And that night I slept on board and on deck beside my work.

Maud, who refused to stay alone ashore, slept in the forecastle.
Wolf Larsen had sat about, listening to my repairing the windlass and talking with Maud and me upon indifferent subjects.

No reference was made on either side to the destruction of the shears; nor did he say anything further about my leaving his ship alone.

But still I had feared him, blind and helpless and listening, always listening, and I never let his strong arms get within reach of me while I worked.
On this night, sleeping under my beloved shears, I was aroused by his footsteps on the deck.

It was a starlight night, and I could see the bulk of him dimly as he moved about.