
    ,,*APT] ,,XXXV
  ,NEXT "D1 ! MA/-/EPS CLE> & "EY?+ 9
R1DI;S1 WE />T$ 6GET ! TWO TOPMA/S
ABO>D4 ,! MA9TOPMA/ 0 OV] ?IRTY FEET 9
L5G?1 ! =ETOPMA/ NE>LY ?IRTY1 & X 0 ( ^!
T ,I 9T5D$ MAK+ ! %E>S4 ,X 0 PUZZL+ "W4
,FA/5+ "O 5D (A H1VY TACKLE 6! W9DLASS1
&)! O!R 5D FA/ 6! BUTT (! =ETOPMA/1 ,I
2GAN 6H1VE4 ,MAUD HELD ! TURN ON !
W9DLASS & COIL$ D[N ! SLACK4
  ,WE 7 A/ONI%$ AT ! EASE ) : ! SP> 0
LIFT$4 ,X 0 AN IMPROV$ CRANK W9DLASS1 &!
PUR*ASE X GAVE 0 ENORM\S4 ,( C\RSE1 :AT
X GAVE U 9 P[] WE PD = 9 4T.E2 Z _M "TS
Z X D\#D MY /R5G?1 T _M "TS 0 D\#D !
L5G? ( ROPE ,I H1V$ IN4 ,! TACKLE DRA7$
H1VILY ACR ! RAIL1 9CR1S+ XS DRAG Z !
SP> >OSE M & M \ (! WAT]1 &! EX];N ON !
W9DLASS GREW SEV]E4

,B :5 ! BUTT (! TOPMA/ 0 LEVEL )! RAIL1
"EY?+ CAME 6A /&/ILL4

  8,I MI<T H "KN X10 ,I SD IMPATI5TLY4
8,N[ WE H 6D X ALL OV] AG40
  8,:Y N FA/5 ! TACKLE "P WAY D[N !
MA/80 ,MAUD SU7E/$4
  8,X'S :AT ,I %D H D"O AT F/10 ,I
ANSW]$1 HUGELY 4GU/$ ) MYF4
  ,SLIPP+ (F A TURN1 ,I L[]$ ! MA/ BACK
96! WAT] & FA/5$ ! TACKLE A ?IRD (! WAY
D[N F ! BUTT4 ,9 AN H\R1 :AT ( ? &( RE/S
2T ! H1V+1 ,I _H HOI/$ X 6! PO9T ": ,I
CD HOI/ NO M4 ,EI<T FEET (! BUTT 0 ABV !
RAIL1 & ,I 0 Z F> AWAY Z "E F GETT+ !
SP> ON BO>D4 ,I SAT D[N & POND]$ !
PRO#M4 ,X DID N TAKE L;G4 ,I SPRANG
JUBILANTLY 6MY FEET4
  8,N[ ,I H X60 ,I CRI$4 8,I "\ 6MAKE !
TACKLE FA/ AT ! PO9T ( BAL.E4 ,& :AT WE
LE>N ( ? W S]VE U ) "EY?+ ELSE WE H
6HOI/ ABO>D40
  ,ONCE AG ,I UNDID ALL MY "W 0L[]+ !
MA/ 96! WAT]4 ,B ,I MISCALCULAT$ ! PO9T
( BAL.E1 S T :5 ,I H1V$ ! TOP (! MA/
CAME UP 9/1D (! BUTT4 ,MAUD LOOK$
DESPAIR1 B ,I LAU<$ & SD X WD D J Z
WELL4
  ,9/RUCT+ H] H[ 6HOLD ! TURN & 2 R1DY
6SLACK AWAY AT -M&1 ,I LAID HOLD (! MA/
) MY H&S & TRI$ 6BAL.E X 9BO>D ACR !
RAIL4 ,:5 ,I ?"\ ,I _H X ,I CRI$ 6H]
6SLACK AWAY2 B ! SP> "R$1 DESPITE MY
EF=TS1 & DROPP$ BACK T[>D ! WAT]4 ,AG ,I
H1V$ X UP 6XS OLD POSI;N1 = ,I _H N[
ANO!R IDEA4 ,I REMEMB]$ ! WAT*-TACKLE --
A SMALL D\# & S+LE BLOCK A6AIR -- &
FET*$ X4
  ,:ILE ,I 0 RI7+ X 2T ! TOP (! SP> &!
OPPOSITE RAIL1 ,WOLF ,L>S5 CAME ON !
SC5E4 ,WE EX*ANG$ NO?+ M ?AN GD-MORN+S1
&1 ?\< HE CD N SEE1 HE SAT ON ! RAIL \
(! WAY & FOLL[$ 0! S.D ALL T ,I DID4
  ,AG 9/RUCT+ ,MAUD 6SLACK AWAY AT !
W9DLASS :5 ,I GAVE ! ^W1 ,I PROCE$$
6H1VE ON ! WAT*-TACKLE4 ,SL[LY ! MA/
SWUNG 9 UNTIL X BAL.ED AT "R ANGLES ACR
! RAIL2 & !N ,I 4COV]$ 6MY AMAZE;T T "!
0 NO NE$ = ,MAUD 6SLACK AWAY4 ,9 FACT1 !
V OPPOSITE 0 NEC4 ,MAK+ ! WAT*-TACKLE
FA/1 ,I HOVE ON ! W9DLASS & BR"\ 9 !
MA/1 9* 09*1 TILL XS TOP TILT$ D[N 6!
DECK & F9,Y XS :OLE L5G? LAY ON ! DECK4
  ,I LOOK$ AT MY WAT*4 ,X 0 TWELVE O'C4
,MY BACK 0 A*+ SORELY1 & ,I FELT
EXTREMELY TIR$ & HUNGRY4 ,& "! ON ! DECK
0 A S+LE /ICK ( TIMB] 6%[ =A :OLE
MORN+'S "W4 ,=! F/ "T ,I ?OR\<LY R1LIZ$
! EXT5T (! TASK 2F U4 ,B ,I 0 LE>N+1 ,I
0 LE>N+4 ,! AFN WD %[ F> M A3OMPLI%$4 ,&
X DID2 = WE RETURN$ AT "O O'C1 RE/$ &
/R5G!N$ 0A HE>TY D9N]4
  ,9 LESS ?AN AN H\R ,I _H ! MA9TOPMA/
ON DECK & 0 3/RUCT+ ! %E>S4 ,LA%+ ! TWO
TOPMA/S TGR1 & MAK+ ALL[.E = _! UNEQUAL
L5G?1 AT ! PO9T ( 9T]SEC;N ,I ATTA*$ !
D\# BLOCK (! MA9 ?ROAT-HALY>DS4 ,?1 )!
S+LE BLOCK &! ?ROAT-HALY>DS !MVS1 GAVE
ME A HOI/+ TACKLE4 ,6PREV5T ! BUTTS (!
MA/S F SLIPP+ ON ! DECK1 ,I NAIL$ D[N
?ICK CL1TS4 ,"EY?+ 9 R1DI;S1 ,I MADE A
L9E FA/ 6! APEX (! %E>S & C>RI$ X
DIRECTLY 6! W9DLASS4 ,I 0 GR[+ 6H FAI? 9
T W9DLASS1 = X GAVE ME P[] 2Y ALL
EXPECT,N4 ,Z USUAL1 ,MAUD HELD ! TURN
:ILE ,I H1V$4 ,! %E>S ROSE 9 ! AIR4
  ,!N ,I 4COV]$ ,I _H =GOTT5 GUY-ROPES4
,? NECESSITAT$ MY CLIMB+ ! %E>S1 : ,I
DID TWICE1 2F ,I F9I%$ GUY+ X =E & AFT &
6EI SIDE4 ,TWILI<T _H SET 9 0! "T ? 0
A3OMPLI%$4 ,WOLF ,L>S51 :O _H SAT AB &
LI/5$ ALL AFN & N"E OP5$ 8 M\?1 _H TAK5
HMF (F 6! GALLEY & />T$ 8 SUPP]4 ,I FELT
Q /IFF ACR ! SMALL (! BACK1 S M* S T ,I
/RAI<T5$ UP ) AN EF=T &) PA94 ,I LOOK$
PR\DLY AT MY "W4 ,X 0 2G9N+ TO
%[4 ,I 0 WILD ) DESIRE1 L A * )A NEW
TOY1 6HOI/ "S?+ ) MY %E>S4
  8,I WI% X W]5'T S LATE10 ,I SD4 8,I'D
L 6SEE H[ X "WS40
  8,DON'T 2 A GLUTTON1 ,HUMPHREY10 ,MAUD
*ID$ ME4 8,REMEMB]1 TM IS -+1 & Y'RE S
TIR$ N[ T Y C H>DLY /&40
  8,& Y80 ,I SD1 ) SU45 SOLICITUDE4 8,Y
M/ 2 V TIR$4 ,Y H "W$ H>D & NOBLY4 ,I AM
PR\D ( Y1 ,MAUD40
  8,N HALF S PR\D Z ,I AM ( Y1 NOR )
HALF ! R1SON10 %E ANSW]$1 LOOK+ ME
/RAI<T 9 ! EYES =A MO;T ) AN EXPRES.N 9
H] [N &A DANC+1 TREMUL\S LI<T : ,I _H N
SE5 2F & : GAVE ME A PANG ( QK DELI<T1
,I "K N :Y1 = ,I DID N "U/& X4 ,!N %E
DROPP$ H] EYES1 6LIFT !M AG1 LAU<+4
  8,IF \R FRS CD SEE U N[10 %E SD4
8,LOOK AT U4 ,H Y "E PAUS$ =A MO;T
63SID] \R APPE>.E80
  8,YES1 ,I H 3SID]$ YRS1 FREQU5TLY10 ,I
ANSW]$1 PUZZL+ OV] :AT ,I _H SE5 9 H]
EYES & PUZZL$ 0H] SU45 *ANGE ( SUBJECT4
  8,M]CY60 %E CRI$4 8,& :AT D ,I LOOK L1
PRAY80
  8,A SC>ECR[1 ,I'M AFRAID10 ,I REPLI$4
8,J GL.E AT YR DRA7L$ SKIRTS1 = 9/.E4
,LOOK AT ^? ?REE-CORN]$ TE>S4 ,& S* A
WAI/6 ,X WD N REQUIRE A ,%]LOCK ,HOLMES
6DEDUCE T Y H BE5 COOK+ OV] A CAMP-FIRE1
6SAY NO?+ ( TRY+ \ S1L-BLU2]4 ,& 6CAP X
ALL1 T CAP6 ,& ALL T IS ! WOMAN :O WROTE
,8,A ,KISS ,5DUR$40'0
  ,%E MADE ME AN ELABORATE & /ATELY
C\RTESY1 & SD1 8,Z = Y1 SIR -- 0
  ,& YET1 "? ! FIVE M9UTES ( BANT] :
FOLL[$1 "! 0 A S]I\S "S?+ "UN1? ! FUN :
,I CD N B RELATE 6! /RANGE & FLEET+
EXPRES.N ,I _H CAU<T 9 H] EYES4 ,:AT 0
X8 ,CD X 2 T \R EYES 7 SP1K+ 2Y ! W ( \R
SPEE*8 ,MY EYES _H SPOK51 ,I KNEW1 UNTIL
,I _H F.D ! CULPRITS \ & SIL;ED !M4 ,?
_H O3URR$ S"EAL "TS4 ,B _H %E SE5 !
CLAM\R 9 !M & "U/OOD8 ,& _H H] EYES S
SPOK5 6ME8 ,:AT ELSE CD T EXPRES.N H
M1NT -- T DANC+1 TREMUL\S LI<T1 &A "S?+
M : ^WS CD N DESCRIBE4 ,& YET X CD N BE4
,X 0 IMPOSSI#4 ,2SS1 ,I 0 N SKILL$ 9 !
SPEE* ( EYES4 ,I 0 ONLY ,HUMPHREY ,VAN
,WEYD51 A BOOKI% FELL[ :O LOV$4 ,&
6LOVE1 & 6WAIT & W9 LOVE1 T SURELY 0
GLORI\S 5 = ME4 ,& ?US ,I ?"\1 EV5 Z WE
*A6$ EA* O!R'S APPE>.E1 UNTIL WE >RIV$
A%ORE & "! 7 O!R ?+S 6?9K AB4
  8,X'S A %AME1 AF "W+ H>D ALL "D1 T WE
_C H AN UN9T]RUPT$ NI<T'S SLEEP10 ,I
-PLA9$1 AF SUPP]4
  8,B "! C 2 NO DANG] N[8 F A BL MAN80
%E QU]I$4
  8,I % N"E 2 A# 6TRU/ HM10 ,I AV]R$1 8&
F> LESS N[ T HE IS BL4 ,! LIABIL;Y IS T
8 "P HELP.S;S W MAKE HM M MALIGNANT ?AN
"E4 ,I "K :AT ,I % D TM1 ! F/ ?+ -- RUN
\ A LI<T AN*OR & K$GE ! S*OON] (F ! B1*4
,& EA* NI<T :5 WE -E A%ORE 9 ! BOAT1
,MR4 ,WOLF ,L>S5 W 2 LEFT A PRISON] ON
BO>D4 ,S ? W 2 ! LA/ NI<T WE H 6/& WAT*1
& 2C ( T X W G ! EASI]40
  ,WE 7 AWAKE E>LY & J F9I%+ BR1KFA/ Z
"DLI<T CAME4
  8,OH1 ,HUMPHREY60 ,I HE>D ,MAUD CRY 9
4MAY & SU45LY /OP4
  ,I LOOK$ AT H]4 ,%E 0 GAZ+ AT ! ,<O/4
,I FOLL[$ H] GAZE1 B CD SEE NO?+
UNUSUAL4 ,%E LOOK$ AT ME1 & ,I LOOK$
9QUIRY BACK4
  8,! %E>S10 %E SD1 & H] VOICE TREM#D4
  ,I _H =GOTT5 _! EXI/;E4 ,I LOOK$ AG1 B
CD N SEE !M4
  8,IF HE HAS -- 0 ,I MUTT]$ SAVAGELY4
  ,%E PUT H] H& SYMPA!TIC,Y ON M9E1 &
SD1 8,Y W H 62G9 OV] AG40
  8,OH1 2LIEVE ME1 MY ANG] M1NS NO?+2 ,I
CD N HURT A FLY10 ,I SMIL$ BACK BITT]LY4
8,&! WOR/ ( X IS1 HE "KS X4 ,Y >E "R4
,IF HE HAS DE/ROY$ ! %E>S1 ,I % D NO?+
EXCEPT 2G9 OV] AG40
  8,B ,I'LL /& MY WAT* ON BO>D "HAF10 ,I
BLURT$ \ A MO;T LAT]4 8,& IF HE 9T]F]ES
-- 0
  8,B ,I D>E N /AY A%ORE ALL NI<T AL"O10
,MAUD 0 SAY+ :5 ,I CAME BACK 6MYF4 8,X
WD 2 S M* NIC] IF HE WD 2 FRLY ) U &
HELP U4 ,WE CD ALL LIVE -=TABLY ABO>D40
  8,WE W10 ,I ASS]T$1 / SAVAGELY1 =!
DE/RUC;N ( MY 2LOV$ %E>S _H HIT ME H>D4
8,T IS1 Y & ,I W LIVE ABO>D1 FRLY OR N )
,WOLF ,L>S540
  8,X'S *ILDI%10 ,I LAU<$ LAT]1 8= HM 6D
S* ?+S1 &= ME 6GR[ ANGRY OV] !M1 = T
MATT]40
  ,B MY HE>T SMOTE ME :5 WE CLIMB$ ABO>D
& LOOK$ AT ! HAVOC HE _H D"O4 ,! %E>S 7
G"O ALT4 ,! GUYS _H BE5 SLA%$ "R & LEFT4
,! ?ROAT-HALY>DS : ,I _H RI7$ 7 CUT ACR
"? E "P4 ,& HE KNEW ,I CD N SPLICE4 ,A
?"\ /RUCK ME4 ,I RAN 6! W9DLASS4 ,X WD N
"W4 ,HE _H BROK5 X4 ,WE LOOK$ AT EA* O!R
9 3/]N,N4 ,!N ,I RAN 6! SIDE4 ,! MA/S1
BOOMS1 & GA6S ,I _H CLE>$ 7 G"O4 ,HE _H
F.D ! L9ES : HELD !M1 & CA/ !M ADRIFT4
  ,TE>S 7 9 ,MAUD'S EYES1 & ,I D 2LIEVE
!Y 7 = ME4 ,I CD H WEPT MYF4 ,": N[ 0 \R
PROJECT ( REMA/+ ! ,<O/8 ,HE _H D"O 8 "W
WELL4 ,I SAT D[N ON ! HAT*-COMB+ & RE/$
MY *9 ON MY H&S 9 BLACK DESPAIR4
  8,HE DES]VES 6DIE10 ,I CRI$ \2 8& ,GOD
=GIVE ME1 ,I AM N MAN 5 6BE 8 EXECU;N]40
  ,B ,MAUD 0 0MY SIDE1 PASS+ H] H&
SOO?+LY "? MY HAIR Z ?\< ,I 7 A *1 &
SAY+1 8,"!1 "!2 X W ALL -E "R4 ,WE >E 9
! "R1 & X M/ -E "R40
  ,I REMEMB]$ ,MI*ELET & L1N$ MY H1D AG/
H]2 & TRULY ,I 2CAME /R;G AG4 ,! B.S$
WOMAN 0 AN UNFAIL+ F.T ( P[] 6ME4 ,:AT
DID X MATT]8 ,ONLY A SET-BACK1 A DELAY4
,! TIDE CD N H C>RI$ ! MA/S F> 6S1W>D1 &
"! _H BE5 NO W9D4 ,X M1NT M]ELY M "W
6F9D !M & T[ !M BACK4 ,& 2SS1 X 0 A
LESSON4 ,I KNEW :AT 6EXPECT4 ,HE MI<T H
WAIT$ & DE/ROY$ \R "W M E6ECTU,Y :5 WE
_H M A3OMPLI%$4
  8,"H HE -ES N[10 %E :ISP]$4
  ,I GL.ED UP4 ,HE 0 /ROLL+ LEISURELY
AL;G ! POOP ON ! PORT SIDE4
  8,TAKE NO NOTICE ( HM10 ,I :ISP]$4
8,HE'S -+ 6SEE H[ WE TAKE X4 ,DON'T LET
HM "K T WE "K4 ,WE C D5Y HM T
SATISFAC;N4 ,TAKE (F YR %OES -- T'S "R
-- & C>RY !M 9 YR H&40
  ,& !N WE PLAY$ HIDE-&-SEEK )! BL MAN4
,Z HE CAME UP ! PORT SIDE WE SLIPP$ PA/
ON ! />BO>D2 & F ! POOP WE WAT*$ HM TURN
& />T AFT ON \R TRACK4
  ,HE M/ H "KN1 "SH[1 T WE 7 ON BO>D1 =
HE SD 8,GD-MORN+0 V 3FID5TLY1 & WAIT$1
=! GREET+ 6BE RETURN$4 ,!N HE /ROLL$
AFT1 & WE SLIPP$ =W>D4
  8,OH1 ,I "K Y'RE ABO>D10 HE CALL$ \1 &
,I CD SEE HM LI/5 9T5TLY AF HE _H SPOK54
  ,X REM9D$ ME (! GRT HOOT-[L1 LI/5+1 AF
XS BOOM+ CRY1 =! /IR ( XS F"R5$ PREY4 ,B
WE DID N FIR1 & WE MOV$ ONLY :5 HE MOV$4
,& S WE DODG$ AB ! DECK1 H& 9 H&1 L A
C\PLE ( *N *AS$ 0A WICK$ OGRE1 TILL
,WOLF ,L>S51 EVID5TLY 9 4GU/1 LEFT !
DECK =! CAB94 ,"! 0 GLEE 9 \R EYES1 &
SUPPRESS$ TITT]S 9 \R M\?S1 Z WE PUT ON
\R %OES & CLAMB]$ OV] ! SIDE 96! BOAT4
,& Z ,I LOOK$ 96,MAUD'S CLE> BR[N EYES
,I =GOT ! EVIL HE _H D"O1 & ,I KNEW ONLY
T ,I LOV$ H]1 & T 2C ( H] ! /R5G? 0 M9E
6W9 \R WAY BACK 6! _W4





