Mondaymorning, Joegroanedoverthefirsttruckloadofclothestothewasher.

"Isay," hebegan.

"Don'ttalktome," Martinsnarled.

"I'msorry, Joe," hesaidatnoon, whentheyknockedofffordinner.

Tearscameintotheother'seyes.

"That'sallright, oldman," hesaid."We'reinhell, an' wecan'', youknow, 'swhatmadeit—."

Martinshookhishand.

"Let'squit," Joesuggested."Let'schuckit, an' gohoboin'.Iain'tnevertriedit, ' nothin' , nothin' , typhoid, inthehospital, an' 'dgetsickagain."

, andextra "fancystarch" , boltedtheirmeals, andevengotinahalfhour', drive, drive, andJoewasthemasterfulshepherdofmoments, herdingthemcarefully, neverlosingone, countingthemoverlikeamisercountinggold, workingoninafrenzy, toil-mad, afeverishmachine, aidedablybythatothermachinethatthoughtofitselfasoncehavingbeenoneMartinEden, aman.

, itswindowsboardedup, , ? Sometimes, inthesteaming, sizzlingheat, asheswungtheheavyironsbackandforthoverthewhitegarments, , ormaybeafterathousandyearsorso, hewouldawake, inhislittleroomwiththeink-stainedtable, , too, andtheawakeningwouldbethechangingofthewatches, whenhewoulddropdownoutofhisbunkinthelurchingforecastleandgoupondeck, underthetropicstars, andtakethewheelandfeelthecooltradewindblowingthroughhisflesh.

CameSaturdayanditshollowvictoryatthreeo'clock.

"GuessI'llgodownan' getaglassofbeer," Joesaid, inthequeer, monotonoustonesthatmarkedhisweekendcollapse.

, , bendinglowoverthehandle-bars, hislegsdrivingtheninetysixgearwithrhythmicstrength, , , weary, hebeganthenewweek'swork, buthehadkeptsober.