Chapter 23

           Itwaseighto’clockwhenwelanded;wewalkedforashorttimeontheshore,enjoyingthetransitorylight,andthenretiredtotheinnandcontemplatedthelovelysceneofwaters,woods,andmountains,obscuredindarkness,yetstilldisplayingtheirblackoutlines.

           Thewind,whichhadfalleninthesouth,nowrosewithgreatviolenceinthewest.Themoonhadreachedhersummitintheheavensandwasbeginningtodescend;thecloudssweptacrossitswifterthantheflightofthevultureanddimmedherrays,whilethelakereflectedthesceneofthebusyheavens,renderedstillbusierbytherestlesswavesthatwerebeginningtorise.Suddenlyaheavystormofraindescended.

           Ihadbeencalmduringtheday,butsosoonasnightobscuredtheshapesofobjects,athousandfearsaroseinmymind.Iwasanxiousandwatchful,whilemyrighthandgraspedapistolwhichwashiddeninmybosom;everysoundterrifiedme,butIresolvedthatIwouldsellmylifedearlyandnotshrinkfromtheconflictuntilmyownlifeorthatofmyadversarywasextinguished.Elizabethobservedmyagitationforsometimeintimidandfearfulsilence,buttherewassomethinginmyglancewhichcommunicatedterrortoher,andtrembling,sheasked,"Whatisitthatagitatesyou,mydearVictor?Whatisityoufear?"

           "Oh!Peace,peace,mylove,"repliedI;"thisnight,andallwillbesafe;butthisnightisdreadful,verydreadful."

           Ipassedanhourinthisstateofmind,whensuddenlyIreflectedhowfearfulthecombatwhichImomentarilyexpectedwouldbetomywife,andIearnestlyentreatedhertoretire,resolvingnottojoinheruntilIhadobtainedsomeknowledgeastothesituationofmyenemy.