It was only next day, when Wainwright Island loomed to windward, close abeam, that Wolf Larsen opened his mouth in prophecy. He had attacked Johnson, been attacked by Leach, and had just finished whipping the pair of them.
" But it will serve only when we are sailing by the wind, " I explained. " When running more freely, with the wind astern abeam, or on the quarter, it will be necessary for me to steer" .