Таємничий острів

           Andthetimewasnear,when,asitseemed,almostinvoluntarilyurgedbyhisconscience,aterribleconfessionescapedhim.

           Onthe10thofNovember,abouteighto’clockintheevening,asnightwascomingon,thestrangerappearedunexpectedlybeforethesettlers,whowereassembledundertheveranda.Hiseyesburnedstrangely,andhehadquiteresumedthewildaspectofhisworstdays.

           CyrusHardingandhiscompanionswereastoundedonseeingthat,overcomebysometerribleemotion,histeethchatteredlikethoseofapersoninafever.Whatwasthematterwithhim?Wasthesightofhisfellow-creaturesinsupportabletohim?Washewearyofthisreturntoacivilizedmodeofexistence?Washepiningforhisformersavagelife?Itappearedso,assoonhewasheardtoexpresshimselfintheseincoherentsentences:—

           "WhyamIhere?....Bywhatrighthaveyoudraggedmefrommyislet?....Doyouthinktherecouldbeanytiebetweenyouandme?....DoyouknowwhoIam—whatIhavedone—whyIwasthere—alone?AndwhotoldyouthatIwasnotabandonedthere—thatIwasnotcondemnedtodiethere?....Doyouknowmypast?....HowdoyouknowthatIhavenotstolen,murdered—thatIamnotawretch—anaccursedbeing—onlyfittolivelikeawildbeast,farfromall—speak—doyouknowit?"

           Thecolonistslistenedwithoutinterruptingthemiserablecreature,fromwhomthesebrokenconfessionsescaped,asitwere,inspiteofhimself.Hardingwishingtocalmhim,approachedhim,buthehastilydrewback.