Франкенштейн

           Afteraslightrepose,duringwhichthespiritsofthedeadhoveredroundandinstigatedmetotoilandrevenge,Ipreparedformyjourney.Iexchangedmyland-sledgeforonefashionedfortheinequalitiesofthefrozenocean,andpurchasingaplentifulstockofprovisions,Idepartedfromland.

           Icannotguesshowmanydayshavepassedsincethen,butIhaveenduredmiserywhichnothingbuttheeternalsentimentofajustretributionburningwithinmyheartcouldhaveenabledmetosupport.Immenseandruggedmountainsoficeoftenbarredupmypassage,andIoftenheardthethunderofthegroundsea,whichthreatenedmydestruction.Butagainthefrostcameandmadethepathsoftheseasecure.

           BythequantityofprovisionwhichIhadconsumed,IshouldguessthatIhadpassedthreeweeksinthisjourney;andthecontinualprotractionofhope,returningbackupontheheart,oftenwrungbitterdropsofdespondencyandgrieffrommyeyes.Despairhadindeedalmostsecuredherprey,andIshouldsoonhavesunkbeneaththismisery.Once,afterthepooranimalsthatconveyedmehadwithincredibletoilgainedthesummitofaslopingicemountain,andone,sinkingunderhisfatigue,died,Iviewedtheexpansebeforemewithanguish,whensuddenlymyeyecaughtadarkspeckupontheduskyplain.IstrainedmysighttodiscoverwhatitcouldbeandutteredawildcryofecstasywhenIdistinguishedasledgeandthedistortedproportionsofawell-knownformwithin.Oh!Withwhataburninggushdidhoperevisitmyheart!Warmtearsfilledmyeyes,whichIhastilywipedaway,thattheymightnotintercepttheviewIhadofthedaemon;butstillmysightwasdimmedbytheburningdrops,until,givingwaytotheemotionsthatoppressedme,Iweptaloud.

           Butthiswasnotthetimefordelay;Idisencumberedthedogsoftheirdeadcompanion,gavethemaplentifulportionoffood,andafteranhour’srest,whichwasabsolutelynecessary,andyetwhichwasbitterlyirksometome,Icontinuedmyroute.