Frankenstein | Page 8

inhabitant of some undiscovered island, but a European. When I
appeared on deck the master said, "Here is our captain, and he will not allow you to
perish on the open sea."
On perceiving me, the stranger addressed me in English, although with a foreign accent.
"Before I come on board your vessel," said he, "will you have the kindness to inform me
whither you are bound?"
You may conceive my astonishment on hearing such a question addressed to me from a
man on the brink of destruction and to whom I should have supposed that my vessel
would have been a resource which he would not have exchanged for the most precious
wealth the earth can afford. I replied, however, that we were on a voyage of discovery
towards the northern pole.

Upon hearing this he appeared satisfied and consented to come on board. Good God!
Margaret, if you had seen the man who thus capitulated for his safety, your surprise
would have been boundless. His limbs were nearly frozen, and his body dreadfully
emaciated by fatigue and suffering. I never saw a man in so wretched a condition. We
attempted to carry him into the cabin, but as soon as he had quitted the fresh air he
fainted. We accordingly brought him back to the deck and restored him to animation by
rubbing him with brandy and forcing him to swallow a small quantity. As soon as he
showed signs of life we wrapped him up in blankets and placed him near the chimney of
the kitchen stove. By slow degrees he recovered and ate a little soup, which restored him
wonderfully.
Two days passed in this manner before he was able to speak, and I often feared that his
sufferings had deprived him of understanding. When he had in some measure recovered,
I removed him to my own cabin and attended on him as much as my duty would permit. I
never saw a more interesting creature: his eyes have generally an expression of wildness,
and even madness, but there are moments when, if anyone performs an act of kindness
towards him or does him the most trifling service, his whole countenance is lighted up, as
it were, with a beam of benevolence and sweetness that I never saw equalled. But he is
generally melancholy and despairing, and sometimes he gnashes his teeth, as if impatient
of the weight of woes that oppresses him.
When my guest was a little recovered I had great trouble to keep off the men, who wished
to ask him a thousand questions; but I would not allow him to be tormented by their idle
curiosity, in a state of body and mind whose restoration evidently depended upon entire
repose. Once, however, the lieutenant asked why he had come so far upon the ice in so
strange a vehicle.
His countenance instantly assumed an aspect of the deepest gloom, and he replied, "To
seek one who fled from me."
"And did the man whom you pursued travel in the same fashion?"
"Yes."
"Then I fancy we have seen him, for the day before we picked you up we saw some dogs
drawing a sledge, with a man in it, across the ice."
This aroused the stranger's attention, and he asked a multitude of questions concerning
the route which the demon, as he called him, had pursued. Soon after, when he was alone
with me, he said, "I have, doubtless, excited your curiosity, as well as that of these good
people; but you are too considerate to make inquiries."
"Certainly; it would indeed be very impertinent and inhuman in me to trouble you with
any inquisitiveness of mine."
"And yet you rescued me from a strange and perilous situation; you have benevolently
restored me to life."

Soon after this he inquired if I thought that the breaking up of the ice had destroyed the
other sledge. I replied that I could not answer with any degree of certainty, for the ice had
not broken until near midnight, and the traveller might have arrived at a place of safety
before that time; but of this I could not judge. From this time a new spirit of life animated
the decaying frame of the stranger. He manifested the greatest eagerness to be upon deck
to watch for the sledge which had before appeared; but I have persuaded him to remain in
the cabin, for he is far too weak to sustain the rawness of the atmosphere. I have
promised that someone should watch for him and give him instant notice if any new
object should appear in sight.
Such is my journal of what relates to this strange occurrence up to the present day. The
stranger has gradually improved in health but is very silent and appears