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。
