第1章

Iwouldwishtodeclare，atthebeginningofthisstory，thatI

shallneverregardthatclusterofisletswhichwecallBermudaastheFortunateIslandsoftheancients。Donotletprofessionalgeographerstakemeup，andsaythatnoonehassoaccountedthem，andthattheancientshaveneverbeensupposedtohavegottenthemselvessofarwestwards。WhatImeantoassertisthis——that，hadanyancientbeencarriedthitherbyenterpriseorstressofweather，hewouldnothavegiventhoseislandssogoodaname。ThattheNeapolitansailorsofKingAlonzoshouldhavebeenwreckedhere，Iconsidertobemorelikely。ThevexedBermoothesisagoodnameforthem。Thereisnogettinginoroutofthemwithoutthegreatestdifficulty，andapatient，slownavigation，whichisveryheart—rending。ThatCalibanshouldhavelivedhereIcanimagine；

thatArielwouldhavebeensickoftheplaceiscertain；andthatGovernorProsperoshouldhavebeenwillingtoabandonhisgovernorship，Iconceivetohavebeenonlynatural。Whenoneregardsthepresentstateoftheplace，oneistemptedtodoubtwhetheranyofthegovernorshavebeenconjurorssincehisdays。

Bermuda，asalltheworldknows，isaBritishcolonyatwhichwemaintainaconvictestablishment。Mostofouroutlyingconvictestablishmentshavebeensentbackuponourhandsfromourcolonies，buthereoneisstillmaintained。Thereisalsointheislandsastrongmilitaryfortress，thoughnotafortresslookingmagnificenttotheeyesofcivilians，asdoMaltaandGibraltar。Therearealsoheresomesixthousandwhitepeopleandsomesixthousandblackpeople，eating，drinking，sleeping，anddying。

TheconvictestablishmentisthemostnotablefeatureofBermudatoastranger，butitdoesnotseemtoattractmuchattentionfromtheregularinhabitantsoftheplace。ThereisnointercoursebetweentheprisonersandtheBermudians。Theconvictsarerarelyseenbythem，andtheconvictislandsarerarelyvisited。Astotheprisonersthemselves，ofcourseitisnotopentothem——orshouldnotbeopentothem——tohaveintercoursewithanybuttheprisonauthorities。

Therehave，however，beeninstancesinwhichconvictshaveescapedfromtheirconfinement，andmadetheirwayoutamongtheislands。

Poorwretches！Asarule，thereisbutlittlechanceforanythatcansoescape。Thewholelengthoftheclusterisbuttwentymiles，andthebreadthisunderfour。Theprisonersare，ofcourse，whitemen，andthelowerordersofBermuda，amongwhomalonecouldarunagatehaveanychanceofhidinghimself，areallnegroes；sothatsuchaonewouldbeknownatonce。Theirclothesareallmarked。

TheironlychanceofapermanentescapewouldbeintheholdofanAmericanship；butwhatcaptainofanAmericanorothershipwouldwillinglyencumberhimselfwithanescapedconvict？But，nevertheless，menhaveescaped；andinoneinstance，Ibelieve，aconvictgotaway，sothatofhimnofarthertidingswereeverheard。

ForthetruthofthefollowingtaleIwillnotbyanymeansvouch。

Ifoneweretoinquireonthespotonemightprobablyfindthattheladiesallbelieveit，andtheoldmen；thatalltheyoungmenknowexactlyhowmuchofitisfalseandhowmuchtrue；andthatthesteady，middle—aged，well—to—doislandersarequiteconvincedthatitisromancefrombeginningtoend。Myreadersmayrangethemselveswiththeladies，theyoungmen，orthesteady，well—to—

do，middle—agedislanders，astheyplease。

Someyearsago，soonaftertheprisonwasfirstestablishedonitspresentfooting，threemendidescapefromit，andamongthemacertainnotoriousprisonernamedAaronTrow。Trow’santecedentsinEnglandhadnotbeensovillanouslybadasthoseofmanyofhisfellow—convicts，thoughtheoneoffenceforwhichhewaspunishedhadbeenofadeepdye：hehadshedman’sblood。Ataperiodofgreatdistressinamanufacturingtownhehadledmenontoriot，andwithhisownhandhadslainthefirstconstablewhohadendeavouredtodohisdutyagainsthim。Therehadbeencourageinthedoingofthedeed，andprobablynomalice；butthedeed，letitsmoralblacknesshavebeenwhatitmight，hadsenthimtoBermuda，withasentenceagainsthimofpenalservitudeforlife。Hadhebeenthenamenabletoprisondiscipline，——eventhen，withsuchasentenceagainsthimasthat，——hemighthavewonhiswayback，afterthelapseofyears，tothechildren，andperhaps，tothewife，thathehadleftbehindhim；buthewasamenabletonorules——tonodiscipline。Hisheartwassoretodeathwithanideaofinjury，andhelashedhimselfagainstthebarsofhiscagewithafeelingthatitwouldbewellifhecouldsolashhimselftillhemightperishinhisfury。

Andthenadaycameinwhichanattemptwasmadebyalargebodyofconvicts，underhisleadership，togetthebetteroftheofficersoftheprison。Itishardlynecessarytosaythattheattemptfailed。

Suchattemptsalwaysfail。Itfailedonthisoccasionsignally，andTrow，withtwoothermen，werecondemnedtobescourgedterribly，andthenkeptinsolitaryconfinementforsomelengthenedtermofmonths。Before，however，thedayofscourgingcame，Trowandhistwoassociateshadescaped。

Ihavenotthespacetotellhowthiswaseffected，northepowertodescribethemanner。Theydidescapefromtheestablishmentintotheislands，andthoughtwoofthemweretakenafterasingleday’srunatliberty，AaronTrowhadnotbeenyetretakenevenwhenaweekwasover。Whenamonthwasoverhehadnotbeenretaken，andtheofficersoftheprisonbegantosaythathehadgotawayfromtheminavesseltotheStates。Itwasimpossible，theysaid，thatheshouldhaveremainedintheislandsandnotbeendiscovered。Itwasnotimpossiblethathemighthavedestroyedhimself，leavinghisbodywhereithadnotyetbeenfound。ButhecouldnothavelivedoninBermudaduringthatmonth’ssearch。So，atleast，saidtheofficersoftheprison。Therewas，however，areportthroughtheislandsthathehadbeenseenfromtimetotime；thathehadgottenbreadfromthenegroesatnight，threateningthemwithdeathiftheytoldofhiswhereabouts；andthatalltheclothesofthemateofavesselhadbeenstolenwhilethemanwasbathing，includingasuitofdarkbluecloth，inwhichsuitofclothes，orinoneofsuchanature，astrangerhadbeenseenskulkingabouttherocksnearSt。

George。Allthisthegovernoroftheprisonaffectedtodisbelieve，buttheopinionwasbecomingveryrifeintheislandsthatAaronTrowwasstillthere。

Avigilantsearch，however，isataskofgreatlabour，andcannotbekeptupforever。Bydegreesitwasrelaxed。Thewardersandgaolersceasedtopatroltheislandroadsbynight，anditwasagreedthatAaronTrowwasgone，orthathewouldbestarvedtodeath，orthathewouldintimebedriventoleavesuchtracesofhiswhereaboutsasmustleadtohisdiscovery；andthisatlastdidturnouttobethefact。

Thereisasortofprettinessabouttheseislandswhich，thoughitneverrisestothelovelinessofromanticscenery，isneverthelessattractiveinitsway。Thelandbreaksitselfintolittleknolls，andthesearunsup，hitherandthither，inathousandcreeksandinlets；andthen，too，whentheoleandersareinbloom，theygiveawonderfullybrightcolourtothelandscape。OleandersseemtobetherosesofBermuda，andarecultivatedroundallthevillagesofthebetterclassthroughtheislands。Therearetwotowns，St。

GeorgeandHamilton，andonemainhigh—road，whichconnectsthem；

buteventhishigh—roadisbrokenbyaferry，overwhicheveryvehiclegoingfromSt。GeorgetoHamiltonmustbeconveyed。Mostofthelocomotioninthesepartsisdonebyboats，andtheresidentslooktothesea，withitsnarrowcreeks，astheirbesthighwayfromtheirfarmstotheirbestmarket。Inthosedays——andthosedayswerenotverylongsince——thebuildingofsmallshipswastheirchieftrade，andtheyvaluedtheirlandmostlyforthesmallscrubbycedar—treeswithwhichthistradewascarriedon。

AsonegoesfromSt。GeorgetoHamiltontheroadrunsbetweentwoseas；thattotherightistheocean；thatontheleftisaninlandcreek，whichrunsupthroughalargeportionoftheislands，sothatthelandontheothersideofitisneartothetraveller。Foraconsiderableportionofthewaytherearenohouseslyingneartheroad，and，thereisoneresidence，somewayfromtheroad，sosecludedthatnootherhouselieswithinamileofitbyland。Bywateritmightprobablybereachedwithinhalfamile。ThisplacewascalledCrumpIsland，andherelived，andhadlivedformanyyears，anoldgentleman，anativeofBermuda，whosebusinessithadbeentobuyupcedarwoodandsellittotheship—buildersatHamilton。InourstoryweshallnothaveverymuchtodowitholdMr。Bergen，butitwillbenecessarytosayawordortwoabouthishouse。

Itstooduponwhatwouldhavebeenanislandinthecreek，hadnotanarrowcauseway，barelybroadenoughforaroad，joinedittothatlargerislandonwhichstandsthetownofSt。George。Asthemainroadapproachestheferryitrunsthroughsomerough，hilly，openground，whichontherightsidetowardstheoceanhasneverbeencultivated。Thedistancefromtheoceanheremay，perhaps，beaquarterofamile，andthegroundisforthemostpartcoveredwithlowfurze。Ontheleftoftheroadthelandiscultivatedinpatches，andhere，somehalfmileormorefromtheferry，apathturnsawaytoCrumpIsland。Thehousecannotbeseenfromtheroad，and，indeed，canhardlybeseenatall，exceptfromthesea。Itlies，perhaps，threefurlongsfromthehighroad，andthepathtoitisbutlittleused，asthepassagetoandfromitischieflymadebywater。

Here，atthetimeofourstory，livedMr。Bergen，andherelivedMr。

Bergen’sdaughter。MissBergenwaswellknownatSt。George’sasasteady，goodgirl，whospenthertimeinlookingafterherfather’shouseholdmatters，inmanaginghistwoblackmaid—servantsandtheblackgardener，andwhodidherdutyinthatsphereoflifetowhichshehadbeencalled。Shewasacomely，well—shapedyoungwoman，withasweetcountenance，ratherlargeinsize，andveryquietindemeanour。Inherearlieryears，whenyounggirlsusuallyfirstbudforthintowomanlybeauty，theneighbourshadnotthoughtmuchofAnastasiaBergen，norhadtheyoungmenofSt。GeorgebeenwonttostaytheirboatsunderthewindowofCrumpCottageinorderthattheymightlistentohervoiceorfeelthelightofhereye；butslowly，asyearswentby，AnastasiaBergenbecameawomanthatamanmightwelllove；andamanlearnedtoloveherwhowaswellworthyofawoman’sheart。ThiswasCalebMorton，thePresbyterianministerofSt。George；andCalebMortonhadbeenengagedtomarryMissBergenforthelasttwoyearspast，attheperiodofAaronTrow’sescapefromprison。

CalebMortonwasnotanativeofBermuda，buthadbeensentthitherbythesynodofhischurchfromNovaScotia。Hewasatall，handsomeman，atthistimeofsomethirtyyearsofage，ofapresencewhichmightalmosthavebeencalledcommanding。Hewasverystrong，butofatemperamentwhichdidnotoftengivehimopportunitytoputforthhisstrength；andhislifehadbeensuchthatneitherhenorothersknewofwhatnaturemightbehiscourage。

Thegreaterpartofhislifewasspentinpreachingtosomefewofthewhitepeoplearoundhim，andinteachingasmanyoftheblacksashecouldgettohearhim。Hisdayswereveryquiet，andhadbeenaltogetherwithoutexcitementuntilhehadmetwithAnastasiaBergen。Itwillsufficeforustosaythathedidmeether，andthatnow，fortwoyearspast，theyhadbeenengagedasmanandwife。

OldMr。Bergen，whenheheardoftheengagement，wasnotwellpleasedattheinformation。Inthefirstplace，hisdaughterwasverynecessarytohim，andtheideaofhermarryingandgoingawayhadhardlyasyetoccurredtohim；andthenhewasbynomeansinclinedtopartwithanyofhismoney。Itmustnotbepresumedthathehadamassedafortunebyhistradeincedarwood。FewtradesmeninBermudado，asIimagine，amassfortunes。Ofsomefewhundredpoundshewaspossessed，andthese，inthecourseofnature，wouldgotohisdaughterwhenhedied；buthehadnoinclinationtohandanyportionofthemovertohisdaughterbeforetheydidgotoherinthecourseofnature。Now，theincomewhichCalebMortonearnedasaPresbyterianclergymanwasnotlarge，and，therefore，nodayhadbeenfixedasyetforhismarriagewithAnastasia。

But，thoughtheoldmanhadbeenfromthefirstaversetothematch，hishostilityhadnotbeenactive。HehadnotforbiddenMr。Mortonhishouse，oraffectedtobeinanydegreeangrybecausehisdaughterhadalover。Hehadmerelygrumbledforthanintimationthatthosewhomarryinhasterepentatleisure，——thatlovekeptnobodywarmifthepotdidnotboil；andthat，asforhim，itwasasmuchashecoulddotokeephisownpotboilingatCrumpCottage。

InanswertothisAnastasiasaidnothing。Sheaskedhimfornomoney，butstillkepthisaccounts，managedhishousehold，andlookedpatientlyforwardforbetterdays。

OldMr。BergenhimselfspentmuchofhistimeatHamilton，wherehehadawoodyardwithacoupleofroomsattachedtoit。Itwashiscustomtoremainherethreenightsoftheweek，duringwhichAnastasiawasleftaloneatthecottage；andithappenedbynomeansseldomthatshewasaltogetheralone，forthenegrowhomtheycalledthegardenerwouldgotoherfather’splaceatHamilton，andthetwoblackgirlswouldcrawlawayuptotheroad，tiredwiththemonotonyoftheseaatthecottage。Calebhadmorethanoncetoldherthatshewastoomuchalone，butshehadlaughedathim，sayingthatsolitudeinBermudawasnotdangerous。Nor，indeed，wasit；forthepeoplearequietandwell—mannered，lackingmuchenergy，butbeing，inthesamedegree，freefromanypropensitytoviolence。

"Soyouaregoing，"shesaidtoherlover，oneevening，asherosefromthechaironwhichhehadbeenswinginghimselfatthedoorofthecottagewhichlooksdownoverthecreekofthesea。Hehadsatthereforanhourtalkingtoherassheworked，orwatchingherasshemovedabouttheplace。Itwasabeautifulevening，andthesunhadbeenfallingtorestwithalmosttropicalglorybeforehisfeet。

Thebrightoleanderswereredwiththeirblossomsallaroundhim，andhehadthoroughlyenjoyedhishourofeasyrest。"Soyouaregoing，"shesaidtohim，notputtingherworkoutofherhandasherosetodepart。

"Yes；anditistimeformetogo。IhavestillworktodobeforeI

cangettobed。Ah，well；IsupposethedaywillcomeatlastwhenIneednotleaveyouassoonasmyhourofrestisover。"

"Come；ofcourseitwillcome。Thatis，ifyourreverenceshouldchoosetowaitforitanothertenyearsorso。"

"Ibelieveyouwouldnotmindwaitingtwentyyears。"

"NotifacertainfriendofminewouldcomedownandseemeofeveningswhenI’maloneaftertheday。ItseemstomethatI

shouldn’tmindwaitingaslongasIhadthattolookfor。"

"Youarerightnottobeimpatient，"hesaidtoher，afterapause，asheheldherhandbeforehewent。"Quiteright。IonlywishI

couldschoolmyselftobeaseasyaboutit。"

"IdidnotsayIwaseasy，"saidAnastasia。"Peopleareseldomeasyinthisworld，Itakeit。IsaidIcouldbepatient。Donotlookinthatway，asthoughyoupretendedthatyouweredissatisfiedwithme。YouknowthatIamtruetoyou，andyououghttobeveryproudofme。"

"Iamproudofyou，Anastasia——"onhearingwhichshegotupandcourtesiedtohim。"Iamproudofyou；soproudofyouthatIfeelyoushouldnotbelefthereallalone，withnoonetohelpyouifyouwereintrouble。"

"Womendon’tgetintotroubleasmendo，anddonotwantanyonetohelpthem。Ifyouwerealoneinthehouseyouwouldhavetogotobedwithoutyoursupper，becauseyoucouldnotmakeabasinofboiledmilkreadyforyourownmeal。Now，whenyourreverencehasgone，Ishallgotoworkandhavemyteacomfortably。"Andthenhedidgo，biddingGodblessherashelefther。Threehoursafterthathewasdisturbedinhisownlodgingsbyoneofthenegrogirlsfromthecottagerushingtohisdoor，andbegginghiminHeaven’snametocomedowntotheassistanceofhermistress。

WhenMortonlefther，Anastasiadidnotproceedtodoasshehadsaid，andseemedtohaveforgottenhereveningmeal。Shehadbeenworkingsedulouslywithherneedleduringallthatlastconversation；butwhenherloverwasgone，sheallowedtheworktofallfromherhands，andsatmotionlessforawhile，gazingatthelaststreakofcolourleftbythesettingsun；buttherewasnolongerasignofitsglorytobetracedintheheavensaroundher。

ThetwilightinBermudaisnotlongandenduringasitiswithus，thoughthedaylightdoesnotdepartsuddenly，leavingthedarknessofnightbehinditwithoutanyintermediatetimeofwarning，asisthecasefarthersouth，downamongtheislandsofthetropics。Butthesoft，sweetlightoftheeveninghadwanedandgone，andnighthadabsolutelycomeuponher，whileAnastasiawasstillseatedbeforethecottagewithhereyesfixeduponthewhitestreakofmotionlessseawhichwasstillvisiblethroughthegloom。Shewasthinkingofhim，ofhiswaysoflife，ofhishappiness，andofherdutytowardshim。Shehadtoldhim，withherprettyfemininefalseness，thatshecouldwaitwithoutimpatience；butnowshesaidtoherselfthatitwouldnotbegoodforhimtowaitlonger。Helivedaloneandwithoutcomfort，workingveryhardforhispoorpittance，andshecouldsee，andfeel，andunderstandthatacompanioninhislifewastohimalmostanecessity。Shewouldtellherfatherthatallthismustbebroughttoanend。Shewouldnotaskhimformoney，butshewouldmakehimunderstandthatherservicesmust，atanyrateinpart，betransferred。WhyshouldnotsheandMortonstillliveatthecottagewhentheyweremarried？

Andsothinking，andatlastresolving，shesattheretillthedarknightfelluponher。

Shewasatlastdisturbedbyfeelingaman’shanduponhershoulder。

Shejumpedfromherchairandfacedhim，——notscreaming，foritwasespeciallywithinherpowertocontrolherself，andtomakenoutteranceexceptwithforethought。Perhapsitmighthavebeenbetterforherhadshescreamed，andsentashrillshriekdowntheshoreofthatinlandsea。Shewassilent，however，andwithawe—

struckfaceandoutstretchedhandsgazedintothefaceofhimwhostillheldherbytheshoulder。Thenightwasdark；buthereyeswerenowaccustomedtothedarkness，andshecouldseeindistinctlysomethingofhisfeatures。Hewasalow—sizedman，dressedinasuitofsailor’sblueclothing，witharoughcapofhaironhishead，andabeardthathadnotbeenclippedformanyweeks。Hiseyeswerelarge，andhollow，andfrightfullybright，sothatsheseemedtoseenothingelseofhim；butshefeltthestrengthofhisfingersashegraspedhertighterandmoretightlybythearm。

"Whoareyou？"shesaid，afteramoment’spause。

"Doyouknowme？"heasked。

"Knowyou！No。"ButthewordswerehardlyoutofhermouthbeforeitstruckherthatthemanwasAaronTrow，ofwhomeveryoneinBermudahadbeentalking。

"Comeintothehouse，"hesaid，"andgivemefood。"Andhestillheldherwithhishandasthoughhewouldcompelhertofollowhim。

Shestoodforamomentthinkingwhatshewouldsaytohim；foreventhen，withthatterriblemanstandingclosetoherinthedarkness，herpresenceofminddidnotdeserther。"Surely，"shesaid，"I

willgiveyoufoodifyouarehungry。Buttakeyourhandfromme。

Nomanwouldlayhishandsonawoman。"

"Awoman！"saidthestranger。"Whatdoesthestarvedwolfcareforthat？Awoman’sbloodisassweettohimasthatofaman。Comeintothehouse，Itellyou。"Andthensheprecededhimthroughtheopendoorintothenarrowpassage，andthencetothekitchen。Thereshesawthatthebackdoor，leadingoutontheothersideofthehouse，wasopen，andsheknewthathehadcomedownfromtheroadandenteredonthatside。Shethrewhereyesaround，lookingforthenegrogirls；buttheywereaway，andsherememberedthattherewasnohumanbeingwithinsoundofhervoicebutthismanwhohadtoldherthathewasasawolfthirstyafterherblood！

"Givemefoodatonce，"hesaid。

"AndwillyougoifIgiveityou？"sheasked。

"Iwillknockoutyourbrainsifyoudonot，"hereplied，liftingfromthegrateashort，thickpokerwhichlaythere。"DoasIbidyouatonce。Youalsowouldbelikeatigerifyouhadfastedfortwodays，asIhavedone。"

Shecouldsee，asshemovedacrossthekitchen，thathehadalreadysearchedthereforsomethingthathemighteat，butthathehadsearchedinvain。Withthecloseeconomycommonamonghisclassintheislands，allcomestibleswerekeptundercloselockandkeyinthehouseofMr。Bergen。Theirdailyallowancewasgivendaybydaytothenegroservants，andeventhefragmentswerethengatheredupandlockedawayinsafety。Shemovedacrossthekitchentotheaccustomedcupboard，takingthekeysfromherpocket，andhefollowedcloseuponher。Therewasasmalloillamphangingfromthelowceilingwhichjustgavethemlighttoseeeachother。Sheliftedherhandtothistotareitfromitshook，buthepreventedher。"No，byHeaven！"hesaid，"youdon’ttouchthattillI’vedonewithit。There’slightenoughforyoutodragoutyourscraps。"

Shediddragoutherscrapsandabowlofmilk，whichmightholdperhapsaquart。Therewasafragmentofbread，amorselofcoldpotato—cake，andtheboneofalegofkid。"Andisthatall？"saidhe。Butashespokehefleshedhisteethagainsttheboneasadogwouldhavedone。

"ItisthebestIhave，"shesaid；"Iwishitwerebetter，andyoushouldhavehaditwithoutviolence，asyouhavesufferedsolongfromhunger。"

"Bah！Better；yes！Youwouldgivethebestnodoubt，andsetthehellhoundsonmytrackthemomentIamgone。IknowhowmuchI

mightexpectfromyourcharity。"

"Iwouldhavefedyouforpity’ssake，"sheanswered。

"Pity！Whoareyou，thatyoushoulddaretopityme！By—，myyoungwoman，itisIthatpityyou。Imustcutyourthroatunlessyougivememoney。Doyouknowthat？"

"Money！Ihavegotnomoney。"

"I’llmakeyouhavesomebeforeIgo。Come；don’tmovetillIhavedone。"Andashespoketoherhewentontuggingatthebone，andswallowingthelumpsofstalebread。Hehadalreadyfinishedthebowlofmilk。"And，now，"saidhe，"tellmewhoIam。"

"IsupposeyouareAaronTrow，"sheanswered，veryslowly。Hesaidnothingonhearingthis，butcontinuedhismeal，standingclosetohersothatshemightnotpossiblyescapefromhimoutintothedarkness。Twiceorthriceinthosefewminutesshemadeuphermindtomakesuchanattempt，feelingthatitwouldbebettertoleavehiminpossessionofthehouse，andmakesure，ifpossible，ofherownlife。Therewasnomoneythere；notadollar！WhatmoneyherfatherkeptinhispossessionwaslockedupinhissafeatHamilton。

Andmighthenotkeeptohisthreat，andmurderher，whenhefoundthatshecouldgivehimnothing？Shedidnottrembleoutwardly，asshestoodtherewatchinghimasheate，butshethoughthowprobableitmightbethatherlastmomentswereverynear。Andyetshecouldscrutinisehisfeatures，form，andgarments，soastocarryawayinhermindaperfectpictureofthem。AaronTrow——forofcourseitwastheescapedconvict——wasnotamanoffrightful，hideousaspect。

Hadtheworldusedhimwell，givinghimwhenhewasyoungamplewagesandseparatinghimfromturbulentspirits，healsomighthaveusedtheworldwell；andthenwomenwouldhavepraisedthebrightnessofhiseyeandthemanlyvigourofhisbrow。Butthingshadnotgonewellwithhim。Hehadbeenseparatedfromthewifehehadloved，andthechildrenwhohadbeenraisedathisknee，——

separatedbyhisownviolence；andnow，ashehadsaidofhimself，hewasawolfratherthanaman。Ashestoodtheresatisfyingthecravingofhisappetite，breakingupthelargemorselsoffood，hewasanobjectverysadtobeseen。Hungerhadmadehimgauntandyellow，hewassqualidwiththedirtofhishiddenlair，andhehadthelookofabeast；——thatlooktowhichmenfallwhentheylivelikethebrutesofprey，asoutcastsfromtheirbrethren。Butstilltherewasthatabouthisbrowwhichmighthaveredeemedhim，——whichmighthaveturnedherhorrorintopity，hadhebeenwillingthatitshouldbeso。

"Andnowgivemesomebrandy，"hesaid。

Therewasbrandyinthehouse，——inthesitting—roomwhichwascloseattheirhand，andthekeyofthelittlepresswhichhelditwasinherpocket。Itwasuseless，shethought，torefusehim；andsoshetoldhimthattherewasabottlepartlyfull，butthatshemustgotothenextroomtofetchithim。

"We’llgotogether，mydarling，"hesaid。"There’snothinglikegoodcompany。"Andheagainputhishanduponherarmastheypassedintothefamilysitting—room。

"Imusttakethelight，"shesaid。Butheunhookedithimself，andcarrieditinhisownhand。

Againshewenttoworkwithouttrembling。Shefoundthekeyofthesidecupboard，andunlockingthedoor，handedhimabottlewhichmightcontainabouthalf—a—pintofspirits。"Andisthatall？"hesaid。

"Thereisafullbottlehere，"sheanswered，handinghimanother；

"butifyoudrinkit，youwillbedrunk，andtheywillcatchyou。"

"ByHeavens，yes；andyouwouldbethefirsttohelpthem；wouldyounot？"

"Lookhere，"sheanswered。"Ifyouwillgonow，Iwillnotsayawordtoanyoneofyourcoming，norsetthemonyourtracktofollowyou。There，takethefullbottlewithyou。Ifyouwillgo，youshallbesafefromme。"

"What，andgowithoutmoney！"

"Ihavenonetogiveyou。YoumaybelievemewhenIsayso。Ihavenotadollarinthehouse。"

Beforehespokeagainheraisedthehalfemptybottletohismouth，anddrankaslongastherewasadroptodrink。"There，"saidhe，puttingthebottledown，"Iambetterafterthat。Astotheother，youareright，andIwilltakeitwithme。Andnow，youngwoman，aboutthemoney？"

"ItellyouthatIhavenotadollar。"

"Lookhere，"saidhe，andhespokenowinasoftervoice，asthoughhewouldbeonfriendlytermswithher。"Givemetensovereigns，andIwillgo。Iknowyouhaveit，andwithtensovereignsitispossiblethatImaysavemylife。Youaregood，andwouldnotwishthatamanshoulddiesohorridadeath。Iknowyouaregood。

Come，givemethemoney。"Andheputhishandsup，beseechingher，andlookedintoherfacewithimploringeyes。

"OnthewordofaChristianwomanIhavenotgotmoneytogiveyou，"

shereplied。

"Nonsense？"Andashespokehetookherbythearmandshookher。

Heshookherviolentlysothathehurther，andherbreathforamomentwasallbutgonefromher。"ItellyouyoumustmakedollarsbeforeIleaveyou，orIwillsohandleyouthatitwouldhavebeenbetterforyoutocoinyourveryblood。"

"MayGodhelpmeatmyneed，"shesaid，"asIhavenotaboveafewpennypiecesinthehouse。"

"Andyouexpectmetobelievethat！Lookhere！Iwillshaketheteethoutofyourhead，butIwillhaveitfromyou。"Andhedidshakeheragain，usingbothhishandsandstrikingheragainstthewall。

"Wouldyou——murderme？"shesaid，hardlyablenowtoutterthewords。

"Murderyou，yes；whynot？IcannotbeworsethanIam，wereItomurderyoutentimesover。ButwithmoneyImaypossiblybebetter。"

"Ihaveitnot。"

"ThenIwilldoworsethanmurderyou。Iwillmakeyousuchanobjectthatalltheworldshallloathetolookonyou。"Andsosayinghetookherbythearmanddraggedherforthfromthewallagainstwhichshehadstood。

Thentherecamefromherashriekthatwasheardfardowntheshoreofthatsilentsea，andawayacrosstothesolitaryhousesofthoselivingontheotherside，——ashriek，verysad，sharp，andprolonged，——whichtoldplainlytothosewhohearditofwoman’swoewheninherextremestperil。ThatsoundwasspokenofinBermudaformanyadayafterthat，assomethingwhichhadbeenterribletohear。Butthen，atthatmoment，asitcamewailingthroughthedark，itsoundedasthoughitwerenothuman。Ofthosewhoheardit，notoneguessedfromwhenceitcame，norwasthehandofanybrotherputforwardtohelpthatwomanatherneed。

"Didyouhearthat？"saidtheyoungwifetoherhusband，fromthefarsideofthearmofthesea。

"Hearit！OhHeaven，yes！Whencediditcome？"Theyoungwifecouldnotsayfromwhenceitcame，butclungclosetoherhusband’sbreast，comfortingherselfwiththeknowledgethatthatterriblesorrowwasnothers。

Butaiddidcomeatlast，orratherthatwhichseemedasaid。Longandterriblewasthefightbetweenthathumanbeastofpreyandthepoorvictimwhichhadfallenintohistalons。AnastasiaBergenwasastrong，well—builtwoman，andnowthatthetimehadcometoherwhenastrugglewasnecessary，astruggleforlife，forhonour，forthehappinessofhimwhowasmoretoherthanherself，shefoughtlikeatigressattackedinherownlair。Atsuchamomentasthisshealsocouldbecomewildandsavageasthebeastoftheforest。

Whenhepinionedherarmswithoneofhis，ashepressedherdownuponthefloor，shecaughtthefirstjointoftheforefingerofhisotherhandbetweenherteethtillheyelledinagony，andanothersoundwasheardacrossthesilentwater。Andthen，whenonehandwasloosedinthestruggle，shetwisteditthroughhislonghair，anddraggedbackhisheadtillhiseyeswerenearlystartingfromtheirsockets。AnastasiaBergenhadhithertobeenasheerwoman，allfeminineinhernature。Butnowthefoamcametohermouth，andfiresprangfromhereyes，andthemusclesofherbodyworkedasthoughshehadbeentrainedtodeedsofviolence。Ofviolence，AaronTrowhadknownmuchinhisroughlife，butneverhadhecombatedwithharderantagonistthanherwhomhenowheldbeneathhisbreast。

"By——Iwillputanendtoyou，"heexclaimed，inhiswrath，ashestruckherviolentlyacrossthefacewithhiselbow。Hishandwasoccupied，andhecouldnotuseitforablow，but，nevertheless，theviolencewassogreatthatthebloodgushedfromhernostrils，whilethebackofherheadwasdrivenwithviolenceagainstthefloor。

Butshedidnotloseherholdofhim。Herhandwasstilltwinedcloselythroughhisthickhair，andineverymovehemadesheclungtohimwithallhermight。"Leavegomyhair，"heshoutedather，butshestillkeptherhold，thoughheagaindashedherheadagainstthefloor。