第8章

"Blanche,"Isaidwhenhehaddone,"youhaveheard。Isthistrue？"

"Muchofitistrue,"sheansweredinthatstrange,coldvoice,stillstaringatthefire。"OnlythemarriagewasafalseonebywhichIwasdeceived。HewhocelebrateditwasacompanionoftheLordDeleroytrickedoutasapriest。"

"Donotletuswrangleofthismatter,"saidDeleroy。"Amanwhomixeswiththeworldlikeyourself,Mastermerchant,willknowthatwomeninatraprarelylackexcuses。Stillifitbeadmittedthatthismarriagedidnotfulfilallformalities,thensomuchthebetterforBlancheandmyself。Ifshebeyourlawfulwifeandnotmine,you,Ilearn,havesignedawritinginherfavourunderwhichshewillinherityourgreatwealth。ThatindentureIthinkyoucanfindnoopportunitytodispute,andifyoudoIhaveapromisethatthepropertyofacertaintraitorshallpasstome,therevealerofhistreachery。Letitconsoleyouinyourlastmoments,Mastermerchant,torememberthattheladywhomyouhavehonouredwithyourfancywillpassherdaysinwealthandcomfortinthecompanyofhimwhomshehashonouredwithherlove。"

"Draw！"IsaidbrieflyasIunsheathedmysword。

"WhyshouldIfightwithabase,tradingusurer？"heasked,stillmockingme,thoughIthoughtthattherewasdoubtinhisvoice。

"Answeryourownquestion,thief。Fightifyouwill,ordiewithoutfightingifyouwillnot。ForknowthatuntilIamdeadyoudonotleavethisroomliving。"

"UntilIdeadtoo,OLord,"brokeinKariinhisgentlevoice,bowinginhiscourteousforeignfashion。

AshedidsowithasuddenmotionKarishookthecloakbackfromhisbodyandforthefirsttimeIsawthatthrustthroughhisleathernbeltwasalongweapon,halfswordandhalfdagger,alsothatitssharpenedsteelwasbare。

"Oh！"exclaimedDeleroy,"nowIunderstandthatIamtrappedandthatwhenyoutoldme,Blanche,thatthismanwouldnotreturnto—nightandthatthereforeweweresafetogether,youlied。Well,myLadyBlanche,youshallpayforthistricklater。"

Whilsthespokethus,slowly,asthoughtogaintime,hewaslookingabouthim,andasthelastwordlefthislips,knowingthatthedoorwaslocked,hedashedforthewindow,hoping,Isuppose,toleapthroughthecasement,orifthatfailed,toshoutforhelp。ButKari,whohadsetthecandlesheboreonasidetable,thatwherethewritinglay,readhismind。Withamovementmoreswiftthanthatofapolecatleapingonitsprey,theswiftestindeedthateverIsaw,hesprangbetweenhimandthecasement,sothatDeleroyscarceescapedpinninghimselfuponthesteelthatheheldinhislong,outstretchedarm。Indeed,Ithinkitprickedhisthroat,forhecheckedhimselfwithanoathanddrewhissword,adouble—edgedweaponwithasharppoint,aslongasmineperhaps,butnotsoheavy。

"IseethatImustfinishthepairofyou。Perchance,Blanche,youwillprotectmybackasalovingwifeshoulddo,untilthisloutisdonewith,"hesaid,swaggeringtothelast。

"Kari,"Icommanded,"holdthecandlesaloftthatthelightmaybegood,andleavethismantome。"

Karibowedandtookthecoppertaperstands,oneineitherhand,andheldthemaloft。Butfirstheplacedhislongdagger,notbackinhisbelt,butbetweenhisteethwiththehandletowardshisrighthand。

EventheninsomestrangefashionInotedhowterriblelookedthisgrimdarkmanholdingthecandleshighwiththeknifegrippedbetweenhiswhiteteeth。

DeleroyandIfacedeachotherintheopenspacebetweenthefireandthedoor。Blancheturnedrounduponherstoolandwatched,utteringnosound。ButIlaughedaloudforoftheendIhadnodoubt。HadtherebeentenDeleroysIwouldhaveslainthemall。StillpresentlyIfoundtherewascausetodoubt,forwhen,parryinghisfirstthrust,Idroveathimwithallmystrength,insteadofpiercinghimthroughandthroughtheancientsword,Wave—Flame,bentinmyhandlikeabowasitisstrung,tellingmethatbeneathhisJoseph"scoatofsilkDeleroyworeashirtofmail。

ThenIcried:"/A—hoi！/"asThorgrimmermyancestormayhavedonewhenhewieldedthissamesword,andwhileDeleroystillstaggeredbeneathmythrustIgraspedWave—Flamewithbothhands,wheeleditaloft,andsmote。Heliftedhisarmroundwhichhehadwoundhiscloak,toprotecthishead,buttheswordshorethroughcloakandarm,sothathishandwiththeglitteringringsuponitfelltothefloor。

AgainIsmotefor,asbothofusknew,thisbusinesswastothedeath,andDeleroyfelldowndead,smittenthroughthebrain。

Karismiledgently,andliftingthecloak,shookitoutandthrewitoverwhathadbeenDeleroy。ThenhetookmyswordandwhileIwatchedhimidly,cleanseditwithrushesfromthefloor。

NextIheardasoundfromtheneighbourhoodofthefire,andbethinkingmeofBlancheturnedtospeaktoher,thoughwhatIwasgoingtosayGodknowsforIdonot。

Aterriblesightmetmyeyesandburneditselfintomyverysoulsothatitcouldneverbeforgot。Blanchewasleaningbackintheoakchairoverwhichflowedherlong,fairlocks,andthefrontofherrobewasred。IrememberedhowshehadspiltthewineatthefeastandthoughtIsawitsstain,tillpresently,stillstaring,Inotedthatitgrewandknewittobecausedbyanotherwine,thatofherblood。

AlsoInotedthatfromthemidstofitseeninthelamplight,justbeneaththesnake—encircledrubyheart,appearedthelittlehandleofadagger。

Isprangtoher,butsheliftedherhandandwavedmeback。

"Touchmenot,"shewhispered,"Iamnotfit,alsothethrustismortal。IfyoudrawtheknifeIshalldieatonce,andfirstIwouldspeak。IwouldhaveyouknowthatIloveyouandhopedtobeagoodwifetoyou。WhatIsaidwastrue。ThatdeadmantrickedmewithafalsemarriagewhenIwasscarcelymorethanachild,andafterwardshewouldnotmenditwithanhonest。Perchancehehimselfwaswed,orhehadotherreasons,Idonotknow。Myfatherguessedmuchbutnotall。Itriedtowarnyouwhenyouofferedyourself,butyouweredeafandblindandwouldnotseeorlisten。ThenIgaveway,likingyouwellandthinkingthatIshouldfindrest,asindeedIdo;thinkingalsothatIshouldbewealthyandabletoshutthatvillain"smouthwithgold。IneverknewhewascominghereoreventhathehadsailedhomefromFrance,buthebrokeinuponme,havinglearnedthatyouwereaway,andwasabouttoleavewhenyoureturned。HecameformoneyforwhichhebelievedthatIhadwed,andthinkingtowinmebackfromonedoomedbyhisliestoatraitor"sdeath。Youknowtherest,andformetherewasbutonethingtodo。Begladthatyouarenolongerburdenedwithmeandgofindhappinessinthearmsofamorefortunateorabetterwoman。Fly,andswiftly,forDeleroyhadmanyfriendsandtheKinghimselflovedhimasabrother——aswellhemay。Fly,Isay,andforgive——forgive！Hubert,farewell！"

Thusshespoke,evermoreslowlyandlower,tillwiththelastwordherlifeleftherlips。

ThusendedthestoryofmymarriagewithBlancheAleys。

BOOKII

CHAPTERI

THENEWWORLD

Theywereforeversilentnow,who,butabreathbefore,hadbeensofulloflifeandthestirofmortalpassion;Deleroydeadbeneaththecloakuponthefloor,Blanchedeadintheoakenchair。Wewhoremainedaliveweresilentalso。IglancedatKari"sface;itwasasthatofastonestatueonatomb,onlyinithislargeeyesshone,notingallthingsand,asIimaginedinmydistraughtfancy,filledwithtriumphandforeknowledge。Consideringitinthatstrangecalmofthespiritwhichsometimessupervenesongreatandterribleeventsthatforawhilecrushitsmortalityfromthesoulandsetitfreetomarvelatthetemporalpettinessofallweconsiderimmediateandmighty,I

wonderedwhatwastheaspectofmyown。

Atthemoment,I,whoonthisdayhadpassedtheportalsofsomanyemotions:thatofthelover"slongingforhisbridewonatlast,onlytobelostagain,thatofacuteandnecessarybusiness,thatoftheancientjoyofbattleandvengeancewreakeduponanevilman;thatoftheunshutteringofmyowneyestotheflameofahellishtruth,thatoftheself—murderandturningtocoldclaybeforethosesameeyesofherwhomIhadhopedtoclaspinhonestlove——I,Isay,feltasthoughI,too,weredead。Indeedallwithinwasdead,onlytheshelloffleshremainedalive,andinmyheartIechoedthewordsofmyolduncleandofawiserthanhewhowentbeforehim——"Vanityofvanities！Allisvanity！"

ItwasKariwhospokefirst,Kariasevercalmandeven—voiced,sayinginhisbrokenEnglishofwhichbutthesubstanceisrecorded:

"Thingshavehappened,goodthingsIhold,thoughyou,Master,maythinkotherwiseforalittlewhile。Yetinthisroughlandofsavagesandsmalljusticethesethingsmaybringtrouble。Thatlordbroughtawriting,"andhenoddedtowardsthedocumentonthetable,"andtalkedofdeathfor/you/,Master——notforhimself。Andthelady,whileshestilllived,shesay——"Fly,flyordie！"Andnow？"andheglancedatthetwobodies。

Ilookedathimvacantlyforthenumbnessfollowingthefirstshockwaspassingawayandalltheeatingagonyofmylossbegantofixitsfangsuponmyheart。

"WhithercanIfly？"Iasked。"AndwhyshouldIfly？Iamaninnocentmanandfortherest,thesoonerIamdeadthebetter。"

"MyMastermustfly,"answeredKariinswift,brokenwords,"becausehestillliveandisfree。Alsosorrowbehind,joybefore。Kari,whohatewomenandreadheart,Kariwhodrinkthissamebitterwaterlongago,guessthesethingscomingandthinkandthink。NoneedthatMastertrouble,KarisettleallandtellMasterthatifhedowhathesay,everythingcomeright。"

"WhatamItodo？"Iaskedwithagroan。

"Ship/Blanche/ongreatriverreadyforsea。MasterandKarisailinherbeforedaybreak。Hereleaveeverything:muchland,muchwealth——

whatmatter？Lifemorethanthesethingswhichcangetagain。Come。

No,oneminute,wait。"

ThenhewenttothebodyofDeleroyandwithwonderfulswiftnesstookoffitthechaincoatheworebeneathhistunic,whichheputonhisownbody。Alsohetookhisswordandbuckleditabouthim,whiletheparchmentwrithethrewuponthefire。Thenheextinguishedthehanginglampandgavemeoneofthecandles,takingtheotherhimself。

AtthedoorIheldupmycandleandbythelightofitlookedmylastupontheashenfaceofBlanche,whichfaceIknewmustgowithmethroughallmylife"sdays。

Karilockedthestoutoakendoorofthesolarfromtheoutsideandtookmeintomychamber,wherewasthearmouroftheknightwhomIhadkilledonHastingsHill,whicharmourIhadcausedtobealteredtofitmyself。Swiftlyhebuckleditontome,throwingoverallalong,darkrobesuchasmerchantswear。Fromthecupboard,too,hebroughtthebigblackbowandasheathofarrows,alsoapursefulofgoldpiecesfromwheretheywerekept,andwiththemtheleathernbagwhichhehadwornwhenIfoundhimonthequay。

Wewentintotheroomwherethefeasthadbeenheldandtheredranksomewine,thougheatIcouldnot。ThecupfromwhichIdrankwas,asitchanced,thesameinwhichIhadpledgedBlancheatthebridefeast。NowIpledgedherspiritwhereonIprayedGod"smercy。

Weleftthehouseandinthestablesaddledtwohorses,strong,quietbeasts。Thenbywayofthebackyardwerodeoutintothenight,noneseeingus,forbynowallwereasleep,andinthatweatherthestreetswereempty,evenofsuchaswalkedthemindarkness。

WereachedthequayIknownothowlongafterwardswhosemindwasfullofthoughtsthatblottedoutallelse。Howstrangehadbeenmylife——

thatwasoneofthem。WithinafewyearsIhadrisentogreatwealth,andwonthewomanIdesired。Andnowwherewasthewealthandwherewasthewoman,andwhatwasI？Oneflyinghisnativelandbynightwithblooduponhishands,thebloodofaKing"sfavouritethat,ifheweretaken,wouldbringhimtothenoose。Oh！howgreatwasthecontrastbetweenthemornandthemidnightofthatdayforme！"Vanityofvanities。Allisvanity！"

Ithinkthatmymindmusthavewandered,forwhenmysoulwasswallowedinthisdeepestpitofhell,itseemedtomethathewhomI

hadworshippedasaheavenlypatron,St。Hubert,appearedstridingbymyhorsewithashiningcountenanceandsaidtome:

"Havegoodcourage,Godson,andrememberyourmother"swords——awanderershallyoube,butwhere"eryougothegoodbowandthegoodswordshallkeepyousafeandIwanderwithyou。Nordoesalllovediewithonewoman"spassingbreath。"

Thisphantasy,asitwere,lancedtheabscessofmypainandforawhileIwaseasier。Alsosomethingofhopecamebacktome。Inolongerdesiredtodiebutrathertoliveandinlife,notinthetomb,tofindforgetfulness。

Wereachedthequayandplacedthehorsesinashedthatservedasstablesthere,riddingthemoftheirbitsandsaddlesthattheymighteatofthehayintheracks。Thethoughttodothiscametome,whichshowedthatmymindwasworkingagainsincestillIcouldattendtothewantsofothercreatures。ThenwewenttothequaysidewherewasmadefastthatboatinwhichIhadcomeashoresomehoursgone。Therewasamoonwhichnowandagainshowedbetweenthedriftingclouds,andbythelightofitIsawthatthe/Blanche/laysafeatheranchorsnotabowshotaway。Thegalehadfallenmuchwiththerisingofthemoon,asitoftendoes,andsoitcameaboutthatalthoughtheboatwasover—largefortwomentohandlerightly,KariandI,bywatchingourchance,wereabletorowittotheship,ontowhichweclimbedbytheladder。

Herewefoundasailoronwatchwhowasamazedtoseeus,andwithhishelp,madetheboatfastbythetowropetothesternoftheship。

ThisdoneIcausedthecaptaintobeawakenedandtoldhimbrieflythatasthegalehadabatedandtideandwindserved,Idesiredtosailatonce。Hestaredatme,thinkingmemad,whomheknewtohavebeenmarriedbutthatday。

Surely,hesaid,Ishouldwaitforthelightandtogatherupthoseoftheship"scompanywhowerestillashore。IansweredthatIwouldwaitfornothing,andwhenheaskedwhy,wasinspiredtotellhimthatitwasbecauseIwentabouttheKing"sbusiness,havinglettersfromhisGracetodelivertohisEnvoysintheSouthSeasthatbrookedofnodelay,sinceonthemhungpeaceorwar。

"Beware,"Isaidtohim,"howyou,oranyofyou,daretodisobeytheKing"sorders,foryouknowthatthefateofsuchisashortshriftandalongrope。"

Thenthatcaptaingrewfrightenedandsummonedthesailors,whobynowhadsleptofftheirdrink,andtothemhetoldmycommands。Theymurmured,pointingtothesky,butwhentheysawmestandingthere,wearingaknight"sarmourandlookingverysternwithmyhanduponmysword,whenalsothroughKariIpromisedthemdoublepayforthevoyage,they,too,grewfrightened,andhavingsetsomesmallsails,gotuptheanchors。

Soitcameaboutthatwithinlittlemorethananhourofourboardingofthatshipshewasrunningouttowardstheseaasfastastideandwindcoulddriveher。Ithinkthatitwasnottoosoon,forasthequayvanishedinthegloomIsawmenwithlanternsmovingonit,andthoughttomyselfthatperhapsanalarmhadbeengivenandtheywerecometotakeme。

Thiscaptainwasonewhoknewtheriverwell,andwiththehelpofanothersailorhesteeredusdownitsreachessafely。BydawnwehadpassedTilburyandatfulllightwereoffGravesendracingfortheopensea。Nowitwasthatbehindusweperceivedfromtherushingcloudsthatthegale,whichhadlulledduringthenight,wascomingupmorestronglythaneverandstilleasterly。Thesailorsgrewafraidagainandtogetherwiththecaptainvowedthatitwasmadnesstofacetheseainsuchweather,andthatwemustanchor,ormaketheshoreifwecould。

Irefusedtolistentothem,whereattheyseemedtogiveway。

AtthatmomentKari,whohadgoneforward,calledtome。Iwenttohimandhepointedouttomemengallopingalongthebankandwavingkerchiefs,asthoughtosignaltoustostop。

"Ithink,Master,"saidKari,"thatsomehaveenteredthesun—roomatyourhouse。"

Inoddedandwatchedthemenwhogallopedandwaved。ForsomeminutesIwatchedthemtillsuddenlyIsawthattheshipwasalteringhercoursesothatherbowpointedfirstonewayandthenanother,asthoughshewerenolongerbeingsteered。Weranafttolearnthecause,andfoundthis。

Thatcrewofdastards,everymanofthemandthecaptainwiththem,haddrawnuptheboatinwhichKariandIcameaboard,thatwasstilltiedtotheship"sstern,andsliddowntheropeintoher,purposingtowinashorebeforeitwastoolate。Karismiledasthoughhewerenotastonished,butinmyrageIshoutedatthem,callingthemcursandtraitors。IthinkthatthecaptainheardmywordsforIsawhimturnhisheadandlookawayasthoughinshame,butnottheothers。

Theywereengagedinhuntingfortheoars,onlytofindthemgone,foritwouldseemthattheyhadbeenwashedorhadfallenoverboard。

Thentheytriedtosetsomekindofsailbyaidofaboathook,butwhiletheyweredoingthis,theboat,whichhaddriftedsideontothegreatwavesraisedbythegaleuponthefaceofthebroadriver,overturned。Isawsomeofthemenclingingtotheboatandoneortwoscramblingontoherkeel,butwhatchancedtothemandtheothersI

donotknow,whohadrushedtothesteeringgeartosettheshipuponhercourseagain,lestherfateshouldbethatoftheboat,orweshouldgoashoreandbecapturedbythosewhogallopedonthebank,orbedrowned。ThiswasthelastIeversaworheardofthecrewofthe/Blanche/。

Theship"sbowcameroundand,drivenbytheever—increasinggale,sherushedonhercoursetowardsthesea,bearinguswithher,twoweakandlonelymen。

"Kari,"Isaid,"whatshallwedo？Trytorunashore,orsailon？"

Hethoughtawhilethenanswered,pointingtothosewhogalloped,nowbuttinyfiguresonthedistantbank:

"Master,yonderisdeath,suredeath;andyonder,"herehepointedtothesea,"isdeath——perhaps。Master,youhaveaGod,andI,Kari,haveanotherGod,mayhapsameGodwithdifferentname。Isay——TrustourGodsandsailon,forGodsbetterthanmen。Ifwedieinwater,whatmatter？Watersofterthanrope,butIthinknotdie。"

Inodded,forthereasoningseemedgood。RatherwouldIbedrownedthanfallintothehandsofthosewhoweregallopingontheshore,tobedraggedbacktoLondonandafelon"sdoom。

SoIpresseduponthetillertobringthe/Blanche/moreintomid—

channel,andheadedforthesea。Widerandwidergrewtheestuaryandfartherandfartherawaytheshoresasthe/Blanche/scuddedonbeneathhersmallsailswiththeweightofthegalebehindher,tillatlasttherewastheopensea。

Withinafewfeetofthetillerwasadeck—house,inwhichthecrewate,builtofsolidoakandclampedwithiron。Herewasfoodinplenty,ale,too,andwiththesewefilledourselves。Also,leavingKaritoholdthetiller,Itookoffmyarmourandinplaceofitclothedmyselfintheroughseagarmentsthatlayaboutwithtallgreasedboots,andthensenthimtodolikewise。

Soonwelostsightoflandandwereclimbingthegreatoceanbillows,whosefoamycrestsrolledandspurtedwherevertheeyefell。Wecouldsetnocoursebutmustgowherethegaledroveus,away,awayweknewnotwhither。AsIhavesaid,the/Blanche/wasnewandstrongandthebestshipthateverIhadsailedinuponaheavysea。Moreover,herhatcheswerecloseddown,forthisthesailorshaddoneafterweweighed,sosherodethewaterslikeaduck,takingnoharm。Oh！wellitwasformethatfrommychildhoodIhadhadtodowithshipsandthesailingofthem,andflyingfromthefollowingwavesthuswasabletosteerandkeepthe/Blanche"s/pooprightinthewind,whichseemedtoblowfirstfromonequarterandthenfromthat。

Nowovermymemoryoftheseeventstherecomesagreatconfusionandsenseofamazement。Allbecamefragmentaryanddisjointed,separatedalsobywhatseemedtobeconsiderableperiodsoftime——daysorweeksperhaps。Therewasasenseofendlessroaringseasbeforewhichtheshipfledonandon,drivenbyascreaminggalethatInoteddimlyseemedtoblowfirstfromthenorthwestandthensteadilyfromtheeast。

Iseemyself,verydistinctly,lashingthetillertoironringsthatwerescrewedinthedeckbeams,andknowthatIdidthisbecauseIwastooweaktoholditanylongeranddesiredtosetitsothatthe/Blanche/shouldcontinuetodrivestraightbeforethegale。Iseemyselflyinginthedeck—houseofwhichIhavespoken,whileKarifedmewithfoodandwaterandsometimesthrustintomymouthlittlepelletsofIknewnotwhat,whichhetookfromtheleathernbagheworeabouthim。Irememberedthatbag。IthadbeenonhispersonwhenIrescuedhimatthequay,forIhadseenitfirstashewashedhimselfafterwards,halffullofsomething,andwonderedwhatitcontained。Later,IhadseenitinhishandagainwhenweleftmyhouseafterthedeathofBlanche。InotedthatwheneverhegavemeoneofthesepelletsIseemedtogrowstrongforawhile,andthentofallintosleep,deepandprolonged。

Aftermoredays——orweeks,Ibegantobeholdmarvelsandtohearstrangevoices。IthoughtthatIwastalkingwithmymotherandwithmypatron,St。Hubert;alsothatBlanchecametomeandexplainedeverything,showinghowlittleshehadbeentoblameforallthathadhappenedtomeandher。ThesethingsmademecertainthatIwasdeadandIwasgladtobedead,sincenowIknewtherewouldbenomorepainorstrivings;thattheendeavourswhichmakeuplifefromhourtohourhadceasedandthatrestwaswon。Onlythenappearedmyuncle,JohnGrimmer,whokeptquotinghisfavouritetextatme——"Vanityofvanities。Allisvanity,"hesaid,adding:"DidInottellyouthatitwasthusyearsago？Nowyouhavelearneditforyourself。Only,NephewHubert,don"tthinkthatyouhavefinishedwithvanitiesyet,asI

have,forIsaythatthereareplentymoretocomeforyou。"

Thusheseemedtotalkonaboutthisandothermatters,suchaswhatwouldhappentohiswealthandwhetherthehospitalswouldbequicktoseizethelandstowhichhehadgivenitthereversion,tillIgrewquitetiredofhimandwishedthathewouldgoaway。

ThenatlengththerewasagreatcrashthatIthinkdisturbedhim,forhedidgo,sayingthatitwasonlyanother"vanity,"afterwhichI

seemedtofallasleepforweeksandweeks。

Iwokeupagainforawarmthandbrightnessonmyfacecausedmetoopenmyeyes。Iliftedmyhandtoshieldthemfromthebrightnessandnotedwithakindofwonderthatitwassothinthatthelightshonethroughitasitdoesthroughparchment,andthattheboneswerevisiblebeneaththeskin。Iletitfallfromweakness,anditdroppedontohairwhichIknewmustbethatofabeard,whichsetmewondering,forithadbeenmyfashiontogoclean—shaven。How,then,didIcomebyabeard？IlookedaboutmeandsawthatIwaslyingonthedeckofaship,yes,ofthe/Blanche/itself,forIknewtheshapeofherstern,alsocertainknotsinoneoftheuprightsofthedeck—

housethatformedaruderesemblancetoahumanface。Nothingofthisdeck—housewasleftnow,exceptthecornerpostsbetweenwhichIlay,andtothetopsofthesewaslashedapieceofcanvasasthoughtokeepoffthesunandtheweather。

WithdifficultyIliftedmyheadalittleandlookedaboutme。Thebulwarksoftheshiphadgone,butsomeoftheuprightstowhichtheplankshadbeennailedremained,andbetweenthemIperceivedtall—

stemmedtreeswithtuftsofgreatleavesatthetopofthem,whichtreesseemedtobewithinafewyardsofme。Bright—wingedbirdsflewaboutthemandintheircrownsIsawapessuchasthesailorsusedtobringhomefromBarbary。Itwouldseem,then,thatImustbeinariver（infact,itwasalittlebayorcreek,oneithersideofwhichthesetreesappeared）。

Notingtheseandthecreepingplantswithbeautifulflowers,suchasI

hadneverseen,thatclimbedupthem,andthesweetscentsthatfloatedontheair,andtheclearlight,nowIgrewsurethatIwasdeadandhadreachedParadise。OnlythenhowcameitthatIstilllayontheship,forneverhadIheardthatsuchthingsalsowenttoParadise？Nay,Imustdream;itwasnothingbutadreamthatIwishedweretrue,rememberingasIdidtheterrorsofthatgale—tossedsea。

Or,ifIdidnotdream,thenIwasinsomenewworld。

WhileImusedthusIheardasoundofsoftfootstepsandpresentlysawafigurebendingoverme。ItwasKari,verythinandhollow—eyed,much,indeed,ashehadbeenwhenIfoundhimonthequayinLondon,butstillKariwithoutdoubt。Helookedatmeinhisgravefashion,thensaidsoftly:

"Masterawake？"

"Yes,Kari,"Isaid,"buttellme,whereamI？"

Hedidnotansweratoncebutwentawayandreturnedpresentlywithabowlfromwhichhebademedrink,holdingittomylips。Ididso,swallowingwhatseemedtobebroththoughIthoughtitstrangelyflavoured,afterwhichIfeltmuchstronger,forwhateverwasinthatbrothranthroughmyveinslikewine。AtlasthespokeinhisqueerEnglish。

"Master,"hesaid,"whenwestillinThamesRiver,youaskmewhetherweshouldrunashoreintothehandsofthehunterswhotrytocatchus,orsailon。Ianswer,"YouhaveGodandIhaveGodandbetterfallintohandsofgodsthanintohandsofmen。"Sowesailonintothebigstorm。Forlongwesail,andthoughonceitturn,alwaysthegreatwindblew,behindus。Yougrowweakandyourmindleaveyou,butIkeepyoualivewithmedicinethatIhaveandformanydaysIstayawakeandsteer。Thenatlastmymindleaveme,too,andIknownomore。ThreedaysagoIwakeupandfindtheshipinthisplace。ThenI

eatmoremedicineandgetstrength,alsofoodfrompeopleontheshorewhothinkusgods。Thatallthestory,exceptthatyoulive,notdie。

YourGodandmyGodbringusheresafe。"