They had been hogging the sea, and they knew Wolf Larsen, by reputation at any rate.

I noted that the hunter, a huge Scandinavian sitting in the bow, held his rifle, ready to hand, across his knees.

It should have been in its proper place in the rack.

When they came opposite our stern, Wolf Larsen greeted them with a wave of the hand, and cried: "Come on board and have a 'gam'!" "To gam," among the sealing-schooners, is a substitute for the verbs "to visit," "to gossip." It expresses the garrulity of the sea, and is a pleasant break in the monotony of the life.
The _Ghost_ swung around into the wind, and I finished my work forward in time to run aft and lend a hand with the mainsheet.
"You will please stay on deck, Miss Brewster," Wolf Larsen said, as he started forward to meet his guest.

"And you too, Mr.Van Weyden." The boat had lowered its sail and run alongside.