\"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。\"