Франкенштейн

           Cloudshidthemoon,everythingwasobscure,andIheardonlythesoundoftheboatasitskeelcutthroughthewaves;themurmurlulledme,andinashorttimeIsleptsoundly.IdonotknowhowlongIremainedinthissituation,butwhenIawokeIfoundthatthesunhadalreadymountedconsiderably.Thewindwashigh,andthewavescontinuallythreatenedthesafetyofmylittleskiff.IfoundthatthewindwasnortheastandmusthavedrivenmefarfromthecoastfromwhichIhadembarked.IendeavouredtochangemycoursebutquicklyfoundthatifIagainmadetheattempttheboatwouldbeinstantlyfilledwithwater.Thussituated,myonlyresourcewastodrivebeforethewind.IconfessthatIfeltafewsensationsofterror.Ihadnocompasswithmeandwassoslenderlyacquaintedwiththegeographyofthispartoftheworldthatthesunwasoflittlebenefittome.ImightbedrivenintothewideAtlanticandfeelallthetorturesofstarvationorbeswallowedupintheimmeasurablewatersthatroaredandbuffetedaroundme.Ihadalreadybeenoutmanyhoursandfeltthetormentofaburningthirst,apreludetomyothersufferings.Ilookedontheheavens,whichwerecoveredbycloudsthatflewbeforethewind,onlytobereplacedbyothers;Ilookeduponthesea;itwastobemygrave."Fiend,"Iexclaimed,"yourtaskisalreadyfulfilled!"IthoughtofElizabeth,ofmyfather,andofClerval—allleftbehind,onwhomthemonstermightsatisfyhissanguinaryandmercilesspassions.Thisideaplungedmeintoareveriesodespairingandfrightfulthatevennow,whenthesceneisonthepointofclosingbeforemeforever,Ishuddertoreflectonit.

           Somehourspassedthus;butbydegrees,asthesundeclinedtowardsthehorizon,thewinddiedawayintoagentlebreezeandtheseabecamefreefrombreakers.Butthesegaveplacetoaheavyswell;Ifeltsickandhardlyabletoholdtherudder,whensuddenlyIsawalineofhighlandtowardsthesouth.