Франкенштейн

           Ididnotweep,butIkneltdownandwithafullheartthankedmyguidingspiritforconductingmeinsafetytotheplacewhereIhoped,notwithstandingmyadversary’sgibe,tomeetandgrapplewithhim.

           SomeweeksbeforethisperiodIhadprocuredasledgeanddogsandthustraversedthesnowswithinconceivablespeed.Iknownotwhetherthefiendpossessedthesameadvantages,butIfoundthat,asbeforeIhaddailylostgroundinthepursuit,Inowgainedonhim,somuchsothatwhenIfirstsawtheoceanhewasbutoneday’sjourneyinadvance,andIhopedtointercepthimbeforeheshouldreachthebeach.Withnewcourage,therefore,Ipressedon,andintwodaysarrivedatawretchedhamletontheseashore.Iinquiredoftheinhabitantsconcerningthefiendandgainedaccurateinformation.Agiganticmonster,theysaid,hadarrivedthenightbefore,armedwithagunandmanypistols,puttingtoflighttheinhabitantsofasolitarycottagethroughfearofhisterrificappearance.Hehadcarriedofftheirstoreofwinterfood,andplacingitinasledge,todrawwhichhehadseizedonanumerousdroveoftraineddogs,hehadharnessedthem,andthesamenight,tothejoyofthehorror-struckvillagers,hadpursuedhisjourneyacrosstheseainadirectionthatledtonoland;andtheyconjecturedthathemustspeedilybedestroyedbythebreakingoftheiceorfrozenbytheeternalfrosts.

           OnhearingthisinformationIsufferedatemporaryaccessofdespair.Hehadescapedme,andImustcommenceadestructiveandalmostendlessjourneyacrossthemountainousicesoftheocean,amidstcoldthatfewoftheinhabitantscouldlongendureandwhichI,thenativeofagenialandsunnyclimate,couldnothopetosurvive.Yetattheideathatthefiendshouldliveandbetriumphant,myrageandvengeancereturned,andlikeamightytide,overwhelmedeveryotherfeeling.