Франкенштейн
Walton, in continuation
September9th,theicebegantomove,androaringslikethunderwereheardatadistanceastheislandssplitandcrackedineverydirection.Wewereinthemostimminentperil,butaswecouldonlyremainpassive,mychiefattentionwasoccupiedbymyunfortunateguestwhoseillnessincreasedinsuchadegreethathewasentirelyconfinedtohisbed.Theicecrackedbehindusandwasdrivenwithforcetowardsthenorth;abreezesprangfromthewest,andonthe11ththepassagetowardsthesouthbecameperfectlyfree.Whenthesailorssawthisandthattheirreturntotheirnativecountrywasapparentlyassured,ashoutoftumultuousjoybrokefromthem,loudandlong-continued.Frankenstein,whowasdozing,awokeandaskedthecauseofthetumult."Theyshout,"Isaid,"becausetheywillsoonreturntoEngland."
"Doyou,then,reallyreturn?"
"Alas!Yes;Icannotwithstandtheirdemands.Icannotleadthemunwillinglytodanger,andImustreturn."
"Doso,ifyouwill;butIwillnot.Youmaygiveupyourpurpose,butmineisassignedtomebyheaven,andIdarenot.Iamweak,butsurelythespiritswhoassistmyvengeancewillendowmewithsufficientstrength."Sayingthis,heendeavouredtospringfromthebed,buttheexertionwastoogreatforhim;hefellbackandfainted.
Itwaslongbeforehewasrestored,andIoftenthoughtthatlifewasentirelyextinct.Atlengthheopenedhiseyes;hebreathedwithdifficultyandwasunabletospeak.Thesurgeongavehimacomposingdraughtandorderedustoleavehimundisturbed.
