The Sea Wolves Read Online Free PDF Page A

Finn flailed as he was yanked backward and flung across the deck. He tumbled end over end, thumping against the deck, and crashed against the railing. So swiftly that he seemed barely to move—appearing in one spot and then the next without passing between—Ghost stood over Finn, glaring down upon him with cold fury.
    Finn began to rise, fumbling for words. But even as he opened his mouth, Ghost struck him such a powerful blow that Finn collapsed back against the rail, a boxer on the ropes in some pugilistic nightmare.
    â€œDo not speak,” the captain ordered.
    Fear filled the sailor’s eyes, and he obeyed.
    Wiping blood from his nose and mouth, Jack rose unsteadily, maintaining his balance with a hand upon the foremast. Other members of the crew had gathered around, and Jack felt sure that Ghost would command them to return to their duties. But it seemed he wanted an audience. The sailors looked on with hungry fascination, almost licking their chops in the hope of some further violence. Jack prayed they would be disappointed.
    The captain turned from Finn and approached Jack, his footfalls on the deck almost silent.
    â€œYoung Jack,” Ghost began, studying him closely, as though appraising him anew. “An explanation is due, I think.”
    â€œSimple enough,” Jack said, wincing at the pains in his jaw and face as he spoke. “I woke to find your man trying to rob me. I hoped to keep what was mine and so fought him for it.”
    â€œOffered yourself up for a thrashing, more like,” Ghost replied, a sly smile lifting the edges of his mouth. Like the devil’s smile , Jack thought, it does not reach his eyes .
    â€œWhat could you possibly have that would be worth such punishment?” the Larsen ’s captain continued. “Or worth fighting for at all?”
    In the haze of his pain and in the midst of trying to discern the captain’s intentions, he had nearly forgotten his jacket, which now lay on the deck a few feet away, as near to Ghost as it was to Jack himself. He racked his brain for a suitable lie to hang on to his hard-won prize, but his eyes gave him away.
    Ghost plucked the jacket from the deck, one brow arching curiously as he felt the strange weight in one pocket. He hefted the bag in his hand, dropping the jacket back to the deck.
    â€œHad I caught you with this on board your ship, I’d have killed you for it.”
    â€œFinn meant to do just that.”
    A brief, savage anger flickered in Ghost’s eyes as he glanced at the sailor, before he returned his attention to Jack.
    â€œWe’ve boarded half a dozen vessels returning from the Yukon,” the captain said. “Yours yielded the smallest amount of gold thus far.”
    â€œThere’s little to be found,” Jack said. “The gold rush is more of a trickle. Even what you’ve got there is just a few small nuggets and some dust.”
    â€œStill worth quite a bit, I’d imagine.”
    â€œAnd it’s mine,” Jack said.
    Ghost took three steps until he stood directly before Jack, eyes still more curious than brutal, though Jack had seen the violence in the man.
    â€œWe own only what we can keep, Mr. London. It isn’t enough to have, nor even enough to take. All things pass into the hands of others, in time.” The captain tucked the small bag into his pocket. “If you want this back, you’re welcome at any time to attempt to retrieve it. But you’d best be prepared to kill me for it, as I will not hesitate to do the same to you.”
    Hatred burned in Jack as he recalled the men who had died to acquire that meager bit of gold. Ghost watched to see if he would attack, but Jack London was no fool. Even at his best, without the pain in his ribs and face and the ringing in his head, he would need all of his cunning and a great deal of luck to best Ghost in a fight.
    â€œI’ll keep it in mind,” he said.
    Ghost gave a curt nod and