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〃Was it right then for me to die myself？〃 he
asked thoughtfully。 I laid my hand on his shoul…
der。
〃Go away；〃 I whispered imperiously； without
any clear reason for this advice； except that I
wished to put an end to Hermann's odious noise。
〃Go away。〃
He looked searchingly for a moment at Hermann
before he made a move。 I left the cabin too to see
him out of the ship。 But he hung about the quar…
ter…deck。
〃It is my misfortune；〃 he said in a steady
voice。
〃You were stupid to blurt it out in such a man…
ner。 After all； we don't hear such confidences
every day。〃
〃What does the man mean？〃 he mused in deep
undertones。 〃Somebody had to diebut why
me？〃
He remained still for a time in the darksilent；
almost invisible。 All at once he pinned my elbows
to my sides。 I felt utterly powerless in his grip；
and his voice； whispering in my ear； vibrated。
〃It's worse than hunger。 Captain； do you know
what that means？ And I could kill thenor be
killed。 I wish the crowbar had smashed my skull
ten years ago。 And I've got to live now。 Without
her。 Do you understand？ Perhaps many years。
But how？ What can be done？ If I had allowed
myself to look at her once I would have carried her
off before that man in my handslike this。〃
I felt myself snatched off the deck； then suddenly
droppedand I staggered backwards； feeling
bewildered and bruised。 What a man！ All was
still； he was gone。 I heard Hermann's voice de…
claiming in the cabin； and I went in。
I could not at first make out a single word； but
Mrs。 Hermann； who； attracted by the noise； had
come in some time before； with an expression of
surprise and mild disapproval； depicted broadly on
her face； was giving now all the signs of profound；
helpless agitation。 Her husband shot a string of
guttural words at her； and instantly putting out
one hand to the bulkhead as if to save herself from
falling； she clutched the loose bosom of her dress
with the other。 He harangued the two women ex…
traordinarily； with much of his shirt hanging out of
his waistbelt； stamping his foot； turning from one
to the other； sometimes throwing both his arms to…
gether； straight up above his rumpled hair； and
keeping them in that position while he uttered a
passage of loud denunciation； at others folding
them tight across his breastand then he hissed
with indignation； elevating his shoulders and pro…
truding his head。 The girl was crying。
She had not changed her attitude。 From her
steady eyes that； following Falk in his retreat； had
remained fixed wistfully on the cabin door； the
tears fell rapid； thick； on her hands； on the work in
her lap； warm and gentle like a shower in spring。
She wept without grimacing； without noisevery
touching； very quiet； with something more of pity
than of pain in her face； as one weeps in compassion
rather than in griefand Hermann； before her；
declaimed。 I caught several times the word
〃Mensch；〃 man； and also 〃Fressen；〃 which last I
looked up afterwards in my dictionary。 It means
〃Devour。〃 Hermann seemed to be requesting an
answer of some sort from her； his whole body
swayed。 She remained mute and perfectly still；
at last his agitation gained her； she put the palms
of her hands together； her full lips parted； no
sound came。 His voice scolded shrilly； his arms
went like a windmillsuddenly he shook a thick
fist at her。 She burst out into loud sobs。 He
seemed stupefied。
Mrs。 Hermann rushed forward babbling rap…
dly。 The two women fell on each other's necks；
and； with an arm round her niece's waist； she led her
away。 Her own eyes were simply streaming； her
face was flooded。 She shook her head back at me
negatively； I wonder why to this day。 The girl's
head dropped heavily on her shoulder。 They dis…
appeared。
Then Hermann sat down and stared at the cabin
floor。
〃We don't know all the circumstances；〃 I ven…
tured to break the silence。 He retorted tartly that
he didn't want to know of any。 According to his
ideas no circumstances could excuse a crimeand
certainly not such a crime。 This was the opinion
generally received。 The duty of a human being
was to starve。 Falk therefore was a beast； an ani…
mal； base； low； vile； despicable； shameless； and de…
ceitful。 He had been deceiving him since last year。
He was； however； inclined to think that Falk must
have gone mad quite recently； for no sane person；
without necessity； uselessly； for no earthly reason；
and regardless of another's self…respect and peace
of mind； would own to having devoured human
flesh。 〃Why tell？〃 he cried。 〃Who was asking
him？〃 It showed Falk's brutality because after
all he had selfishly caused him （Hermann） much
pain。 He would have preferred not to know that
such an unclean creature had been in the habit of
caressing his children。 He hoped I would say noth…
ing of all this ashore； though。 He wouldn't like it
to get about that he had been intimate with an
eater of mena common cannibal。 As to the scene
he had made （which I judged quite unnecessary）
he was not going to inconvenience and restrain
himself for a fellow that went about courting and
upsetting girls' heads； while he knew all the time
that no decent housewifely girl could think of mar…
rying him。 At least he （Hermann） could not con…
ceive how any girl could。 Fancy Lena！ 。 。 。 No；
it was impossible。 The thoughts that would come
into their heads every time they sat down to a meal。
Horrible！ Horrible！
〃You are too squeamish； Hermann；〃 I said。
He seemed to think it was eminently proper to be
squeamish if the word meant disgust at Falk's con…
duct； and turning up his eyes sentimentally he
drew my attention to the horrible fate of the victims
the victims of that Falk。 I said that I knew
nothing about them。 He seemed surprised。 Could
not anybody imagine without knowing？ Hefor
instancefelt he would like to avenge them。 But
what ifsaid Ithere had not been any？ They
might have died as it were； naturallyof starva…
tion。 He shuddered。 But to be eatenafter
death！ To be devoured！ He gave another deep
shudder； and asked suddenly； 〃Do you think it
is true？〃
His indignation and his personality together
would have been enough to spoil the reality of the
most authentic thing。 When I looked at him I
doubted the storybut the remembrance of Falk's
words； looks； gestures； invested it not only with
an air of reality but with the absolute truth of
primitive passion。
〃It is true just as much as you are able to make
it； and exactly in the way you like to make it。 For
my part； when I hear you clamouring about it； I
don't believe it is true at all。〃
And I left him pondering。 The men in my boat
lying at the foot of Diana's side ladder told me that
the captain of the tug had gone away in his gig
some time ago。
I let my fellows pull an easy st