw,andwewereasrawasthelife.

TheBricklayer'sbunkwasbetterthanmine.Lessseawaterleakeddownthroughthedeckintoit,andthelightwasbetterforlyinginbedandreading.PartlyforthisreasonIproceededtomoveintohisbunk.Myotherreasonwaspride.Isawthesailorsweresuperstitious,andbythisactIdeterminedtoshowthatIwasbraverthanthey.Iwouldcapmyprovedequalitybyadeedthatwouldcompeltheirrecognitionofmysuperiority.Oh,thearroganceofyouth!Butletthatpass.Thesailorswereappalledbymyintention.Oneandall,theywarnedmethatinthehistory

oftheseanomanhadtakenadeadman'sbunkandlivedtotheendofthevoyage.Theyinstancedcaseaftercaseintheirpersonalexperience.Iwasobdurate.Thentheybeggedandpleadedwithme,andmypridewastickledinthattheyshowedtheyreallylikedmeandwereconcernedaboutme.Thisbutservedtoconfirmmeinmymadness.Imovedin,and,lyinginthedeadman'sbunk,allafternoonandeveninglistenedtodirepropheciesofmyfuture.Alsoweretoldstoriesofawfuldeathsandgruesomeghoststhatsecretlyshiveredtheheartsofallofus.Saturatedwiththis,yetscoffingatit,Irolledoverattheendoftheseconddog-watchandwenttosleep.

AttenminutestotwelveIwascalled,andattwelveIwasdressed

andondeck,relievingthemanwhohadcalledme.Onthesealinggrounds,whenhoveto,awatchofonlyasinglemaniskeptthroughthenight,eachmanholdingthedeckforanhour.Itwasadarknight,thoughnotablackone.Thegalewasbreakingup,andthecloudswerethinning.Thereshouldhavebeenamoon,and,thoughinvisible,insomewayadim,suffusedradiancecamefromit.Ipacedbackandforthacrossthedeckamidships.Mymindwasfilledwiththeeventofthedayandwiththehorribletalesmyshipmateshadtold,andyetIdaretosay,hereandnow,thatIwasnotafraid.Iwasahealthyanimal,andfurthermore,intellectually,IagreedwithSwinburnethatdeadmenriseupnever.TheBricklayerwasdead,andthatwastheendofit.Hewouldriseupnever--atleast,neveronthedeckoftheSophie

Sutherland.Eventhenhewasintheoceandepthsmilestowindwardofourleewarddrift,andthelikelihoodwasthathewasalreadyportionedoutinthemawsofmanysharks.Still,mymindponderedonthetalesoftheghostsofdeadmenIhadheard,andIspeculatedonthespiritworld.Myconclusionwasthatifthespiritsofthedeadstillroamedtheworldtheycarriedthegoodnessorthemalignancyoftheearth-lifewiththem.Therefore,grantingthehypothesis(whichIdidn'tgrantatall),theghostoftheBricklayerwasboundtobeashatefulandmalignantasheinlifehadbeen.Buttherewasn'tany



Bricklayer'sghost--thatIinsistedupon.

Afewminutes,thinkingthus,Ipacedupanddown.Then,glancingcasuallyfor'ard,alongtheportside,Ileapedlikeastartleddeerandinablindmadnessofterrorrushedaftalongthepoop,headingforthecabin.Gonewasallmyarroganceofyouthandmyintellectualcalm.Ihadseenaghost.There,inthedimlight,wherewehadflungthedeadmanoverboard,Ihadseenafaintandwaveringform.Six-feetinlengthitwas,slender,andofsubstancesoattenuatedthatIhaddistinctlyseenthroughitthetraceryofthefore-rigging.

Asforme,Iwasaspanic-strickenasafrightenedhorse.I,asI,hadceasedtoexist.Throughmewerevibratingthefibre-instinctsoftenthousandgenerationsofsuperstitiousforebearswhohadbeenafraidofthedarkandthethingsofthedark.IwasnotI.Iwas,intruth,thosetenthousandforebears.Iwastherace,thewholehumanrace,initssuperstitiousinfancy.Notuntilpartwaydownthecabin-companionwaydidmyidentityreturntome.Icheckedmyflightandclungtothesteepladder,suffocating,trembling,anddizzy.Never,beforenorsince,haveIhadsuchashock.Iclungtotheladderandconsidered.Icouldnotdoubtmysenses.ThatIhadseensomethingtherewasnodiscussion.Butwhatwasit?Eitheraghostorajoke.There

couldbenothingelse.Ifaghost,thequestionwas:woulditappearagain?Ifitdidnot,andIarousedtheship'sofficers,Iwouldmakemyselfthelaughingstockofallonboard.Andbythesametoken,ifitwereajoke,mypositionwouldbestillmoreridiculous.IfIweretoretainmyhard-wonplaceofequality,itwouldneverdotoarouseanyoneuntilIascertainedthenatureofthething.

Iamabraveman.Idaretosayso;forinfearandtremblingIcreptupthecompanion-wayandwentbacktothespotfromwhichIhadfirstseenthething.Ithadvanished.Mybraverywasqualified,however.ThoughIcouldseenothing,Iwasafraidtogofor'ardtothespotwhereIhadseenthething.Iresumedmy

pacingupanddown,andthoughIcastmanyananxiousglancetowardthedreadspot,nothingmanifesteditself.Asmyequanimityreturnedtome,IconcludedthatthewholeaffairhadbeenatrickoftheimaginationandthatIhadgotwhatIdeservedforallowingmymindtodwellonsuchmatters.

Oncemoremyglancesfor'ardwerecasual,andnotanxious;andthen,suddenly,Iwasamadman,rushingwildlyaft.Ihadseenthethingagain,thelong,waveringattenuatedsubstancethroughwhichcouldbeseenthefore-rigging.ThistimeIhadreachedonlythebreakofthepoopwhenIcheckedmyself.AgainIreasonedoverthesituation,anditwaspridethatcounselledstrongest.Icouldnotaffordtomakemyselfalaughing-stock.

Thisthing,whateveritwas,Imustfacealone.Imustworkitoutmyself.IlookedbacktothespotwherewehadtiltedtheBricklayer.Itwasvacant.Nothingmoved.AndforathirdtimeIresumedmyamid-shipspacing.

Intheabsenceofthethingmyfeardiedawayandmyintellectualpoisereturned.Ofcourseitwasnotaghost.Deadmendidnotriseup.Itwasajoke,acrueljoke.Mymatesoftheforecastle,bysomeunknownmeans,werefrighteningme.Twicealreadymusttheyhaveseenmerunaft.Mycheeksburnedwith



shame.InfancyIcouldhearthesmotheredchucklingandlaughtereventhengoingonintheforecastle.Ibegantogrowangry.Jokeswereallverywell,butthiswascarryingthethingtoofar.Iwastheyoungestonboard,onlyayouth,andtheyhadnorighttoplaytricksonmeoftheorderthatIwellknewinthepasthadmaderavingmaniacsofmenandwomen.Igrewangrierandangrier,andresolvedtoshowthemthatIwasmadeofsternerstuffandatthesametimetowreakmyresentmentuponthem.Ifthethingappearedagain,ImademymindupthatIwouldgouptoit--furthermore,thatIwouldgouptoitknifeinhand.Whenwithinstrikingdistance,Iwouldstrike.Ifaman,hewouldgettheknife-thrusthedeserved.Ifaghost,well,itwouldn'thurttheghostany,whileIwouldhavelearnedthatdeadmendidriseup.

NowIwasveryangry,andIwasquitesurethethingwasatrick;butwhenthethingappearedathirdtime,inthesamespot,long,attenuated,andwavering,fearsurgedupinmeanddrovemostofmyangeraway.ButIdidnotrun.NordidItakemyeyesfromthething.Bothtimesbefore,ithadvanishedwhileIwasrunningaway,soIhadnotseenthemannerofitsgoing.Idrewmysheath-knifefrommybeltandbeganmyadvance.Stepbystep,nearerandnearer,theefforttocontrolmyselfgrewmoresevere.Thestrugglewasbetweenmywill,myidentity,myveryself,ontheonehand,andontheother,thetenthousandancestorswho

weretwistedintothefibresofmeandwhoseghostlyvoiceswerewhisperingofthedarkandthefearofthedarkthathadbeentheirsinthetimewhentheworldwasdarkandfullofterror.

Iadvancedmoreslowly,andstillthethingwaveredandflittedwithstrangeeerielurches.Andthen,rightbeforemyeyes,itvanished.Isawitvanish.Neithertotherightnorleftdiditgo,norbackward.Rightthere,whileIgazeduponit,itfadedaway,ceasedtobe.Ididn'tdie,butIswear,fromwhatIexperiencedinthosefewsucceedingmoments,thatIknowfullwellthatmencandieoffright.Istoodthere,knifeinhand,swayingautomaticallytotherolloftheship,paralysedwithfear.HadtheBricklayersuddenlyseizedmythroatwithcorporealfingers

andproceededtothrottleme,itwouldhavebeennomorethanIexpected.Deadmendidriseup,andthatwouldbethemostlikelythingthemalignantBricklayerwoulddo.

Buthedidn'tseizemythroat.Nothinghappened.And,sincenatureabhorsastatus,Icouldnotremainthereintheoneplaceforeverparalysed.Iturnedandstartedaft.Ididnotrun.Whatwastheuse?WhatchancehadIagainstthemalevolentworldofghosts?Flight,withme,wastheswiftnessofmylegs.Thepursuit,withaghost,wastheswiftnessofthought.Andtherewereghosts.Ihadseenone.

Andso,stumblingslowlyaft,Idiscoveredtheexplanationofthe

seeming.Isawthemizzentopmastlurchingacrossafaintradianceofcloudbehindwhichwasthemoon.Theidealeapedinmybrain.Iextendedthelinebetweenthecloudyradianceandthemizzen-topmastandfoundthatitmuststrikesomewherenearthefore-riggingontheportside.EvenasIdidthis,theradiancevanished.Thedrivingcloudsofthebreakinggalewerealternatelythickeningandthinningbeforethefaceofthemoon,butneverexposingthefaceofthemoon.Andwhenthecloudswereattheirthinnest,itwasaverydimradiancethatthemoonwasabletomake.Iwatchedandwaited.Thenexttimetheclouds



thinnedIlookedfor'ard,andtherewastheshadowofthetopmast,longandattenuated,waveringandlurchingonthedeckandagainsttherigging.

Thiswasmyfirstghost.OnceagainhaveIseenaghost.ItprovedtobeaNewfoundlanddog,andIdon'tknowwhichofuswasthemorefrightened,forIhitthatNewfoundlandafullright-armswingtothejaw.RegardingtheBricklayer'sghost,IwillsaythatInevermentionedittoasoulonboard.Also,IwillsaythatinallmylifeIneverwentthroughmoretormentandmentalsufferingthanonthatlonelynight-watchontheSophieSutherland.

(TOTHEEDITOR.--Thisisnotafiction.Itisatruepageoutofmylife.)

ACLASSICOFTHESEA

Introductionto"TwoYearsbeforetheMast."

Onceinahundredyearsisabookwrittenthatlivesnotaloneforitsowncenturybutwhichbecomesadocumentforthefuturecenturies.SuchabookisDana's.WhenMarryat'sandCooper'sseanovelsaregonetodust,stimulatingandjoyfulastheyhavebeentogenerationsofmen,stillwillremain"TwoYearsBeforetheMast."

Paradoxicalasitmayseem,Dana'sbookistheclassicofthesea,notbecausetherewasanythingextraordinaryaboutDana,butfortheprecisecontraryreasonthathewasjustanordinary,normalman,clear-seeing,hard-headed,controlled,fittedwithadequateeducationtogoaboutthework.Hebroughtatrainedmindtoput

downwithuntroubledvisionwhathesawofacertainphaseofwork-a-daylife.Therewasnothingbrilliantnorfly-awayabouthim.Hewasnotagenius.Hisheartneverrodehishead.Hewasneitheroverlordedbysentimentnorhag-riddenbyimagination.OtherwisehemighthavebeenguiltyofthebeautifulexaggerationsinMelville's"Typee"ortheimaginativeorgiesinthelatter's"MobyDick."ItwasDana'scoolpoisethatsavedhimfrombeingspread-eagledandfloggedwhentwoofhismatesweresotreated;itwashislackofabandonthatpreventedhimfromtakinguppermanentlywiththesea,thatpreventedhimfromseeingmorethanonepoeticalspot,andmorethanoneromanticspotonallthecoastofOldCalifornia.Yettheseapparentdefectswerehisstrength.Theyenabledhimmagnificentlytowrite,andforall

time,thepictureofthesea-lifeofhistime.

Writtenclosetothemiddleofthelastcentury,suchhasbeentherevolutionworkedinman'smethodoftraffickingwiththesea,thatthelifeandconditionsdescribedinDana'sbookhavepassedutterlyaway.Gonearethecrackclippers,thedrivingcaptains,thehard-bittenbutefficientforemasthands.Remainonlycrawlingcargotanks,dirtytramps,greyhoundliners,andasombre,sordidtypeofsailingship.Theonlyrecordsbrokento-daybysailingvesselsarethoseforslowness.Theyarenolonger



builtforspeed,noraretheymannedbeforethemastbyassturdyasailorstock,noraftthemastaretheyofficeredbysail-carryingcaptainsanddrivingmates.

Speedislefttotheliners,whorunthesilk,andtea,andspices.Admiraltycourts,boardsoftrade,andunderwritersfrownupondrivingandsail-carrying.Nomorearethefree-and-easy,dare-devildays,whenfortunesweremadeinfastrunsandluckyventures,notaloneforowners,butforcaptainsaswell.Nothingisventurednow.Therisksofswiftpassagescannotbeabided.Freightsarecalculatedtothelastleastfractionofpercent.Thecaptainsdonospeculating,nobargain-makingfortheowners.Thelatterattendtoallthis,andbywireandcableraketheportsofthesevenseasinquestofcargoes,andthroughtheiragentsmakeallbusinessarrangements.

Ithasbeenlearnedthatsmallcrewsonly,andlargecarriersonly,canreturnadecentinterestontheinvestment.Theinevitablecorollaryisthatspeedandspiritareatadiscount.Thereisnodiscussionofthefactthatinthesailingmerchantmarinetheseamen,asaclass,havesadlydeteriorated.Mennolongersellfarmstogotosea.ButthetimeofwhichDanawriteswastheheydayoffortune-makingandadventureonthesea--withthefullconnotationofhardshipandperilalwaysattendant.

ItwasDana'sfortune,forthesakeofthepicture,thatthePilgrimwasanaverageship,withanaveragecrewandofficers,andmanagedwithaveragediscipline.EventheHAZINGthattookplaceaftertheCaliforniacoastwasreached,wasoftheaveragesort.ThePilgrimsavourednotinanywayofahell-ship.Thecaptain,whilenotthesweetest-naturedmanintheworld,wasonlyanaveragedown-eastdriver,neitherbrilliantnorslovenlyinhisseamanship,neithercruelnorsentimentalinthetreatmentofhismen.While,ontheonehand,therewerenoextralibertydays,nodelicaciesaddedtothemeagreforecastlefare,norgrogorhotcoffeeondoublewatches,ontheotherhandthecrewwerenotchronicallycrippledbythecontinualplayofknuckle-dustersand

belayingpins.Once,andonceonly,weremenfloggedorironed--averyfairaveragefortheyear1834,foratthattimefloggingonboardmerchantvesselswasalreadywellonthedecline.

Thedifferencebetweenthesea-lifethenandnowcanbenobetterepitomisedthaninDana'sdescriptionofthedressofthesailorofhisday:

"Thetrouserstightaroundthehips,andthencehanginglongandloosearoundthefeet,asuperabundanceofcheckedshirt,alow-crowned,well-varnishedblackhat,wornonthebackofthehead,withhalfafathomofblackribbonhangingoverthelefteye,andapeculiartietotheblacksilkneckerchief."

ThoughDanasailedfromBostononlythree-quartersofacenturyago,muchthatisatpresentobsoletewastheninfullsway.Forinstance,theoldwordLARBOARDwasstillinuse.HewasamemberoftheLARBOARDwatch.ThevesselwasontheLARBOARDtack.Itwasonlytheotherday,becauseofitssimilarityinsoundtostarboard,thatLARBOARDwaschangedtoPORT.Trytoimagine"Alllarboardbowlinesondeck!"beingshouteddownintotheforecastleofapresentdayship.YetthatwasthecallusedonthePilgrimtofetchDanaandtherestofhiswatchondeck.



Thechronometer,whichismerelytheleastimperfecttime-piecemanhasdevised,makespossiblethesurestandeasiestmethodbyfarofascertaininglongitude.YetthePilgrimsailedinadaywhenthechronometerwasjustcomingintogeneraluse.SolittlewasitdependeduponthatthePilgrimcarriedonlyone,andthatone,goingwrongattheoutset,wasneverusedagain.Anavigatorofthepresentwouldbeaghastifaskedtovoyagefortwoyears,fromBoston,aroundtheHorntoCalifornia,andbackagain,withoutachronometer.Inthosedayssuchaproceedingwasamatterofcourse,forthosewerethedayswhendeadreckoningwasindeedsomethingtoreckonon,whenrunningdownthelatitudewasacommonwayoffindingaplace,andwhenlunarobservationsweredirelynecessary.Itmaybefairlyassertedthatveryfewmerchantofficersofto-dayevermakealunarobservation,andthatalargepercentageareunabletodoit.

"Sept.22nd.,uponcomingondeckatsevenbellsinthemorningwefoundtheotherwatchaloftthrowingwateruponthesails,andlookingasternwesawasmall,clipper-builtbrigwithablackhullheadingdirectlyafterus.Wewenttoworkimmediately,andputallthecanvasuponthebrigwhichwecouldgetuponher,riggingoutoarsforstudding-sailyards;andcontinedwettingdownthesailsbybucketsofwaterwhippeduptothemast-head..

.Shewasarmed,andfullofmen,andshowednocolours."

Theforegoingsoundslikeaparagraphfrom"MidshipmanEasy"orthe"WaterWitch,"ratherthanaparagraphfromthesoberest,faithfullest,andmostliteralchronicleoftheseaeverwritten.Andyetthechasebyapirateoccurred,onboardthebrigPilgrim,onSeptember22nd,1834--somethinglikeonlytwogenerationsago.

Danawasthethorough-goingtypeofman,notoverbalancedanderratic,withoutquirkorquibbleoftemperament.Hewasefficient,butnotbrilliant.Hiswasageneralall-roundefficiency.Hewasefficientatthelaw;hewasefficientatcollege;hewasefficientasasailor;hewasefficientinthe

matterofpride,whenthatpridewasnomorethantheprideofaforecastlehand,attwelvedollarsamonth,inhisseaman'staskwelldone,inthesmartsailingofhiscaptain,intheclearnessandtrimnessofhisship.

ThereisnosailorwhosecocklesoftheheartwillnotwarmtoDana'sdescriptionofthefirsttimehesentdownaroyalyard.Onceortwicehehadseenitdone.Hegotanoldhandinthecrewtocoachhim.Andthen,thefirstanchorageatMonterey,beingprettyTHICKwiththesecondmate,hegothimtoaskthematetobesentupthefirsttimetheroyalyardswerestruck."Fortunately,"asDanadescribesit,"Igotthroughwithoutanywordfromtheofficer;andheardthe'welldone'ofthemate,when

theyardreachedthedeck,withasmuchsatisfactionasIeverfeltatCambridgeonseeinga'bene'atthefootofaLatinexercise."

"ThiswasthefirsttimeIhadtakenaweatherear-ring,andIfeltnotalittleproudtositastrideoftheweatheryard-arm,pasttheear-ring,andsingout'Haulouttoleeward!'"Hehadbeenoverayearatseabeforeheessayedthisableseaman'stask,buthedidit,andhediditwithpride.Andwithpride,hewentdownafour-hundredfootcliff,onapairoftop-gallantstudding-



sailhalyardsbenttogether,todislodgeseveraldollarsworthofstrandedbullockhides,thoughalltheacclaimhegotfromhismateswas:"Whatad-dfoolyouweretoriskyourlifeforhalfadozenhides!"

Inbrief,itwasjustthisefficiencyinpride,aswellaswork,thatenabledDanatosetdown,notmerelythephotographdetailoflifebeforethemastandhide-droghingonthecoastofCalifornia,butoftheuntarnishedsimplepsychologyandethicsoftheforecastlehandswhodroghedthehides,stoodatthewheel,madeandtookinsail,tarreddowntherigging,holystonedthedecks,turnedinall-standing,grumbledastheycutaboutthekid,criticisedtheseamanshipoftheirofficers,andestimatedthedurationoftheirexilefromthecubicspaceofthehide-house.

JACKLONDONGlenEllen,California,August13,1911.

AWICKEDWOMAN(CurtainRaiser)BYJACKLONDON

Scene--California.Time--Afternoonofasummerday.

CHARACTERS

LORETTA,Asweet,youngthing.Frightfullyinnocent.Aboutnineteenyearsold.Slender,delicate,afragileflower.Ingenuous.

NEDBASHFORD,Ajadedyoungmanoftheworld,whohas

philosophisedhisexperiencesandwhoiswithoutfaithintheveracityorpurityofwomen.

BILLYMARSH,AboyfromacountrytownwhoisjustaboutasinnocentasLoretta.Awkward.Positive.Rawandcallowyouth.

ALICEHEMINGWAY,Asocietywoman,good-hearted,andamatch-maker.

JACKHEMINGWAY,Herhusband.

MAID.

AWICKEDWOMAN

[CurtainrisesonaconventionallivingroomofacountryhouseinCalifornia.ItistheHemingwayhouseatSantaClara.Theroomisremarkableformagnificentstonefireplaceatrearcentre.Oneithersideoffireplacearegenerous,diamond-panedwindows.Wide,curtaineddoorwaystorightandleft.Toleft,front,table,withvaseofflowersandchairs.Toright,front,grandpiano.]



[CurtaindiscoversLORETTAseatedatpiano,notplaying,herbacktoit,facingNEDBASHFORD,whoisstanding.]

LORETTA.[Petulantly,fanningherselfwithsheetofmusic.]No,Iwon'tgofishing.It'stoowarm.Besides,thefishwon'tbitesoearlyintheafternoon.

NED.Oh,comeon.It'snotwarmatall.Andanyway,wewon'treallyfish.Iwanttotellyousomething.

LORETTA.[Stillpetulantly.]Youarealwayswantingtotellmesomething.

NED.Yes,butonlyinfun.Thisisdifferent.Thisisserious.Our...myhappinessdependsuponit.

LORETTA.[Speakingeagerly,nolongerpetulant,looking,seriousanddelighted,diviningaproposal.]Thendon'twait.Tellmerighthere.

NED.[Almostthreateningly.]ShallI?

LORETTA.[Challenging.]Yes.

[Helooksaroundapprehensivelyasthoughfearinginterruption,clearshisthroat,takesresolution,alsotakesLORETTA'shand.]

[LORETTAisstartled,timid,yetwillingtohear,naivelyunabletoconcealherloveforhim.]

NED.[Speakingsoftly.]Loretta...I,...eversinceImetyouIhave-

[JACKHEMINGWAYappearsinthedoorwaytotheleft,justentering.]

[NEDsuddenlydropsLORETTA'shand.Heshowsexasperation.]

[LORETTAshowsdisappointmentatinterruption.]

NED.Confoundit

LORETTA.[Shocked.]Ned!Whywillyouswearso?

NED.[Testily.]Thatisn'tswearing.

LORETTA.Whatisit,pray?

NED.Displeasuring.

JACKHEMINGWAY.[Whoiscrossingovertoright.]Squabblingagain?

LORETTA.[Indignantlyandwithdignity.]No,we'renot.

NED.[Gruffly.]Whatdoyouwantnow?

JACKHEMINGWAY.[Enthusiastically.]Comeonfishing.



NED.[Snappily.]No.It'stoowarm.

JACKHEMINGWAY.[Resignedly,goingoutright.]Youneedn'ttakeafellow'sheadoff.

LORETTA.Ithoughtyouwantedtogofishing.

NED.NotwithJack.

LORETTA.[Accusingly,fanningherselfvigorously.]Andyoutoldmeitwasn'twarmatall.

NED.[Speakingsoftly.]Thatisn'twhatIwantedtotellyou,Loretta.[Hetakesherhand.]DearLoretta-

[EnterabruptlyALICEHEMINGWAYfromright.]

[LORETTAsharplyjerksherhandaway,andlooksputout.]

[NEDtriesnottolookawkward.]

ALICEHEMINGWAY.Goodness!Ithoughtyou'dbothgonefishing!

LORETTA.[Sweetly.]Isthereanythingyouwant,Alice?

NED.[Tryingtobecourteous.]AnythingIcando?

ALICEHEMINGWAY.[Speakingquickly,andtryingtowithdraw.]No,no.Ionlycametoseeifthemailhadarrived.

LORETTAANDNED

[Speakingtogether.]No,ithasn'tarrived.

LORETTA.[Suddenlymovingtowarddoortoright.]Iamgoingtosee.

[NEDlooksatherreproachfully.]

[LORETTAlooksbacktantalisinglyfromdoorwayanddisappears.]

[NEDflingshimselfdisgustedlyintoMorrischair.]

ALICEHEMINGWAY.[Movingoverandstandinginfrontofhim.Speaksaccusingly.]Whathaveyoubeensayingtoher?

NED.[Disgruntled.]Nothing.

ALICEHEMINGWAY.[Threateningly.]Nowlistentome,Ned.

NED.[Earnestly.]Onmyword,Alice,I'vebeensayingnothingtoher.

ALICEHEMINGWAY.[Withsuddenchangeoffront.]Thenyououghttohavebeensayingsomethingtoher.

NED.[Irritably.Gettingchairforher,seatingher,andseatinghimselfagain.]Lookhere,Alice,Iknowyourgame.Youinvitedmedownheretomakeafoolofme.



ALICEHEMINGWAY.Nothingofthesort,sir.Iaskedyoudowntomeetasweetandunsulliedgirl--thesweetest,mostinnocentandingenuousgirlintheworld.

NED.[Dryly.]That'swhatyousaidinyourletter.

ALICEHEMINGWAY.Andthat'swhyyoucame.Jackhadbeentryingforayeartogetyoutocome.Hedidnotknowwhatkindofalettertowrite.

NED.IfyouthinkIcamebecauseofalineinaletteraboutagirlI'dneverseen-

ALICEHEMINGWAY.[Mockingly.]Thepoor,jaded,world-wornman,whoisnolongerinterestedinwomen...andgirls!Thepoor,tiredpessimistwhohaslostallfaithinthegoodnessofwomen-

NED.Forwhichyouareresponsible.

ALICEHEMINGWAY.[Incredulously.]I?

NED.Youareresponsible.WhydidyouthrowmeoverandmarryJack?

ALICEHEMINGWAY.Doyouwanttoknow?

NED.Yes.

ALICEHEMINGWAY.[Judiciously.]First,becauseIdidnotloveyou.Second,becauseyoudidnotloveme.[Shesmilesathisprotestinghandandattheprotestingexpressiononhisface.]Andthird,becausetherewerejustabouttwenty-sevenotherwomenatthattimethatyouloved,orthoughtyouloved.ThatiswhyImarriedJack.Andthatiswhyyoulostfaithinthegoodnessofwomen.Youhaveonlyyourselftoblame.

NED.[Admiringly.]Youtalksoconvincingly.Ialmostbelieve

youasIlistentoyou.AndyetIknowallthetimethatyouarelikealltherestofyoursex--faithless,unveracious,and...

[Heglaresather,butdoesnotproceed.]

ALICEHEMINGWAY.Goon.I'mnotafraid.

NED.[Withfinality.]Andimmoral.

ALICEHEMINGWAY.Oh!Youwretch!

NED.[Gloatingly.]That'sright.Getangry.Youmaybreakthefurnitureifyouwish.Idon'tmind.

ALICEHEMINGWAY.[Withsuddenchangeoffront,softly.]AndhowaboutLoretta?

[NEDgaspsandremainssilent.]

ALICEHEMINGWAY.Thedepthsofduplicitythatmustlurkunderthatsweetandinnocentexterior...accordingtoyourphilosophy!



NED.[Earnestly.]Lorettaisanexception,Iconfess.Sheisallthatyousaidinyourletter.Sheisalittlefairy,anangel.Ineverdreamedofanythinglikeher.Itisremarkabletofindsuchawomaninthisage.

ALICEHEMINGWAY.[Encouragingly.]Sheissonaive.

NED.[Takingthebait.]Yes,isn'tshe?Herfaceandhertonguebetrayallhersecrets.

ALICEHEMINGWAY.[Noddingherhead.]Yes,Ihavenoticedit.

NED.[Delightedly.]Haveyou?

ALICEHEMINGWAY.Shecannotconcealanything.Doyouknowthatshelovesyou?

NED.[Fallingintothetrap,eagerly.]Doyouthinkso?

ALICEHEMINGWAY.[Laughingandrising.]AndtothinkIoncepermittedyoutomakelovetomeforthreeweeks!

[NEDrises.]

[MAIDentersfromleftwithletters,whichshebringstoALICEHEMINGWAY.]

ALICEHEMINGWAY.[Runningoverletters.]Noneforyou,Ned.[Selectingtwolettersforherself.]Tradesmen.[HandingremainderofletterstoMAID.]AndthreeforLoretta.[SpeakingtoMAID.]Putthemonthetable,Josie.

[MAIDputslettersontabletoleftfront,andmakesexittoleft.]

NED.[Withshadeofjealousy.]Lorettaseemstohavequiteacorrespondence.

ALICEHEMINGWAY.[Withasigh.]Yes,asIusedtowhenIwasagirl.

NED.Buthersarefamilyletters.

ALICEHEMINGWAY.Yes,IdidnotnoticeanyfromBilly.

NED.[Faintly.]Billy?

ALICEHEMINGWAY.[Nodding.]Ofcourseshehastoldyouabouthim?

NED.[Gasping.]Shehashadlovers...already?

ALICEHEMINGWAY.Andwhynot?Sheisnineteen.

NED.[Haltingly.]This...er...thisBilly...?

ALICEHEMINGWAY.[Laughingandputtingherhandreassuringlyonhisarm.]Nowdon'tbealarmed,poor,tiredphilosopher.Shedoesn'tloveBillyatall.



[LORETTAentersfromright.]

ALICEHEMINGWAY.[ToLORETTA,noddingtowardtable.]Threelettersforyou.

LORETTA.[Delightedly.]Oh!Thankyou.

[LORETTAtripsswiftlyacrosstotable,looksatletters,sitsdown,opensletters,andbeginstoread.]

NED.[Suspiciously.]ButBilly?

ALICEHEMINGWAY.Iamafraidhelovesherveryhard.Thatiswhysheishere.Theyhadtosendheraway.Billywasmakinglifemiserableforher.Theywerelittlechildrentogether--playmates.AndBillyhasbeen,well,importunate.AndLoretta,poorchild,doesnotknowanythingaboutmarriage.Thatisall.

NED.[Reassured.]Oh,Isee.

[ALICEHEMINGWAYstartsslowlytowardrightexit,continuingconversationandaccompaniedbyNED.]

ALICEHEMINGWAY.[CallingtoLORETTA.]Areyougoingfishing,

Loretta?

[LORETTAlooksupfromletterandshakeshead.]

ALICEHEMINGWAY.[ToNED.]Thenyou'renot,Isuppose?

NED.No,it'stoowarm.

ALICEHEMINGWAY.ThenIknowtheplaceforyou.

NED.Where?

ALICEHEMINGWAY.Righthere.[Lookssignificantlyindirection

ofLORETTA.]Nowisyouropportunitytosaywhatyououghttosay.

[ALICEHEMINGWAYlaughsteasinglyandgoesouttoright.]

[NEDhesitates,startstofollowher,looksatLORETTA,andstops.Hetwistshismoustacheandcontinuestolookathermeditatively.]

[LORETTAisunawareofhispresenceandgoesonreading.Finishesletter,foldsit,replacesinenvelope,looksup,anddiscoversNED.]

LORETTA.[Startled.]Oh!Ithoughtyouweregone.

NED.[Walkingacrosstoher.]IthoughtI'dstayandfinishourconversation.

LORETTA.[Willingly,settlingherselftolisten.]Yes,youweregoingto...[Dropseyesandceasestalking.]

NED.[Takingherhand,tenderly.]IlittledreamedwhenIcamedownherevisitingthatIwastomeetmydestinyin--[Abruptly



releasesLORETTA'shand.]

[MAIDentersfromleftwithtray.]

[LORETTAglancesintotrayanddiscoversthatitisempty.ShelooksinquiringlyatMAID.]

MAID.Agentlemantoseeyou.Hehasn'tanycard.HesaidformetotellyouthatitwasBilly.

LORETTA.[Starting,lookingwithdismayandappealtoNED.]Oh!...Ned!

NED[Gracefullyandcourteously,risingtohisfeetandpreparingtogo.]Ifyou'llexcusemenow,I'llwaittillafterwardtotellyouwhatIwanted.

LORETTA.[Indismay.]WhatshallIdo?

NED.[Pausing.]Don'tyouwanttoseehim?[LORETTAshakesherhead.]Thendon't.

LORETTA.[Slowly.]Ican'tdothat.Weareoldfriends.We...werechildrentogether.[TotheMAID.]Sendhimin.[ToNED,

whohasstartedtogoouttowardright.]Don'tgo,Ned.

[MAIDmakesexittoleft.]

NED.[Hesitatingamoment.]I'llcomeback.

[NEDmakesexittoright.]

[LORETTA,leftaloneonstage,showsperturbationanddismay.]

[BILLYentersfromleft.Standsindoorwayamoment.Hisshoesaredusty.Helooksoverheated.HiseyesandfacebrightenatsightofLORETTA.]

BILLY.[Steppingforward,ardently.]Loretta!

LORETTA.[Notexactlyenthusiasticinherreception,goingslowlytomeethim.]Youneversaidyouwerecoming.

[BILLYshowsthatheexpectstokissher,butshemerelyshakeshishand.]

BILLY.[Lookingdownathisverydustyshoes.]Iwalkedfromthestation.

LORETTA.Ifyouhadletmeknow,thecarriagewouldhavebeen

sentforyou.

BILLY.[Withexpressionofshrewdness.]IfIhadletyouknow,youwouldn'thaveletmecome.

[BILLYlooksaroundstagecautiously,thentriestokissher.]

LORETTA.[Refusingtobekissed.]Won'tyousitdown?

BILLY.[Coaxingly.]Goon,justone.[LORETTAshakesheadand



holdshimoff.]Whynot?We'reengaged.

LORETTA.[Withdecision.]We'renot.Youknowwe'renot.YouknowIbrokeitoffthedaybeforeIcameaway.And...and...you'dbettersitdown.

[BILLYsitsdownonedgeofchair.LORETTAseatsherselfbytable.Billy,withoutrising,jerkshischairforwardtilltheyarefacingeachother,hiskneestouchinghers.Heyearnstowardher.Shemovesbackherchairslightly.]

BILLY.[Withsupremeconfidence.]That'swhatIcametoseeyoufor--togetengagedoveragain.

[BILLYhudgeschairforwardandtriestotakeherhand.]

[LORETTAhudgesherchairback.]

BILLY.[Drawingoutlargesilverwatchandlookingatit.]Nowlookhere,Loretta,Ihaven'tanytimetolose.I'vegottoleaveforthattrainintenminutes.AndIwantyoutosettheday.

LORETTA.Butwe'renotengaged,Billy.Sotherecan'tbeanysettingoftheday.

BILLY.[Withconfidence.]Butwe'regoingtobe.[Suddenlybreakingout.]Oh,Loretta,ifyouonlyknewhowI'vesuffered.ThatfirstnightIdidn'tsleepawink.Ihaven'tsleptmucheversince.[Hudgeschairforward.]Iwalkthefloorallnight.[Solemnly.]Loretta,Idon'teatenoughtokeepacanarybirdalive.Loretta...[Hudgeschairforward.]

LORETTA.[Hudgingherchairbackmaternally.]Billy,whatyouneedisatonic.HaveyouseenDoctorHaskins?

BILLY.[Lookingatwatchandevincingsignsofhaste.]Loretta,whenagirlkissesaman,itmeanssheisgoingtomarryhim.

LORETTA.Iknowit,Billy.But...[Sheglancestowardlettersontable.]CaptainKittdoesn'twantmetomarryyou.Hesays...[Shetakesletterandbeginstoopenit.]

BILLY.NevermindwhatCaptainKittsays.Hewantsyoutostayandbecompanyforyoursister.Hedoesn'twantyoutomarrymebecauseheknowsshewantstokeepyou.

LORETTA.Daisydoesn'twanttokeepme.Shewantsnothingbutmyownhappiness.Shesays--[Shetakessecondletterfromtableandbeginstoopenit.]

BILLY.NevermindwhatDaisysays-

LORETTA.[Takingthirdletterfromtableandbeginningtoopenit.]AndMarthasays-

BILLY.[Angrily.]DarnMarthaandthewholeboilingofthem!

LORETTA.[Reprovingly.]Oh,Billy!

BILLY.[Defensively.]Darnisn'tswearing,andyouknowit



isn't.

[Thereisanawkwardpause.Billyhaslostthethreadoftheconversationandhasvacantexpression.]

BILLY.[Suddenlyrecollecting.]NevermindCaptainKitt,andDaisy,andMartha,andwhattheywant.Thequestionis,whatdoyouwant?

LORETTA.[Appealingly.]Oh,Billy,I'msounhappy.

BILLY.[Ignoringtheappealandpressinghomethepoint.]Thethingis,doyouwanttomarryme?[Helooksathiswatch.]Justanswerthat.

LORETTA.Aren'tyouafraidyou'llmissthattrain?

BILLY.Darnthetrain!

LORETTA.[Reprovingly.]Oh,Billy!

BILLY.[Mostirascibly.]Darnisn'tswearing.[Plaintively.]That'sthewayyoualwaysputmeoff.Ididn'tcomeallthewayhereforatrain.Icameforyou.Nowjustanswermeonething.

Doyouwanttomarryme?

LORETTA.[Firmly.]No,Idon'twanttomarryyou.

BILLY.[Withassurance.]Butyou'vegotto,justthesame.

LORETTA.[Withdefiance.]Gotto?

BILLY.[Withunshakenassurance.]That'swhatIsaid--gotto.AndI'llseethatyoudo.

LORETTA.[Blazingwithanger.]Iamnolongerachild.Youcan'tbullyme,BillyMarsh!

BILLY.[Coolly.]I'mnottryingtobullyyou.I'mtryingtosaveyourreputation.

LORETTA.[Faintly.]Reputation?

BILLY.[Nodding.]Yes,reputation.[Hepausesforamoment,thenspeaksverysolemnly.]Loretta,whenawomankissesaman,she'sgottomarryhim.

LORETTA.[Appalled,faintly.]Gotto?

BILLY.[Dogmatically.]Itisthecustom.

LORETTA.[Brokenly.]Andwhen...a...awomankissesamananddoesn't...marryhim...?

BILLY.Thenthereisascandal.That'swhereallthescandalsyouseeinthepaperscomefrom.

[BILLYlooksatwatch.]

[LORETTAinsilentdespair.]



LORETTA.[Inabasement.]Youareagoodman,Billy.[Billyshowsthathebelievesit.]AndIamaverywickedwoman.

BILLY.No,you'renot,Loretta.Youjustdidn'tknow.

LORETTA.[Withagleamofhope.]Butyoukissedmefirst.

BILLY.Itdoesn'tmatter.Youletmekissyou.

LORETTA.[Hopedyingdown.]Butnotatfirst.

BILLY.Butyoudidafterwardandthat'swhatcounts.Youletmeyouinthegrape-arbour.Youletme-

LORETTA.[Withanguish]Don't!Don't!

BILLY.[Relentlessly.]--kissyouwhenyouwereplayingthepiano.Youletmekissyouthatdayofthepicnic.AndIcan'trememberallthetimesyouletmekissyougoodnight.

LORETTA.[Beginningtoweep.]Notmorethanfive.

BILLY.[Withconviction.]Eightatleast.

LORETTA.[Reproachfully,stillweeping.]Youtoldmeitwasallright.

BILLY.[Emphatically.]Soitwasallright--untilyousaidyouwouldn'tmarrymeafterall.Thenitwasascandal--onlynooneknowsityet.Ifyoumarrymenooneeverwillknowit.[Looksatwatch.]I'vegottogo.[Standsup.]Where'smyhat?

LORETTA.[Sobbing.]Thisisawful.

BILLY.[Approvingly.]Youbetit'sawful.Andthere'sonlyonewayout.[Looksanxiouslyaboutforhat.]Whatdoyousay?

LORETTA.[Brokenly.]Imustthink.I'llwritetoyou.[Faintly.]Thetrain?Yourhat'sinthehall.

BILLY.[Looksatwatch,hastilytriestokissher,succeedsonlyinshakinghand,startsacrossstagetowardleft.]Allright.Youwritetome.Writeto-morrow.[Stopsforamomentindoor-wayandspeaksverysolemnly.]Remember,Loretta,theremustbenoscandal.

[Billygoesout.]

[LORETTAsitsinchairquietlyweeping.Slowlydrieseyes,rises

fromchair,andstands,undecidedastowhatshewilldonext.]

[NEDentersfromright,peeping.DiscoversthatLORETTAisalone,andcomesquietlyacrossstagetoher.WhenNEDcomesuptohershebeginsweepingagainandtriestoturnherheadaway.NEDcatchesbothherhandsinhisandcompelshertolookathim.Sheweepsharder.]

NED.[Puttingonearmprotectinglyaroundhershoulderanddrawinghertowardhim.]There,there,littleone,don'tcry.



LORETTA.[Turningherfacetohisshoulderlikeatiredchild,sobbing.]Oh,Ned,ifyouonlyknewhowwickedIam.

NED.[Smilingindulgently.]Whatisthematter,littleone?Hasyourdearlybelovedsisterfailedtowritetoyou?[LORETTAshakeshead.]HasHemingwaybeenbullyingyou?[LORETTAshakeshead.]Thenitmusthavebeenthatcallerofyours?[Longpause,duringwhichLORETTA'sweepinggrowsmoreviolent.]Tellmewhat'sthematter,andwe'llseewhatIcando.[Helightlykissesherhair--solightlythatshedoesnotknow.]

LORETTA.[Sobbing.]Ican't.Youwilldespiseme.Oh,Ned,Iamsoashamed.

NED.[Laughingincredulously.]Letusforgetallaboutit.Iwanttotellyousomethingthatmaymakemeveryhappy.Myfondesthopeisthatitwillmakeyouhappy,too.Loretta,Iloveyou-

LORETTA.[Utteringasharpcryofdelight,thenmoaning.]Toolate!

NED.[Surprised.]Toolate?

LORETTA.[Stillmoaning.]Oh,whydidI?[NEDsomewhatstiffens.]Iwassoyoung.Ididnotknowtheworldthen.

NED.Whatisitallaboutanyway?

LORETTA.Oh,I...he...Billy...Iamawickedwoman,Ned.Iknowyouwillneverspeaktomeagain.

NED.This...er...thisBilly--whathashebeendoing?

LORETTA.I...he...Ididn'tknow.Iwassoyoung.Icouldnothelpit.Oh,Ishallgomad,Ishallgomad!

[NED'sencirclingarmgoeslimp.Hegentlydisengagesheranddepositsherinbigchair.]

[LORETTAburiesherfaceandsobsafresh.]

NED.[Twistingmoustachefiercely,regardingherdubiously,hesitatingamoment,thendrawingupchairandsittingdown.]I...Idonotunderstand.

LORETTA.[Wailing.]Iamsounhappy!

NED.[Inquisitorially.]Whyunhappy?

LORETTA.Because...he...hewantstomarryme.

NED.[Hisfacebrighteninginstantly,leaningforwardandlayingahandsoothinglyonhers.]Thatshouldnotmakeanygirlunhappy.Becauseyoudon'tlovehimisnoreason--[Abruptlybreakingoff.]Ofcourseyoudon'tlovehim?[LORETTAshakesherheadandshouldersvigorously.]What?

LORETTA.[Explosively.]No,Idon'tloveBilly!Idon'twantto



loveBilly!

NED.[Withconfidence.]Becauseyoudon'tlovehimisnoreasonthatyoushouldbeunhappyjustbecausehehasproposedtoyou.

LORETTA.[Sobbing.]That'sthetrouble.IwishIdidlovehim.Oh,IwishIweredead.

NED.[Growingcomplacent.]Nowmydearchild,youareworryingyourselfovertrifles.[Hissecondhandjoinsthefirstinholdingherhands.]Womendoiteveryday.Becauseyouhavechangedyourmind,ordidnotknowyoumind,becauseyouhave--touseanunnecessarilyharshword--jiltedaman-

LORETTA.[Interrupting,raisingherheadandlookingathim.]Jilted?OhNed,ifthatwereaall!

NED.[Hollowvoice.]All!

[NED'shandsslowlyretreatfromhers.Heopenshismouthasthoughtospeakfurther,thenchangeshismindandremainssilent.]

LORETTA.[Protestingly.]ButIdon'twanttomarryhim!

NED.ThenIshouldn't.

LORETTA.ButIoughttomarryhim.

NED.OUGHTtomarryhim?[LORETTAnods.]Thatisastrongword.

LORETTA.[Nodding.]Iknowitis.[Herlipsaretrembling,butshestrivesforcontrolandmanagestospeakmorecalmly.]Iamawickedwoman.Aterriblewickedwoman.NooneknowshowwickedIam...exceptBilly.

NED.[Starting,lookingatherqueerly.]He...Billyknows?

[LORETTAnods.Hedebateswithhimselfamoment.]Tellmeaboutit.Youmusttellmeallofit.

LORETTA.[Faintly,asthoughabouttoweepagain.]Allofit?

NED.[Firmly.]Yes,allofit.

LORETTA.[Haltingly.]And...will...you...ever...forgive...me?

NED.[Drawingalong,breath,desperately.]Yes,I'llforgiveyou.Goahead.

LORETTA.Therewasnoonetotellme.Wewerewitheachothersomuch.Ididnotknowanythingoftheworld...then.[Pauses.]

NED.[Impatiently.]Goon.

LORETTA.IfIhadonlyknown.[Pauses.]

NED.[Bitinghislipandclenchinghishands.]Yes,yes.Goon.

LORETTA.Weweretogetheralmosteveryevening.



NED.[Savagely.]Billy?

LORETTA.Yes,ofcourse,Billy.Wewerewitheachothersomuch...IfIhadonlyknown...Therewasnoonetotellme...Iwassoyoung...[Breaksdowncrying.]

NED.[Leapingtohisfeet,explosively.]Thescoundrel!

LORETTA.[Liftingherhead.]Billyisnotascoundrel...He...he...isagoodman.

NED.[Sarcastically.]Isupposeyou'llbetellingmenextthatitwasallyourfault.[LORETTAnods.]What!

LORETTA.[Steadily.]Itwasallmyfault.Ishouldneverhavelethim.Iwastoblame.

NED.[Pacesupanddownforaminute,stopsinfrontofher,andspeakswithresignation.]Allright.Idon'tblameyouintheleast,Loretta.Andyouhavebeenveryhonest.Itis...er...commendable.ButBillyisright,andyouarewrong.Youmustgetmarried.

LORETTA.[Indim,far-awayvoice.]ToBilly?

NED.Yes,toBilly.I'llseetoit.Wheredoeshelive?I'llmakehim.Ifhewon'tI'll...I'llshoothim!

LORETTA.[Cryingoutwithalarm.]Oh,Ned,youwon'tdothat?

NED.[Sternly.]Ishall.

LORETTA.ButIdon'twanttomarryBilly.

NED.[Sternly.]Youmust.AndBillymust.Doyouunderstand?Itistheonlything.

LORETTA.That'swhatBillysaid.

NED.[Triumphantly.]Yousee,Iamright.

LORETTA.Andif...ifIdon'tmarryhim...therewillbe...scandal?

NED.[Calmly.]Yes,therewillbescandal.

LORETTA.That'swhatBillysaid.Oh,Iamsounhappy!

[LORETTAbreaksdownintoviolentweeping.]

[NEDpacesgrimlyupanddown,nowandagainfiercelytwistinghismoustache.]

LORETTA.[Faceburied,sobbingandcryingallthetime.]

Idon'twanttoleaveDaisy!Idon'twanttoleaveDaisy!WhatshallIdo?WhatshallIdo?HowwasItoknow?Hedidn'ttellme.Nobodyelseeverkissedme.[NEDstopscuriouslytolisten.Ashelistenshisfacebrightens.]Ineverdreamedakisscould



besoterrible...until...untilhetoldme.Heonlytoldmethismorning.

NED.[Abruptly.]Isthatwhatyouarecryingabout?

LORETTA.[Reluctantly.]N-no.

NED.[Inhopelessvoice,thebrightnessgoneoutofhisface,abouttobeginpacingagain.]Thenwhatareyoucryingabout?

LORETTA.BecauseyousaidIhadtomarryBilly.Idon'twanttomarryBilly.Idon'twanttoleaveDaisy.Idon'tknowwhatIwant.IwishIweredead.

NED.[Nervinghimselfforanothereffort.]Nowlookhere,Loretta,besensible.Whatisthisaboutkisses?Youhaven'ttoldmeeverythingafterall.

LORETTA.I...Idon'twanttotellyoueverything.

NED.[Imperatively.]Youmust.

LORETTA.[Surrendering.]Well,then...mustI?

NED.Youmust.

LORETTA.[Floundering.]He...I...we...Ilethim,andhekissedme.

NED.[Desperately,controllinghimself.]Goon.

LORETTA.Hesayseight,butIcan'tthinkofmorethanfivetimes.

NED.Yes,goon.

LORETTA.That'sall.

NED.[Withvastincredulity.]All?

LORETTA.[Puzzled.]All?

NED.[Awkwardly.]Imean...er...nothingworse?

LORETTA.[Puzzled.]Worse?Asthoughtherecouldbe.Billysaid-

NED.[Interrupting.]When?

LORETTA.Thisafternoon.Justnow.Billysaidthatmy...our

...our...ourkisseswereterribleifwedidn'tgetmarried.

NED.Whatelsedidhesay?

LORETTA.Hesaidthatwhenawomanpermittedamantokisshershealwaysmarriedhim.Thatitwasawfulifshedidn't.Itwasthecustom,hesaid;andIsayitisabad,wickedcustom,andithasbrokenmyheart.Ishallneverbehappyagain.IknowIamterrible,butIcan'thelpit.Imusthavebeenbornwicked.



NED.[Absent-mindedlybringingoutacigaretteandstrikingamatch.]DoyoumindifIsmoke?[Comingtohimselfagain,andflingingawaymatchandcigarette.]Ibegyourpardon.Idon'twanttosmoke.Ididn'tmeanthatatall.WhatImeanis...[HebendsoverLORETTA,catchesherhandsinhis,thensitsonarmofchair,softlyputsonearmaroundher,andisabouttokissher.]

LORETTA.[Withhorror,repulsinghim.]No!No!

NED.[Surprised.]What'sthematter?

LORETTA.[Agitatedly.]WouldyoumakemeawickederwomanthanIam?

NED.Akiss?

LORETTA.Therewillbeanotherscandal.Thatwouldmaketwoscandals.

NED.TokissthewomanIlove...ascandal?

LORETTA.Billylovesme,andhesaidso.

NED.Billyisajoker...orelseheisasinnocentasyou.

LORETTA.Butyousaidsoyourself.

NED.[Takenaback.]I?

LORETTA.Yes,yousaidityourself,withyourownlips,nottenminutesago.Ishallneverbelieveyouagain.

NED.[Masterfullyputtingarmaroundheranddrawinghertowardhim.]AndIamajoker,too,andaverywickedman.Nevertheless,youmusttrustme.Therewillbenothingwrong.

LORETTA.[Preparingtoyield.]Andno...scandal?

NED.Scandalfiddlesticks.Loretta,Iwantyoutobemywife.[Hewaitsanxiously.]

[JACKHEMINGWAY,infishingcostume,appearsindoorwaytorightandlookson.]

NED.Youmightsaysomething.

LORETTA.Iwill...if...

[ALICEHEMINGWAYappearsindoorwaytoleftandlookson.]

NED.[Insuspense.]Yes,goon.

LORETTA.IfIdon'thavetomarryBilly.

NED.[Almostshouting.]Youcan'tmarrybothofus!

LORETTA.[Sadly,repulsinghimwithherhands.]Then,Ned,Icannotmarryyou.



NED.[Dumbfounded.]W-what?

LORETTA.[Sadly.]BecauseIcan'tmarrybothofyou.

NED.Boshandnonsense!

LORETTA.I'dliketomarryyou,but...

NED.Thereisnothingtopreventyou.

LORETTA.[Withsadconviction.]Oh,yes,thereis.YousaidyourselfthatIhadtomarryBilly.Yousaidyouwoulds-s-shoothimifhedidn't.

NED.[Drawinghertowardhim.]Nevertheless...

LORETTA.[Slightlyholdinghimoff.]Anditisn'tthecustom...what...Billysaid?

NED.No,itisn'tthecustom.Now,Loretta,willyoumarryme?

LORETTA.[Poutingdemurely.]Don'tbeangrywithme,Ned.[Hegathersherintohisarmsandkissesher.Shepartiallyfreesherself,gasping.]Iwishitwerethecustom,becausenowI'd

havetomarryyou,Ned,wouldn'tI?

[NEDandLORETTAkissasecondtimeandprofoundly.]

[JACKHEMINGWAYchuckles.]

[NEDandLORETTA,startled,butstillineachother'sarms,lookaround.NEDlookssillilyatALICEHEMINGWAY.LORETTAlooksatJACKHEMINGWAY.]

LORETTA.Idon'tcare.

CURTAIN

THEBIRTHMARKSKETCHBYJACKLONDONwrittenforRobertandJuliaFitzsimmons

SCENE--OneoftheclubroomsoftheWestBayAthleticClub.Nearcentrefrontisalargetablecoveredwithnewspapersandmagazines.Atleftapunching-bagapparatus.Atright,againstwall,adesk,onwhichrestsadesk-telephone.Dooratreartowardleft.Onwallsareframedpicturesofpugilists,

conspicuousamongwhichisoneofRobertFitzsimmons.Appropriatefurnishings,etc.,suchasfoils,clubs,dumb-bellsandtrophies.

[EnterMAUDSYLVESTER.]

[Sheisdressedasaman,ineveningclothes,preferablyaTuxedo.Inherhandisacard,andunderherarmapaper-wrappedparcel.Shepeepsaboutcuriouslyandadvancestotable.Sheistimorousandexcited,elatedandatthesametimefrightened.Hereyesaredancingwithexcitement.]



MAUD.[Pausingbytable.]Notasoulsawme.Iwonderwhereeverybodyis.AndthatbigbrotherofminesaidIcouldnotgetin.[Shereadsbackofcard.]"Hereismycard,Maudie.Ifyoucanuseit,goahead.Butyouwillnevergetinsidethedoor.Iconsidermybetasgoodaswon."[Lookingup,triumphantly.]Youdo,doyou?Oh,ifyoucouldseeyourlittlesisternow.Heresheis,inside.[Pauses,andlooksabout.]SothisistheWestBayAthleticClub.Nowomenallowed.Well,hereIam,ifIdon'tlooklikeone.[Stretchesoutonelegandthentheother,andlooksatthem.Leavingcardandparcelontable,shestrutsaroundlikeaman,looksatpicturesofpugilistsonwalls,readingaloudtheirnamesandmakingappropriateremarks.ButshestopsbeforetheportraitofFitzsimmonsandreadsaloud.]"RobertFitzsimmons,thegreatestwarriorofthemall."[Claspshands,andlookingupatportraitmurmurs.]Oh,youdear!

[Continuesstruttingaround,imitatingwhatsheconsidersareaman'sstrideandswagger,returnstotableandproceedstounwrapparcel.]Well,I'llgooutlikeagirl,ifIdidcomeinlikeaman.[Dropswrappingpaperontableandholdsupawoman'slongautomobilecloakandamotorbonnet.Issuddenlystartledbysoundofapproachingfootstepsandglancesinafrightenedwaytowarddoor.]Mercy!Herecomessomebodynow![Glancesabout

herinalarm,dropscloakandbonnetonfloorclosetotable,seizesahandfulofnewspapers,andrunstolargeleatherchairtorightoftable,wheresheseatsherselfhurriedly.Onepapersheholdsupbeforeher,hidingherfaceasshepretendstoread.Unfortunatelythepaperisupsidedown.Theotherpaperslieonherlap.]

[EnterROBERTFITZSIMMONS.]

[Helooksabout,advancestotable,takesoutcigarettecaseandisabouttoselectone,whenhenoticesmotorcloakandbonnetonfloor.Helayscigarettecaseontableandpicksthemup.Theystrikehimasprofoundlycuriousthingstobeinaclubroom.He

looksatMAUD,thenseescardontable.Hepicksitupandreachittohimself,thenlooksatherwithcomprehension.Hiddenbyhernewspaper,sheseesnothing.Helooksatcardagainandreadsandspeaksinanaside.]

FITZSIMMONS."Maudie.JohnH.Sylvester."ThatmustbeJackSylvester'ssisterMaud.[FITZSIMMONSshowsbyhisexpressionthatheisgoingtoplayajoke.Tossingcloakandbonnetunderthetableheplacescardinhisvestpocket,selectsachair,sitsdown,andlooksatMAUD.Henotespaperisupsidedown,ishugelytickled,andlaughssilently.]Hello![Newspaperisagitatedbyslighttremor.Hespeaksmoreloudly.]Hello![Newspapershakesbadly.Hespeaksveryloudly.]Hello!

MAUD.[Peepingathimovertopofpaperandspeakinghesitatingly.]H-h-hello!

FITZSIMMONS.[Gruffly.]Youareaqueerone,readingapaperupsidedown.

MAUD.[Loweringnewspaperandtryingtoappearatease.]It'squiteatrick,isn'tit?Ioftenpractiseit.I'mrealcleveratit,youknow.



FITZSIMMONS.[Grunts,thenadds.]SeemstomeIhaveseenyoubefore.

MAUD.[Glancingquicklyfromhisfacetoportraitandbackagain.]Yes,andIknowyou--YouareRobertFitzsimmons.

FITZSIMMONS.IthoughtIknewyou.

MAUD.Yes,itwasoutinSanFrancisco.Mypeoplestilllivethere.I'mjust--ahem--doingNewYork.

FITZSIMMONS.ButIdon'tquiterememberthename.

MAUD.Jones--HarryJones.

FITZSIMMONS.[Hugelydelighted,leapingfromchairandstridingovertoher.]Sure.[Slapsherresoundinglyonshoulder.]

[Sheisnearlycrushedbytheweightoftheblow,andatthesametimeshocked.Shescramblestoherfeet.]

FITZSIMMONS.Gladtoseeyou,Harry.[Hewringsherhand,sothatithurts.]Gladtoseeyouagain,Harry.[Hecontinues

wringingherhandandpumpingherarm.]

MAUD.[Strugglingtowithdrawherhandandfinallysucceeding.Hervoiceisratherfaint.]Ye-es,er...Bob...er...gladtoseeyouagain.[Shelooksruefullyatherbruisedfingersandsinksintochair.Then,recollectingherpart,shecrossesherlegsinamannishway.]

FITZSIMMONS.[Crossingtodeskatright,againstwhichheleans,facingher.]YouwereawildyoungrascalinthoseSanFranciscodays.[Chuckling.]Lord,Lord,howitallcomesbacktome.

MAUD.[Boastfully.]Iwaswild--some.

FITZSIMMONS.[Grinning.]Ishouldsay!RememberthatnightIputyoutobed?

MAUD.[Forgettingherself,indignantly.]Sir!

FITZSIMMONS.Youwere...er...drunk.

MAUD.Ineverwas!

FITZSIMMONS.Surelyyouhaven'tforgottenthatnight!Youbeganwithdroppingchampagnebottlesoutoftheclubwindowsontheheadsofthepeopleonthesidewalk,andyouwoundupby

assaultingacabman.AndletmetellyouIsavedyoufromagoodlickingrightthere,andsquareditwiththepolice.Don'tyouremember?

MAUD.[Noddinghesitatingly.]Yes,itisbeginningtocomebacktome.Iwasabittightthatnight.

FITZSIMMONS.[Exultantly.]Abittight!Why,beforeIcouldgetyoutobedyouinsistedontellingmethestoryofyourlife.



MAUD.DidI?Idon'trememberthat.

FITZSIMMONS.Ishouldsaynot.Youwerepastrememberinganythingbythattime.Youhadyourarmsaroundmyneck-

MAUD.[Interrupting.]Oh!

FITZSIMMONS.Andyoukeptrepeatingoverandover,"Bob,dearBob."

MAUD.[Springingtoherfeet.]Oh!Ineverdid![Recollectingherself.]PerhapsImusthave.Iwasatriflewildinthosedays,Iadmit.ButI'mwisenow.I'vesowedmywildoatsandsteadieddown.

FITZSIMMONS.I'mgladtohearthat,Harry.Youweretearingoffaprettyfastpaceinthosedays.[Pause,inwhichMAUDnods.]Stillpunchthebag?

MAUD.[Inquickalarm,glancingatpunchingbag.]No,I'vegotoutofthehangofit.

FITZSIMMONS.[Reproachfully.]Youhaven'tforgottenthatright-and-left,arm,elbowandshouldermovementItaughtyou?

MAUD.[Withhesitation.]N-o-o.

FITZSIMMONS.[Movingtowardbagtoleft.]Then,comeon.

MAUD.[Risingreluctantlyandfollowing.]I'dratherseeyoupunchthebag.I'djustloveto.

FITZSIMMONS.Iwill,afterward.Yougotoitfirst.

MAUD.[Eyeingthebaginalarm.]No;you.I'moutofpractice.

FITZSIMMONS.[Lookingathersharply.]Howmanydrinkshaveyou

hadto-night?

MAUD.Notaone.Idon'tdrink--thatis--er--onlyoccasionally.

FITZSIMMONS.[Indicatingbag.]Thengotoit.

MAUD.No;ItellyouIamoutofpractice.I'veforgottenitall.Yousee,Imadeadiscovery.

[Pauses.]

FITZSIMMONS.Yes?

MAUD.I--I--yourememberwhatalightvoiceIalwayshad--almostsoprano?

[FITZSIMMONSnods.]

MAUD.Well,Idiscovereditwasaperfectfalsetto.

[FITZSIMMONSnods.]

MAUD.I'vebeenpractisingiteversince.Experts,inanother



room,wouldswearitwasawoman'svoice.Sowouldyou,ifyouturnedyourbackandIsang.

FITZSIMMONS.[Whohasbeenlaughingincredulously,nowbecomessuspicious.]Lookhere,kid,Ithinkyouareanimpostor.YouarenotHarryJonesatall.

MAUD.Iam,too.

FITZSIMMONS.Idon'tbelieveit.Hewasheavierthanyou.

MAUD.Ihadthefeverlastsummerandlostalotofweight.

FITZSIMMONS.YouaretheHarryJonesthatgotsousesdandhadtobeputtobed?

MAUD.Y-e-s.

FITZSIMMONS.ThereisonethingIrememberverydistinctly.HarryJoneshadabirthmarkonhisknee.[Helooksatherlegssearchingly.]

MAUD.[Embarrassed,thenresolvingtocarryitout.]Yes,righthere.[Sheadvancesrightlegandtouchesit.]

FITZSIMMONS.[Triumphantly.]Wrong.Itwastheotherknee.

MAUD.Ioughttoknow.

FITZSIMMONS.Youhaven'tanybirthmarkatall.

MAUD.Ihave,too.

FITZSIMMONS.[Suddenlyspringingtoherandattemptingtoseizeherleg.]Thenwe'llproveit.Letmesee.

MAUD.[Inapanicbacksawayfromhimandresistshisattempts,

untilgrinninginanasidetotheaudience,hegivesover.She,inanasidetoaudience.]Fancyhiswantingtoseemybirthmark.

FITZSIMMONS.[Bullying.]Thentakeagoatthebag.[Sheshakesherhead.]You'renotHarryJones.

MAUD.[Approachingpunchingbag.]Iam,too.

FITZSIMMONS.Thenhitit.

MAUD.[Resolvingtoattemptit,hitsbagseveralniceblows,andthenisstruckonthenosebyit.]Oh!

[Recoveringherselfandrubbinghernose.]ItoldyouIwasoutofpractice.Youpunchthebag,Bob.

FITZSIMMONS.Iwill,ifyouwillshowmewhatyoucandowiththatwonderfulsopranovoiceofyours.

MAUD.Idon'tdare.Everybodywouldthinktherewasawomanintheclub.

FITZSIMMONS.[Shakinghishead.]No,theywon't.They'veall



gonetothefight.There'snotasoulinthebuilding.

MAUD.[Alarmed,inaweakvoice.]Not--a--soul--in--thebuilding?

FITZSIMMONS.Notasoul.OnlyyouandI.

MAUD.[Startinghurriedlytowarddoor.]ThenImustgo.

FITZSIMMONS.What'syourhurry?Sing.

MAUD.[Turningbackwithnewresolve.]Letmeseeyoupunchthebag,--er--Bob.

FITZSIMMONS.Yousingfirst.

MAUD.No;youpunchfirst.

FITZSIMMONS.Idon'tbelieveyouareHarry-

MAUD.[Hastily.]Allright,I'llsing.Yousitdownoverthereandturnyourback.

[FITZSIMMONSobeys.]

[MAUDwalksovertothetabletowardright.Sheisabouttosing,whenshenoticesFITZSIMMONS'cigarettecase,picksitup,andinanasidereadshisnameonitandspeaks.]

MAUD."RobertFitzsimmons."ThatwillprovetomybrotherthatIhavebeenhere.

FITZSIMMONS.Hurryup.

[MAUDhastilyputscigarettecaseinherpocketandbeginstosing.]

SONG

[DuringthesongFITZSIMMONSturnshisheadslowlyandlooksatherwithgrowingadmiration.]

MAUD.Howdidyoulikeit?

FITZSIMMONS.[Gruffly.]Rotten.Anybodycouldtellitwasaboy'svoice-

MAUD.Oh!

FITZSIMMONS.Itisroughandcoarseanditcrackedoneveryhigh

note.

MAUD.Oh!Oh!

[Recollectingherselfandshrugginghershoulders.]Oh,verywell.Nowlet'sseeifyoucandoanybetterwiththebag.

[FITZSIMMONStakesoffcoatandgivesexhibition.]

[MAUDlooksoninanecstasyofadmiration.]



MAUD.[Ashefinishes.]Beautiful!Beautiful!

[FITZSIMMONSputsoncoatandgoesoverandsitsdownneartable.]Nothinglikethebagtolimberoneup.Ifeellikeafightingcock.Harry,let'sgooutonatoot,youandI.

MAUD.Wh-a-a-t?

FITZSIMMONS.Atoot.Youknow--oneofthoserip-snortingnightsyouusedtomake.

MAUD.[Emphatically,asshepicksupnewspapersfromleatherchair,sitsdown,andplacesthemonherlap.]I'lldonothingofthesort.I've--I'vereformed.

FITZSIMMONS.Youusedtojoy-rideliketheverydevil.

MAUD.Iknowit.

FITZSIMMONS.Andyoualwayshadaprettygirlortwoalong.

MAUD.[Boastfully,inmannish,fashion.]Oh,Istillhavemyfling.Doyouknowany--well,--er,--nicegirls?

FITZSIMMONS.Sure.

MAUD.Putmewise.

FITZSIMMONS.Sure.YouknowJackSylvester?

MAUD.[Forgettingherself.]He'smybrother-

FITZSIMMONS.[Exploding.]What!

MAUD.--In-law'sfirstcousin.

FITZSIMMONS.Oh!

MAUD.SoyouseeIdon'tknowhimverywell.Ionlymethimonce--attheclub.Wehadadrinktogether.

FITZSIMMONS.Thenyoudon'tknowhissister?

MAUD.[Starting.]Hissister?I--Ididn'tknowhehadasister.

FITZSIMMONS.[Enthusiastically.]She'sapeach.Aqueen.Alittlebitofallright.A--aloo-loo.

MAUD.[Flattered.]Sheis,isshe?

FITZSIMMONS.She'sascream.Yououghttogetacquaintedwithher.

MAUD.[Slyly.]Youknowher,then?

FITZSIMMONS.Youbet.

MAUD.[Aside.]Oh,ho![ToFITZSIMMONS.]Knowherverywell?



FITZSIMMONS.I'vetakenheroutmoretimesthanIcanremember.You'lllikeher,I'msure.

MAUD.Thanks.Tellmesomemoreabouther.

FITZSIMMONS.Shedressesabitloud.Butyouwon'tmindthat.Andwhateveryoudo,don'ttakehertoeat.

MAUD.[Hidingherchagrin.]Whynot?

FITZSIMMONS.Ineversawsuchanappetite-

MAUD.Oh!

FITZSIMMONS.It'sfairsickening.Shemusthaveatape-worm.Andshethinksshecansing.

MAUD.Yes?

FITZSIMMONS.Rotten.Youcandobetteryourself,andthat'snotsayingmuch.She'sanicegirl,reallysheis,butsheistheblacksheepofthefamily.Funny,isn'tit?

MAUD.[Weakvoice.]Yes,funny.

FITZSIMMONS.HerbrotherJackisallright.Buthecan'tdoanythingwithher.She'sa--a-

MAUD.[Grimly.]Yes.Goon.

FITZSIMMONS.Aholyterror.Sheoughttobeinareformschool.

MAUD.[Springingtoherfeetandslammingnewspapersinhisface.]Oh!Oh!Oh!Youliar!Sheisn'tanythingofthesort!

FITZSIMMONS.[Recoveringfromtheonslaughtandmakingbelieveheisangry,advancingthreateninglyonher.]NowI'mgoingtoputa

headonyou.Youyounghoodlum.

MAUD.[Allalarmandcontrition,backingawayfromhim.]Don't!Pleasedon't!I'msorry!Iapologise.I--Ibegyourpardon,Bob.OnlyIdon'tliketoheargirlstalkedaboutthatway,even--evenifitistrue.Andyououghttoknow.

FITZSIMMONS.[Subsidingandresumingseat.]You'vechangedalot,Imustsay.

MAUD.[Sittingdowninleatherchair.]ItoldyouI'dreformed.Letustalkaboutsomethingelse.Whyisitgirlslikeprize-fighters?Ishouldthink--ahem--Imeanitseemstomethatgirls

wouldthinkprize-fightershorrid.

FITZSIMMONS.Theyaremen.

MAUD.Butthereissomuchcrookednessinthegame.Onehearsaboutitallthetime.

FITZSIMMONS.Therearecrookedmenineverybusinessandprofession.Thebestfightersarenotcrooked.



MAUD.I--er--Ithoughttheyallfakedfightswhentherewasenoughinit.

FITZSIMMONS.Notthebestones.

MAUD.Didyou--er--everfakeafight?

FITZSIMMONS.[Lookingathersharply,thenspeakingsolemnly.]Yes.Once.

MAUD.[Shocked,speakingsadly.]AndIalwaysheardofyouandthoughtofyouastheonecleanchampionwhoneverfaked.

FITZSIMMONS.[Gentlyandseriously.]Letmetellyouaboutit.ItwasdowninAustralia.Ihadjustbeguntofightmywayup.ItwaswitholdBillHobartoutatRushcuttersBay.Ithrewthefighttohim.

MAUD.[Repelled,disgusted.]Oh!Icouldnothavebelieveditofyou.

FITZSIMMONS.Letmetellyouaboutit.Billwasanoldfighter.Notanoldman,youknow,buthe'dbeeninthefightinggamealongtime.Hewasaboutthirty-eightandagamermannever

enteredthering.Buthewasinhardluck.Youngerfighterswerecomingup,andhewasbeingcrowdedout.Atthattimeitwasn'toftenhegotafightandthepursesweresmall.BesidesitwasadroughtyearinAustralia.Youdon'tknowwhatthatmeans.Itmeansthattherangersarestarved.Itmeansthatthesheeparestarvedanddiebythemillions.Itmeansthatthereisnomoneyandnowork,andthatthemenandwomenandkiddiesstarve.

BillHobarthadamissusandthreekidsandatthetimeofhisfightwithmetheywereallstarving.Theydidnothaveenoughtoeat.Doyouunderstand?Theydidnothaveenoughtoeat.AndBilldidnothaveenoughtoeat.Hetrainedonanemptystomach,whichisnowaytotrainyou'lladmit.Duringthatdroughtyear

therewaslittleenoughmoneyinthering,buthehadfailedtogetanyfights.Hehadworkedatlong-shoring,ditch-digging,coal-shovelling--anything,tokeepthelifeinthemissusandthekiddies.Thetroublewasthejobsdidn'tholdout.Andtherehewas,matchedtofightwithme,behindinhisrent,atougholdchopping-block,butweakfromlackoffood.Ifhedidnotwinthefight,thelandlordwasgoingtoputthemintothestreet.

MAUD.Butwhywouldyouwanttofightwithhiminsuchweakcondition?

FITZSIMMONS.Ididnotknow.Ididnotlearntillattheringsidejustbeforethefight.Itwasinthedressingrooms,

waitingourturntogoon.Billcameoutofhisroom,readyforthering."Bill,"Isaid--infun,youknow."Bill,I'vegottodoyouto-night."Hesaidnothing,buthelookedatmewiththesaddestandmostpitifulfaceIhaveeverseen.Hewentbackintohisdressingroomandsatdown.

"PoorBill!"oneofmysecondssaid."He'sbeenfairstarvingtheselastweeks.AndI'vegotitstraight,thelandlordchuckshimoutifhelosesto-night."



Thenthecallcameandwewentintothering.Billwasdesperate.Hefoughtlikeatiger,amadman.Hewasfaircrazy.HewasfightingformorethanIwasfightingfor.Iwasarisingfighter,andIwasfightingforthemoneyandtherecognition.ButBillwasfightingforlife--forthelifeofhislovedones.

Well,conditiontold.Thestrengthwentoutofhim,andIwasfreshasadaisy."What'sthematter,Bill?"Isaidtohiminaclinch."You'reweak.""Iain'thadabittoeatthisday,"heanswered.Thatwasall.

Bytheseventhroundhewasaboutallin,hangingonandpantingandsobbingforbreathintheclinches,andIknewIcouldputhimoutanytime.Idrewbackmyrightfortheshort-armjabthatwoulddothebusiness.Heknewitwascoming,andhewaspowerlesstopreventit.

"FortheloveofGod,Bob,"hesaid;and--[Pause.]

MAUD.Yes?Yes?

FITZSIMMONS.Iheldbacktheblow.Wewereinaclinch.

"FortheloveofGod,Bob,"hesaidagain,"themissesandthe

kiddies!"

AndrightthereIsawandknewitall.Isawthehungrychildrenasleep,andthemissussittingupandwaitingforBilltocomehome,waitingtoknowwhethertheyweretohavefoodtoeatorbethrownoutinthestreet.

"Bill,"Isaid,inthenextclinch,solowonlyhecouldhear."Bill,remembertheLaBlancheswing.Giveittome,hard."

Webrokeaway,andhewastotteringandgroggy.Hestaggeredawayandstartedtowhirltheswing.Isawitcoming.ImadebelieveIdidn'tandstartedafterhiminarush.Biff!Itcaughtmeon

thejaw,andIwentdown.Iwasyoungandstrong.Icouldeatpunishment.Icouldhavegotupthefirstsecond.ButIlaythereandletthemcountmeout.AndmakingbelieveIwasstilldazed,Iletthemcarrymetomycornerandworktobringmeto.[Pause.]

Well,Ifakedthatfight.

MAUD.[Springingtohimandshakinghishand.]ThankGod!Oh!Youareaman!A--a--ahero!

FITZSIMMONS.[Dryly,feelinginhispocket.]Let'shaveasmoke.[Hefailstofindcigarettecase.]

MAUD.Ican'ttellyouhowgladIamyoutoldmethat.

FITZSIMMONS.[Gruffly.]Forgetit.[Helooksontable,andfailstofindcigarettecase.Looksathersuspiciously,thencrossestodeskatrightandreachesfortelephone.]

MAUD.[Curiously.]Whatareyougoingtodo?

FITZSIMMONS.Callthepolice.



MAUD.Whatfor?

FITZSIMMONS.Foryou.

MAUD.Forme?

FITZSIMMONS.YouarenotHarryJones.Andnotonlyareyouanimpostor,butyouareathief.

MAUD.[Indignantly.]Howdareyou?

FITZSIMMONS.Youhavestolenmycigarettecase.

MAUD.[Rememberingandtakenaback,pullsoutcigarettecase.]Hereitis.

FITZSIMMONS.Toolate.Itwon'tsaveyou.Thisclubmustbekeptrespectable.Thievescannotbetolerated.

MAUD.[Growingalarm.]Butyouwon'thavemearrested?

FITZSIMMONS.Icertainlywill.

MAUD.[Pleadingly.]Please!Please!

FITZSIMMONS.[Obdurately.]IseenoreasonwhyIshouldnot.

MAUD.[Hurriedly,inapanic.]I'llgiveyouareason--a--agoodone.I--I--amnotHarryJones.

FITZSIMMONS.[Grimly.]Agoodreasoninitselftocallinthepolice.

MAUD.Thatisn'tthereason.I'm--a--Oh!I'msoashamed.

FITZSIMMONS.[Sternly.]Ishouldsayyououghttobe.[Reaches

fortelephonereceiver.]

MAUD.[Inrushofdesperation.]Stop!I'ma--I'ma--agirl.There![Sinksdowninchair,buryingherfaceinherhands.]

[FITZSIMMONS,hangingupreceiver,grunts.]

[MAUDremoveshandsandlooksathimindignantly.Asshespeaksherindignationgrows.]

MAUD.IonlywantedyourcigarettecasetoprovetomybrotherthatIhadbeenhere.I--I'mMaudSylvester,andyounevertookmeoutonce.AndI'mnotablacksheep.AndIdon'tdress

loudly,andIhaven'ta--atapeworm.

FITZSIMMONS.[Grinningandpullingoutcardfromvestpocket.]IknewyouwereMissSylvesterallthetime.

MAUD.Oh!Youbrute!I'llneverspeaktoyouagain.

FITZSIMMONS.[Gently.]You'llletmeseeyousafelyoutofhere.

MAUD.[Relenting.]Ye-e-s.[Sherises,crossestotable,andis



abouttostoopformotorcloakandbonnet,butheforestallher,holdscloakandhelpsherintoit.]Thankyou.[Shetakesoffwig,fluffsherownhairbecomingly,andputsonbonnet,lookingeveryinchaprettyyounggirl,readyforanautomobileride.]

FITZSIMMONS.[Who,allthetime,watchinghertransformation,hasbeengrowingbashful,nowhandingherthecigarettecase.]Here'sthecigarettecase.Youmayk-k-keepit.

MAUD.[Lookingathim,hesitates,thentakesit.]Ithankyou--er--Bob.Ishalltreasureitallmylife.[Heisveryembarrassed.]Why,Idobelieveyou'rebashful.Whatisthematter?

FITZSIMMONS.[Stammering.]Why--I--you--Youareagirl--and--a--a--deucedprettyone.

MAUD.[Takinghisarm,readytostartfordoor.]Butyouknewitallalong.

FITZSIMMONS.Butit'ssomehowdifferentnowwhenyou'vegotyourgirl'sclotheson.

MAUD.Butyouweren'tabitbashful--ornice,when--you--you--

[Blurtingitout.]Weresoanxiousaboutbirthmarks.

[Theystarttomakeexit.]

CURTAIN

Documents

London, Jack-The Human Drift