Дагон

           Iamwritingthisunderanappreciablementalstrain, sincebytonightIshallbenomore. Penniless, andattheendofmysupplyofthedrug whichalone,makeslifeendurable, Icanbearthetorturenolonger; andshallcastmyselffromthisgarretwindow intothesqualidstreetbelow. Donotthinkfrommyslaverytomorphine thatIamaweaklingoradegenerate. Whenyouhavereadthesehastilyscrawledpagesyoumayguess, thoughneverfullyrealise, whyitisthatImusthaveforgetfulnessordeath. 

           Itwasinoneofthemostopen andleastfrequentedpartsofthebroadPacific thatthepacketofwhichIwassupercargo fellavictimtotheGermansea-raider. Thegreatwarwasthenatitsverybeginning, andtheoceanforcesoftheHun hadnotcompletelysunktotheirlaterdegradation; sothatourvesselwasmadealegitimateprize, whilstweofhercrewweretreatedwithallthefairnessandconsideration dueusasnavalprisoners. Soliberal,indeed,wasthedisciplineofourcaptors, thatfivedaysafterweweretaken Imanagedtoescapealone inasmallboatwithwaterandprovisionsforagoodlengthoftime. 

           WhenIfinallyfoundmyselfadriftandfree, Ihadbutlittleideaofmysurroundings. Neveracompetentnavigator, Icouldonlyguessvaguelybythesunandstars thatIwassomewhatsouthoftheequator. OfthelongitudeIknewnothing, andnoislandorcoastlinewasinsight. Theweatherkeptfair, andforuncounteddaysIdriftedaimlesslybeneaththescorchingsun; waitingeitherforsomepassingship, ortobecastontheshoresofsomehabitableland. Butneithershipnorlandappeared, andIbegantodespairinmysolitude upontheheavingvastnessofunbrokenblue. 

           ThechangehappenedwhilstIslept. ItsdetailsIshallneverknow; formyslumber, thoughtroubledanddream-infested, wascontinuous.