Франкенштейн

           Almostspent,asIwas,byfatigueandthedreadfulsuspenseIenduredforseveralhours,thissuddencertaintyofliferushedlikeafloodofwarmjoytomyheart,andtearsgushedfrommyeyes.

           Howmutableareourfeelings,andhowstrangeisthatclinginglovewehaveoflifeevenintheexcessofmisery!Iconstructedanothersailwithapartofmydressandeagerlysteeredmycoursetowardstheland.Ithadawildandrockyappearance,butasIapproachednearerIeasilyperceivedthetracesofcultivation.Isawvesselsneartheshoreandfoundmyselfsuddenlytransportedbacktotheneighbourhoodofcivilizedman.IcarefullytracedthewindingsofthelandandhailedasteeplewhichIatlengthsawissuingfrombehindasmallpromontory.AsIwasinastateofextremedebility,Iresolvedtosaildirectlytowardsthetown,asaplacewhereIcouldmosteasilyprocurenourishment.FortunatelyIhadmoneywithme.

           AsIturnedthepromontoryIperceivedasmallneattownandagoodharbour,whichIentered,myheartboundingwithjoyatmyunexpectedescape.

           AsIwasoccupiedinfixingtheboatandarrangingthesails,severalpeoplecrowdedtowardsthespot.Theyseemedmuchsurprisedatmyappearance,butinsteadofofferingmeanyassistance,whisperedtogetherwithgesturesthatatanyothertimemighthaveproducedinmeaslightsensationofalarm.Asitwas,ImerelyremarkedthattheyspokeEnglish,andIthereforeaddressedtheminthatlanguage."Mygoodfriends,"saidI,"willyoubesokindastotellmethenameofthistownandinformmewhereIam?"

           "Youwillknowthatsoonenough,"repliedamanwithahoarsevoice."Maybeyouarecometoaplacethatwillnotprovemuchtoyourtaste,butyouwillnotbeconsultedastoyourquarters,Ipromiseyou."