lack the iron of Mr. Pike, the wisdom and the iron of Captain West.
Always, have I noticed, with all the alacrity of which they are
capable, do they respond to any order to shorten down. That is why
they are for'ard, in that pigsty of a forecastle, because they lack
the iron. Well, I can say only this: If nothing else could have
prevented the funk hinted at by Margaret, the sorry spectacle of
these ironless, spineless creatures was sufficient safeguard. How
could I funk in the face of their weakness--I, who lived aft in the
high place?

Margaret did not disdain the aid of my hand as she climbed upon the
pin-rail at the foot of the weather jigger-rigging. But it was
merely the recognition of a courtesy on her part, for the next moment
she released her mittened hand from mine, swung boldly outboard into
the face of the gale, and around against the ratlines. Then she
began to climb. I followed, almost unaware of the ticklishness of
the exploit to a tyro, so buoyed up was I by her example and by my
scorn of the weaklings for'ard. Where men could go, I could go.
What men could do, I could do. And no daughter of the Samurai could
out-game me.

Yet it was slow work. In the windward rolls against the storm-gusts
one was pinned helplessly, like a butterfly, against the rigging. At
such times, so great was the pressure one could not lift hand nor
foot. Also, there was no need for holding on. As I have said, one
was pinned against the rigging by the wind.

Through the snow beginning to drive the deck grew small beneath me,
until a fall meant a broken back or death, unless one landed in the
sea, in which case the result would be frigid drowning. And still