Then I recollected Maud.

The vision of her, as I had last seen her, in the lantern light of the schooner's hold, her brown eyes warm and moist with joy, flashed before me, and I knew that I could not go back.
I was choking and suffocating by the time I reached Wolf Larsen's bunk.
I reached my hand and felt for his.

He was lying motionless, but moved slightly at the touch of my hand.

I felt over and under his blankets.
There was no warmth, no sign of fire.

Yet that smoke which blinded me and made me cough and gasp must have a source.