The Man Alone.

           IntheeveningIstarted,anddroveouttoseabeforeagentlewindfromthesouthwest,slowly,steadily;andtheislandgrewsmallerandsmaller,andthelankspireofsmokedwindledtoafinerandfinerlineagainstthehotsunset.Theoceanroseuparoundme,hidingthatlow,darkpatchfrommyeyes.Thedaylight,thetrailinggloryofthesun,wentstreamingoutofthesky,wasdrawnasidelikesomeluminouscurtain,andatlastIlookedintothebluegulfofimmensitywhichthesunshinehides,andsawthefloatinghostsofthestars.Theseawassilent,theskywassilent.Iwasalonewiththenightandsilence.

           SoIdriftedforthreedays,eatinganddrinkingsparingly,andmeditatinguponallthathadhappenedtome,—notdesiringverygreatlythentoseemenagain.Oneuncleanragwasaboutme,myhairablacktangle:nodoubtmydiscoverersthoughtmeamadman.

           Itisstrange,butIfeltnodesiretoreturntomankind.IwasonlygladtobequitofthefoulnessoftheBeastPeople.AndonthethirddayIwaspickedupbyabrigfromApiatoSanFrancisco.Neitherthecaptainnorthematewouldbelievemystory,judgingthatsolitudeanddangerhadmadememad;andfearingtheiropinionmightbethatofothers,Irefrainedfromtellingmyadventurefurther,andprofessedtorecallnothingthathadhappenedtomebetweenthelossofthe"LadyVain"andthetimewhenIwaspickedupagain,—thespaceofayear.