Франкенштейн

           Abouttwohoursafterthisoccurrenceweheardthegroundsea,andbeforenighttheicebrokeandfreedourship.We,however,laytountilthemorning,fearingtoencounterinthedarkthoselargeloosemasseswhichfloataboutafterthebreakingupoftheice.Iprofitedofthistimetorestforafewhours.

           Inthemorning,however,assoonasitwaslight,Iwentupondeckandfoundallthesailorsbusyononesideofthevessel,apparentlytalkingtosomeoneinthesea.Itwas,infact,asledge,likethatwehadseenbefore,whichhaddriftedtowardsusinthenightonalargefragmentofice.Onlyonedogremainedalive;buttherewasahumanbeingwithinitwhomthesailorswerepersuadingtoenterthevessel.Hewasnot,astheothertravellerseemedtobe,asavageinhabitantofsomeundiscoveredisland,butaEuropean.WhenIappearedondeckthemastersaid,‘Hereisourcaptain,andhewillnotallowyoutoperishontheopensea.’

           Onperceivingme,thestrangeraddressedmeinEnglish,althoughwithaforeignaccent.‘BeforeIcomeonboardyourvessel,’saidhe,‘willyouhavethekindnesstoinformmewhitheryouarebound?’

           YoumayconceivemyastonishmentonhearingsuchaquestionaddressedtomefromamanonthebrinkofdestructionandtowhomIshouldhavesupposedthatmyvesselwouldhavebeenaresourcewhichhewouldnothaveexchangedforthemostpreciouswealththeearthcanafford.Ireplied,however,thatwewereonavoyageofdiscoverytowardsthenorthernpole.

           Uponhearingthisheappearedsatisfiedandconsentedtocomeonboard.GoodGod!Margaret,ifyouhadseenthemanwhothuscapitulatedforhissafety,yoursurprisewouldhavebeenboundless.