“Too bad we sighted them,” I said, as the _Ghost’s_ bow was flung off a point by a large sea and the boat leaped for a moment past the jibs and into our line of vision. Louis gave a spoke and temporized. “They’d never iv made the land, sir, I’m thinkin’.” “Think not?” I queried. “No, sir. Did you feel that?” (A puff had caught the schooner, and he was forced to put the wheel up rapidly to keep her out of the wind.) “’Tis no egg-shell’ll float on this sea an hour come, an’ it’s a stroke iv luck for them we’re here to pick ’em up.” Wolf Larsen strode aft from amidships, where he had been talking with the rescued men. The cat-like springiness in his tread was a little more pronounced than usual, and his eyes were bright and snappy. “Three oilers and a fourth engineer,” was his greeting. “But we’ll make sailors out of them, or boat-pullers at any rate. Now, what of the lady?” I know not why, but I was aware of a twinge or pang like the cut of a knife when he mentioned her. I thought it a certain silly fastidiousness on my part, but it persisted in spite of me, and I merely shrugged my shoulders in answer. Wolf Larsen pursed his lips in a long, quizzical whistle. “What’s her name, then?” he demanded. “I don’t know,” I replied. “She is asleep. She was very tired. In fact, I am waiting to hear the news from you. What vessel was it?” “Mail steamer,” he answered shortly. “_The City of Tokio_, from ’Frisco, bound for Yokohama. Disabled in that typhoon. Old tub. Opened up top and bottom like a sieve. They were adrift four days. And you don’t know who or what she is, eh?—maid, wife, or widow? Well, well.” He shook his head in a bantering way, and regarded me with laughing eyes. “Are you—” I began. It was on the verge of my tongue to ask if he were going to take the castaways into Yokohama. “Am I what?” he asked. “What do you intend doing with Leach and Johnson?” He shook his head. “Really, Hump, I don’t know. You see, with these additions I’ve about all the crew I want.” “And they’ve about all the escaping they want,” I said. “Why not give them a change of treatment? Take them aboard, and deal gently with them. Whatever they have done they have been hounded into doing.” “By me?” “By you,” I answered steadily. “And I give you warning, Wolf Larsen, that I may forget love of my own life in the desire to kill you if you go too far in maltreating those poor wretches.” “Bravo!” he cried. “You do me proud, Hump! You’ve found your legs with a vengeance. You’re quite an individual. You were unfortunate in having your life cast in easy places, but you’re developing, and I like you the better for it.” His voice and expression changed. His face was serious. “Do you believe in promises?” he asked. “Are they sacred things?” “Of course,” I answered. “Then here’s a compact,” he went on, consummate actor. “If I promise not to lay my hands upon Leach will you promise, in turn, not to attempt to kill me?”