The Sea-Wolf

In his new position as cabin boy, Humphrey spends more time with Mugridge. Mugridge instructs Humphrey in cooking for the crew, but because Humphrey has never done such work before, Mugridge begins to criticize, tease, and order Humphrey about. Humphrey develops a hatred for Mugridge. As Humphrey prepares to serve dinner in the cabin, a “howling sou’easter” (29) begins. While bringing the teapot and some bread from the galley to the cabin, a large storm wave crests over the side of Ghost. Larsen calls out, “Grab hold something, you—you Hump!” (30). The nickname sticks.

Humphrey is unable to hold onto something in time and is pummeled by a wave. He hits his knee, which immediately becomes injured and raised on one side. Despite his injury, Humphrey is expected to wait on the cabin table, which includes Larsen, Johansen, and the hunters. Larsen notes that Humphrey is in pain and tells him the pain will be good for him, before asking if Humphrey is interested in literature. Larsen plans to talk with him more about the subject.

Humphrey is temporarily allowed a bunk in the hunter’s steerage. His painful injury keeps him from sleep, so he listens to the hunters. To him, they are “callous” (32), both to himself and to each other; Humphrey claims they are “less sensitively organized” (32) and later of low “mental caliber” (33) after he hears an argument between two of the hunters over seal pups.