Франкенштейн
Walton, in continuation
Thismorning,asIsatwatchingthewancountenanceofmyfriend—hiseyeshalfclosedandhislimbshanginglistlessly—Iwasrousedbyhalfadozenofthesailors,whodemandedadmissionintothecabin.Theyentered,andtheirleaderaddressedme.Hetoldmethatheandhiscompanionshadbeenchosenbytheothersailorstocomeindeputationtometomakemearequisitionwhich,injustice,Icouldnotrefuse.Wewereimmurediniceandshouldprobablyneverescape,buttheyfearedthatif,aswaspossible,theiceshoulddissipateandafreepassagebeopened,Ishouldberashenoughtocontinuemyvoyageandleadthemintofreshdangers,aftertheymighthappilyhavesurmountedthis.Theyinsisted,therefore,thatIshouldengagewithasolemnpromisethatifthevesselshouldbefreedIwouldinstantlydirectmycoursesouthwards.
Thisspeechtroubledme.Ihadnotdespaired,norhadIyetconceivedtheideaofreturningifsetfree.YetcouldI,injustice,oreveninpossibility,refusethisdemand?IhesitatedbeforeIanswered,whenFrankenstein,whohadatfirstbeensilent,andindeedappearedhardlytohaveforceenoughtoattend,nowrousedhimself;hiseyessparkled,andhischeeksflushedwithmomentaryvigour.
