The Sea-Wolf Chapter Summary & Analysis | Chapter 39

Chapter 39 Summary

Finally, Ghost is deemed ready for the open seas. Hump slips the anchor and comes smartly about, clearing the beach by only a few feet. They sail towards Japan for many hours as the following seas continue to build. Brewster is not strong enough to helm the craft in the swamping sea, so Hump continues until he faces physical collapse. He finally determines to shorten sail and heave to in order to obtain some rest. Although it takes several more difficult hours, he reefs the sails appropriately and then collapses into his bunk where he sleeps through the storm for nearly two days. When he awakens, he discovers that Larsen has finally died. The storm begins to break, and Hump hauls Larsen onto the deck and delivers his corpse into the sea with a very minimal ceremony. Moments later, Brewster sees a United States revenue cutter approaching. The crazy sails...
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