Kennedyisacountrydoctor，andlivesinCole—
brook，ontheshoresofEastbay。ThehighgroundrisingabruptlybehindtheredroofsofthelittletowncrowdsthequaintHighStreetagainstthewallwhichdefendsitfromthesea。Beyondthesea—walltherecurvesformilesinavastandregularsweepthebarrenbeachofshingle，withthevillageofBrenzettstandingoutdarklyacrossthewater，aspireinaclumpoftrees；andstillfurtherouttheperpendicularcolumnofalighthouse，look—
inginthedistancenobiggerthanaleadpencil，marksthevanishing—pointoftheland。Thecoun—
tryatthebackofBrenzettislowandflat，butthebayisfairlywellshelteredfromtheseas，andocca—
sionallyabigship，windboundorthroughstressofweather，makesuseoftheanchoringgroundamileandahalfduenorthfromyouasyoustandatthebackdoorofthe\"ShipInn\"inBrenzett。
Adilapidatedwindmillnearbyliftingitsshatteredarmsfromamoundnoloftierthanarubbishheap，andaMartellotowersquattingatthewater’sedgehalfamiletothesouthoftheCoastguardcottages，arefamiliartotheskippersofsmallcraft。Thesearetheofficialseamarksforthepatchoftrust—
worthybottomrepresentedontheAdmiraltychartsbyanirregularovalofdotsenclosingseveralfig—
uressix，withatinyanchorengravedamongthem，andthelegend\"mudandshells\"overall。
ThebrowoftheuplandovertopsthesquaretoweroftheColebrookChurch。Theslopeisgreenandloopedbyawhiteroad。Ascendingalongthisroad，youopenavalleybroadandshal—
low，awidegreentroughofpasturesandhedgesmerginginlandintoavistaofpurpletintsandflowinglinesclosingtheview。
InthisvalleydowntoBrenzettandColebrookanduptoDarnford，themarkettownfourteenmilesaway，liesthepracticeofmyfriendKennedy。
HehadbegunlifeassurgeonintheNavy，andafterwardshadbeenthecompanionofafamoustraveller，inthedayswhentherewerecontinentswithunexploredinteriors。Hispapersonthefaunaandfloramadehimknowntoscientificsocie—
ties。Andnowhehadcometoacountrypractice——fromchoice。Thepenetratingpowerofhismind，actinglikeacorrosivefluid，haddestroyedhisambition，Ifancy。Hisintelligenceisofascientificorder，ofaninvestigatinghabit，andofthatunappeasablecuriositywhichbelievesthatthereisaparticleofageneraltruthineverymys—
tery。
Agoodmanyyearsagonow，onmyreturnfromabroad，heinvitedmetostaywithhim。Icamereadilyenough，andashecouldnotneglecthispatientstokeepmecompany，hetookmeonhisrounds——thirtymilesorsoofanafternoon，some—
times。Iwaitedforhimontheroads；thehorsereachedaftertheleafytwigs，and，sittinginthedogcart，IcouldhearKennedy’slaughthroughthehalf—opendoorleftopenofsomecottage。Hehadabig，heartylaughthatwouldhavefittedamantwicehissize，abriskmanner，abronzedface，andapairofgrey，profoundlyattentiveeyes。Hehadthetalentofmakingpeopletalktohimfreely，andaninexhaustiblepatienceinlisteningtotheirtales。
Oneday，aswetrottedoutofalargevillageintoashadybitofroad，Isawonourlefthandalow，blackcottage，withdiamondpanesinthewindows，acreeperontheendwall，aroofofshingle，andsomerosesclimbingonthericketytrellis—workofthetinyporch。Kennedypulleduptoawalk。A
woman，infullsunlight，wasthrowingadrippingblanketoveralinestretchedbetweentwooldap—
ple—trees。Andasthebobtailed，long—neckedchest—
nut，tryingtogethishead，jerkedthelefthand，coveredbyathickdogskinglove，thedoctorraisedhisvoiceoverthehedge：\"How’syourchild，Amy？\"
Ihadthetimetoseeherdullface，red，notwithamantlingblush，butasifherflatcheekshadbeenvigorouslyslapped，andtotakeinthesquatfigure，thescanty，dustybrownhairdrawnintoatightknotatthebackofthehead。Shelookedquiteyoung。Withadistinctcatchinherbreath，hervoicesoundedlowandtimid。
\"He’swell，thankyou。\"
Wetrottedagain。\"Ayoungpatientofyours，\"Isaid；andthedoctor，flickingthechest—
nutabsently，muttered，\"Herhusbandusedtobe。\"
\"Sheseemsadullcreature，\"Iremarkedlist—
lessly。
\"Precisely，\"saidKennedy。\"Sheisverypas—
sive。It’senoughtolookattheredhandshangingattheendofthoseshortarms，atthoseslow，prom—
inentbrowneyes，toknowtheinertnessofhermind——aninertnessthatonewouldthinkmadeitever—
lastinglysafefromallthesurprisesofimagina—
tion。Andyetwhichofusissafe？Atanyrate，suchasyouseeher，shehadenoughimaginationtofallinlove。She’sthedaughterofoneIsaacFoster，whofromasmallfarmerhassunkintoashepherd；thebeginningofhismisfortunesdatingfromhisrunawaymarriagewiththecookofhiswidowedfather——awell—to—do，apoplecticgrazier，whopassionatelystruckhisnameoffhiswill，andhadbeenheardtoutterthreatsagainsthislife。
Butthisoldaffair，scandalousenoughtoserveasamotiveforaGreektragedy，arosefromthesimi—
larityoftheircharacters。Thereareothertrage—
dies，lessscandalousandofasubtlerpoignancy，arisingfromirreconcilabledifferencesandfromthatfearoftheIncomprehensiblethathangsoverallourheads——overallourheads……\"
Thetiredchestnutdroppedintoawalk；andtherimofthesun，allredinaspecklesssky，touchedfamiliarlythesmoothtopofaploughedriseneartheroadasIhadseenittimesinnumerabletouchthedistanthorizonofthesea。Theuniformbrownnessoftheharrowedfieldglowedwitharosytinge，asthoughthepowderedclodshadsweatedoutinminutepearlsofbloodthetoilofuncountedploughmen。Fromtheedgeofacopseawaggonwithtwohorseswasrollinggentlyalongtheridge。
Raisedaboveourheadsuponthesky—line，itloomedupagainsttheredsun，triumphantlybig，enor—
mous，likeachariotofgiantsdrawnbytwoslow—
steppingsteedsoflegendaryproportions。Andtheclumsyfigureofthemanploddingattheheadoftheleadinghorseprojecteditselfontheback—
groundoftheInfinitewithaheroicuncouthness。
Theendofhiscarter’swhipquiveredhighupintheblue。Kennedydiscoursed。
\"She’stheeldestofalargefamily。AttheageoffifteentheyputherouttoserviceattheNewBarnsFarm。IattendedMrs。Smith，thetenant’swife，andsawthatgirlthereforthefirsttime。
Mrs。Smith，agenteelpersonwithasharpnose，madeherputonablackdresseveryafternoon。I
don’tknowwhatinducedmetonoticeheratall。
Therearefacesthatcallyourattentionbyacu—
riouswantofdefinitenessintheirwholeaspect，as，walkinginamist，youpeerattentivelyatavagueshapewhich，afterall，maybenothingmorecu—
riousorstrangethanasignpost。Theonlypecu—
liarityIperceivedinherwasaslighthesitationinherutterance，asortofpreliminarystammerwhichpassesawaywiththefirstword。Whensharplyspokento，shewasapttoloseherheadatonce；butherheartwasofthekindest。Shehadneverbeenheardtoexpressadislikeforasinglehumanbeing，andshewastendertoeverylivingcreature。ShewasdevotedtoMrs。Smith，toMr。Smith，totheirdogs，cats，canaries；andastoMrs。Smith’sgreyparrot，itspeculiaritiesexerciseduponheraposi—
tivefascination。Nevertheless，whenthatoutland—
ishbird，attackedbythecat，shriekedforhelpinhumanaccents，sheranoutintotheyardstoppingherears，anddidnotpreventthecrime。ForMrs。
Smiththiswasanotherevidenceofherstupidity；
ontheotherhand，herwantofcharm，inviewofSmith’swell—knownfrivolousness，wasagreatrec—
commendation。Hershort—sightedeyeswouldswimwithpityforapoormouseinatrap，andshehadbeenseenoncebysomeboysonherkneesinthewetgrasshelpingatoadindifficulties。Ifit’strue，assomeGermanfellowhassaid，thatwithoutphos—
phorusthereisnothought，itisstillmoretruethatthereisnokindnessofheartwithoutacertainamountofimagination。Shehadsome。Shehadevenmorethanisnecessarytounderstandsuffer—
ingandtobemovedbypity。Shefellinloveun—
dercircumstancesthatleavenoroomfordoubtinthematter；foryouneedimaginationtoformanotionofbeautyatall，andstillmoretodiscoveryouridealinanunfamiliarshape。
\"Howthisaptitudecametoher，whatitdidfeedupon，isaninscrutablemystery。Shewasborninthevillage，andhadneverbeenfurtherawayfromitthanColebrookorperhapsDarnford。
ShelivedforfouryearswiththeSmiths。NewBarnsisanisolatedfarmhouseamileawayfromtheroad，andshewascontenttolookdayafterdayatthesamefields，hollows，rises；atthetreesandthehedgerows；atthefacesofthefourmenaboutthefarm，alwaysthesame——dayafterday，monthaftermonth，yearafteryear。Shenevershowedadesireforconversation，and，asitseemedtome，shedidnotknowhowtosmile。SometimesofafineSundayafternoonshewouldputonherbestdress，apairofstoutboots，alargegreyhattrimmedwithablackfeather（I’veseenherinthatfinery），seizeanabsurdlyslenderparasol，climbovertwostiles，trampoverthreefieldsandalongtwohundredyardsofroad——neverfurther。TherestoodFoster’scottage。Shewouldhelphermothertogivetheirteatotheyoungerchildren，washupthecrockery，kissthelittleones，andgobacktothefarm。Thatwasall。Alltherest，allthechange，alltherelaxation。Sheneverseemedtowishforanythingmore。Andthenshefellinlove。
Shefellinlovesilently，obstinately——perhapshelp—
lessly。Itcameslowly，butwhenitcameitworkedlikeapowerfulspell；itwasloveastheAncientsunderstoodit：anirresistibleandfatefulimpulse——
apossession！Yes，itwasinhertobecomehauntedandpossessedbyaface，byapresence，fatally，asthoughshehadbeenapaganworshipperofformunderajoyoussky——andtobeawakenedatlastfromthatmysteriousforgetfulnessofself，fromthatenchantment，fromthattransport，byafearresemblingtheunaccountableterrorofabrute……\"
Withthesunhanginglowonitswesternlimit，theexpanseofthegrass—landsframedinthecoun—
ter—scarpsoftherisinggroundtookonagorgeousandsombreaspect。Asenseofpenetratingsad—
ness，likethatinspiredbyagravestrainofmusic，disengageditselffromthesilenceofthefields。
Themenwemetwalkedpastslow，unsmiling，withdowncasteyes，asifthemelancholyofanover—bur—
denedearthhadweightedtheirfeet，bowedtheirshoulders，bornedowntheirglances。
\"Yes，\"saidthedoctortomyremark，\"onewouldthinktheearthisunderacurse，sinceofallherchildrenthesethatclingtohertheclosestareuncouthinbodyandasleadenofgaitasiftheirveryheartswereloadedwithchains。Buthereonthissameroadyoumighthaveseenamongsttheseheavymenabeinglithe，supple，andlong—limbed，straightlikeapinewithsomethingstrivingup—
wardsinhisappearanceasthoughtheheartwith—
inhimhadbeenbuoyant。Perhapsitwasonlytheforceofthecontrast，butwhenhewaspassingoneofthesevillagershere，thesolesofhisfeetdidnotseemtometotouchthedustoftheroad。Hevaultedoverthestiles，pacedtheseslopeswithalongelasticstridethatmadehimnoticeableatagreatdistance，andhadlustrousblackeyes。Hewassodifferentfromthemankindaroundthat，withhisfreedomofmovement，hissoft——alittlestartled，glance，hisolivecomplexionandgracefulbearing，hishumanitysuggestedtomethenatureofawoodlandcreature。Hecamefromthere。\"
Thedoctorpointedwithhiswhip，andfromthesummitofthedescentseenovertherollingtopsofthetreesinaparkbythesideoftheroad，appearedthelevelseafarbelowus，likethefloorofanim—
menseedificeinlaidwithbandsofdarkripple，withstilltrailsofglitter，endinginabeltofglassywateratthefootofthesky。Thelightblurofsmoke，fromaninvisiblesteamer，fadedonthegreatclearnessofthehorizonlikethemistofabreathonamirror；and，inshore，thewhitesailsofacoaster，withtheappearanceofdisentanglingthemselvesslowlyfromunderthebranches，floatedclearofthefoliageofthetrees。
\"Shipwreckedinthebay？\"Isaid。
\"Yes；hewasacastaway。ApooremigrantfromCentralEuropeboundtoAmericaandwashedashorehereinastorm。Andforhim，whoknewnothingoftheearth，Englandwasanundiscoveredcountry。Itwassometimebeforehelearneditsname；andforallIknowhemighthaveexpectedtofindwildbeastsorwildmenhere，when，crawlinginthedarkoverthesea—wall，herolleddowntheothersideintoadyke，whereitwasanothermiraclehedidn’tgetdrowned。Buthestruggledinstinc—
tivelylikeananimalunderanet，andthisblindstrugglethrewhimoutintoafield。Hemusthavebeen，indeed，ofatougherfibrethanhelookedtowithstandwithoutexpiringsuchbuffetings，theviolenceofhisexertions，andsomuchfear。Lateron，inhisbrokenEnglishthatresembledcuriouslythespeechofayoungchild，hetoldmehimselfthatheputhistrustinGod，believinghewasnolongerinthisworld。Andtruly——hewouldadd——howwashetoknow？Hefoughthiswayagainsttherainandthegaleonallfours，andcrawledatlastamongsomesheephuddledcloseundertheleeofahedge。Theyranoffinalldirections，bleatinginthedarkness，andhewelcomedthefirstfamiliarsoundheheardontheseshores。Itmusthavebeentwointhemorningthen。Andthisisallweknowofthemannerofhislanding，thoughhedidnotarriveunattendedbyanymeans。Onlyhisgrislycompanydidnotbegintocomeashoretillmuchlaterintheday……\"
Thedoctorgatheredthereins，clickedhistongue；wetrotteddownthehill。Thenturning，almostdirectly，asharpcornerintotheHighStreet，werattledoverthestonesandwerehome。
LateintheeveningKennedy，breakingaspellofmoodinessthathadcomeoverhim，returnedtothestory。Smokinghispipe，hepacedthelongroomfromendtoend。Areading—lampconcen—
tratedallitslightuponthepapersonhisdesk；
and，sittingbytheopenwindow，Isaw，afterthewindless，scorchingday，thefrigidsplendourofahazysealyingmotionlessunderthemoon。Notawhisper，notasplash，notastiroftheshingle，notafootstep，notasighcameupfromtheearthbe—
low——neverasignoflifebutthescentofclimbingjasmine；andKennedy’svoice，speakingbehindme，passedthroughthewidecasement，tovanishout—
sideinachillandsumptuousstillness。
\"……Therelationsofshipwrecksintheoldentimetellusofmuchsuffering。Oftenthecastawayswereonlysavedfromdrowningtodiemiserablyfromstarvationonabarrencoast；oth—
erssufferedviolentdeathorelseslavery，passingthroughyearsofprecariousexistencewithpeopletowhomtheirstrangenesswasanobjectofsuspi—
cion，dislikeorfear。Wereadaboutthesethings，andtheyareverypitiful。Itisindeedharduponamantofindhimselfaloststranger，helpless，incomprehensible，andofamysteriousorigin，insomeobscurecorneroftheearth。Yetamongstalltheadventurersshipwreckedinallthewildpartsoftheworldthereisnotone，itseemstome，thateverhadtosufferafatesosimplytragicasthemanI
amspeakingof，themostinnocentofadventurerscastoutbytheseainthebightofthisbay，almostwithinsightfromthisverywindow。
\"Hedidnotknowthenameofhisship。Indeed，inthecourseoftimewediscoveredhedidnotevenknowthatshipshadnames——’likeChristianpeo—
ple’；andwhen，oneday，fromthetopoftheTal—
fourdHill，hebeheldthesealyingopentohisview，hiseyesroamedafar，lostinanairofwildsurprise，asthoughhehadneverseensuchasightbefore。
Andprobablyhehadnot。AsfarasIcouldmakeout，hehadbeenhustledtogetherwithmanyothersonboardanemigrant—shiplyingatthemouthoftheElbe，toobewilderedtotakenoteofhissur—
roundings，toowearytoseeanything，tooanxioustocare。Theyweredrivenbelowintothe’tween—
deckandbatteneddownfromtheverystart。Itwasalowtimberdwelling——hewouldsay——withwoodenbeamsoverhead，likethehousesinhiscoun—
try，butyouwentintoitdownaladder。Itwasverylarge，verycold，dampandsombre，withplacesinthemannerofwoodenboxeswherepeoplehadtosleep，oneaboveanother，anditkeptonrockingallwaysatonceallthetime。Hecreptintooneoftheseboxesandlaiddownthereintheclothesinwhichhehadlefthishomemanydaysbefore，keep—
inghisbundleandhisstickbyhisside。Peoplegroaned，childrencried，waterdripped，thelightswentout，thewallsoftheplacecreaked，andevery—
thingwasbeingshakensothatinone’slittleboxonedarednotliftone’shead。Hehadlosttouchwithhisonlycompanion（ayoungmanfromthesamevalley，hesaid），andallthetimeagreatnoiseofwindwentonoutsideandheavyblowsfell——
boom！boom！Anawfulsicknessovercamehim，eventothepointofmakinghimneglecthispray—
ers。Besides，onecouldnottellwhetheritwasmorningorevening。Itseemedalwaystobenightinthatplace。
\"Beforethathehadbeentravellingalong，longtimeontheirontrack。Helookedoutofthewin—
dow，whichhadawonderfullyclearglassinit，andthetrees，thehouses，thefields，andthelongroadsseemedtoflyroundandroundabouthimtillhisheadswam。Hegavemetounderstandthathehadonhispassagebehelduncountedmultitudesofpeo—
ple——wholenations——alldressedinsuchclothesastherichwear。Oncehewasmadetogetoutofthecarriage，andsleptthroughanightonabenchinahouseofbrickswithhisbundleunderhishead；
andonceformanyhourshehadtositonafloorofflatstonesdozing，withhiskneesupandwithhisbundlebetweenhisfeet。Therewasaroofoverhim，whichseemedmadeofglass，andwassohighthatthetallestmountain—pinehehadeverseenwouldhavehadroomtogrowunderit。Steam—machinesrolledinatoneendandoutattheother。Peopleswarmedmorethanyoucanseeonafeast—dayroundthemiraculousHolyImageintheyardoftheCarmeliteConventdownintheplainswhere，beforehelefthishome，hedrovehismotherinawoodencart——apiousoldwomanwhowantedtoofferprayersandmakeavowforhissafety。Hecouldnotgivemeanideaofhowlargeandloftyandfullofnoiseandsmokeandgloom，andclangofiron，theplacewas，butsomeonehadtoldhimitwascalledBerlin。Thentheyrangabell，andanothersteam—machinecamein，andagainhewastakenonandonthroughalandthatweariedhiseyesbyitsflatnesswithoutasinglebitofahilltobeseenanywhere。Onemorenighthespentshutupinabuildinglikeagoodstablewithalitterofstrawonthefloor，guardinghisbundleamongstalotofmen，ofwhomnotonecouldunderstandasinglewordhesaid。Inthemorningtheywereallleddowntothestonyshoresofanextremelybroadmuddyriver，flowingnotbetweenhillsbutbetweenhousesthatseemedimmense。Therewasasteam—
machinethatwentonthewater，andtheyallstooduponitpackedtight，onlynowtherewerewiththemmanywomenandchildrenwhomademuchnoise。Acoldrainfell，thewindblewinhisface；
hewaswetthrough，andhisteethchattered。Heandtheyoungmanfromthesamevalleytookeachotherbythehand。
\"TheythoughttheywerebeingtakentoAmer—
icastraightaway，butsuddenlythesteam—machinebumpedagainstthesideofathinglikeahouseonthewater。Thewallsweresmoothandblack，andthereuprose，growingfromtheroofasitwere，baretreesintheshapeofcrosses，extremelyhigh。
That’showitappearedtohimthen，forhehadneverseenashipbefore。ThiswastheshipthatwasgoingtoswimallthewaytoAmerica。Voicesshouted，everythingswayed；therewasaladderdippingupanddown。Hewentuponhishandsandkneesinmortalfearoffallingintothewaterbelow，whichmadeagreatsplashing。Hegotsep—
aratedfromhiscompanion，andwhenhedescendedintothebottomofthatshiphisheartseemedtomeltsuddenlywithinhim。
\"Itwasthenalso，ashetoldme，thathelostcon—
tactforgoodandallwithoneofthosethreemenwhothesummerbeforehadbeengoingaboutthroughallthelittletownsinthefoothillsofhiscountry。Theywouldarriveonmarketdaysdriv—
inginapeasant’scart，andwouldsetupanofficeinaninnorsomeotherJew’shouse。Therewerethreeofthem，ofwhomonewithalongbeardlookedvenerable；andtheyhadredclothcollarsroundtheirnecksandgoldlaceontheirsleeveslikeGovernmentofficials。Theysatproudlybehindalongtable；andinthenextroom，sothatthecom—
monpeopleshouldn’thear，theykeptacunningtelegraphmachine，throughwhichtheycouldtalktotheEmperorofAmerica。Thefathershungaboutthedoor，buttheyoungmenofthemountainswouldcrowduptothetableaskingmanyquestions，fortherewasworktobegotalltheyearroundatthreedollarsadayinAmerica，andnomilitaryservicetodo。
\"ButtheAmericanKaiserwouldnottakeevery—
body。Oh，no！Hehimselfhadagreatdifficultyingettingaccepted，andthevenerablemaninuni—
formhadtogooutoftheroomseveraltimestoworkthetelegraphonhisbehalf。TheAmericanKaiserengagedhimatlastatthreedollars，hebeingyoungandstrong。However，manyableyoungmenbackedout，afraidofthegreatdis—
tance；besides，thoseonlywhohadsomemoneycouldbetaken。ThereweresomewhosoldtheirhutsandtheirlandbecauseitcostalotofmoneytogettoAmerica；butthen，oncethere，youhadthreedollarsaday，andifyouwerecleveryoucouldfindplaceswheretruegoldcouldbepickedupontheground。Hisfather’shousewasgettingoverfull。Twoofhisbrothersweremarriedandhadchildren。HepromisedtosendmoneyhomefromAmericabyposttwiceayear。Hisfathersoldanoldcow，apairofpiebaldmountainponiesofhisownraising，andaclearedplotoffairpas—
turelandonthesunnyslopeofapine—cladpasstoaJewinn—keeperinordertopaythepeopleoftheshipthattookmentoAmericatogetrichinashorttime。
\"Hemusthavebeenarealadventureratheart，forhowmanyofthegreatestenterprisesintheconquestoftheearthhadfortheirbeginningjustsuchabargainingawayofthepaternalcowforthemirageortruegoldfaraway！IhavebeentellingyoumoreorlessinmyownwordswhatIlearnedfragmentarilyinthecourseoftwoorthreeyears，duringwhichIseldommissedanopportunityofafriendlychatwithhim。Hetoldmethisstoryofhisadventurewithmanyflashesofwhiteteethandlivelyglancesofblackeyes，atfirstinasortofanx—
iousbaby—talk，then，asheacquiredthelanguage，withgreatfluency，butalwayswiththatsinging，soft，andatthesametimevibratingintonationthatinstilledastrangelypenetratingpowerintothesoundofthemostfamiliarEnglishwords，asiftheyhadbeenthewordsofanunearthlylanguage。
Andhealwayswouldcometoanend，withmanyemphaticshakesofhishead，uponthatawfulsen—
sationofhisheartmeltingwithinhimdirectlyhesetfootonboardthatship。Afterwardsthereseemedtocomeforhimaperiodofblankignorance，atanyrateastofacts。Nodoubthemusthavebeenabominablysea—sickandabominablyunhappy——thissoftandpassionateadventurer，takenthusoutofhisknowledge，andfeelingbitterlyashelayinhisemigrantbunkhisutterloneliness；forhiswasahighlysensitivenature。ThenextthingweknowofhimforcertainisthathehadbeenhidinginHammond’spig—poundbythesideoftheroadtoNortonsixmiles，asthecrowflies，fromthesea。
Oftheseexperienceshewasunwillingtospeak：
theyseemedtohavesearedintohissoulasombresortofwonderandindignation。Throughtheru—
moursofthecountry—side，whichlastedforagoodmanydaysafterhisarrival，weknowthatthefish—
ermenofWestColebrookhadbeendisturbedandstartledbyheavyknocksagainstthewallsofweatherboardcottages，andbyavoicecryingpiercinglystrangewordsinthenight。Severalofthemturnedouteven，but，nodoubt，hehadfledinsuddenalarmattheirroughangrytoneshailingeachotherinthedarkness。AsortoffrenzymusthavehelpedhimupthesteepNortonhill。Itwashe，nodoubt，whoearlythefollowingmorninghadbeenseenlying（inaswoon，Ishouldsay）ontheroadsidegrassbytheBrenzettcarrier，whoactuallygotdowntohaveanearerlook，butdrewback，in—
timidatedbytheperfectimmobility，andbysome—
thingqueerintheaspectofthattramp，sleepingsostillundertheshowers。Asthedayadvanced，somechildrencamedashingintoschoolatNortoninsuchafrightthattheschoolmistresswentoutandspokeindignantlytoa’horrid—lookingman’
ontheroad。Heedgedaway，hanginghishead，forafewsteps，andthensuddenlyranoffwithex—
traordinaryfleetness。ThedriverofMr。Brad—
ley’smilk—cartmadenosecretofitthathehadlashedwithhiswhipatahairysortofgipsyfel—
lowwho，jumpingupataturnoftheroadbytheVents，madeasnatchatthepony’sbridle。Andhecaughthimagoodonetoo，rightovertheface，hesaid，thatmadehimdropdowninthemudajollysightquickerthanhehadjumpedup；butitwasagoodhalf—a—milebeforehecouldstopthepony。Maybethatinhisdesperateendeavourstogethelp，andinhisneedtogetintouchwithsomeone，thepoordevilhadtriedtostopthecart。Alsothreeboysconfessedafterwardstothrowingstonesatafunnytramp，knockingaboutallwetandmuddy，and，itseemed，verydrunk，inthenarrowdeeplanebythelimekilns。Allthiswasthetalkofthreevillagesfordays；butwehaveMrs。Finn’s（thewifeofSmith’swaggoner）unimpeachabletestimonythatshesawhimgetoverthelowwallofHammond’spig—poundandlurchstraightather，babblingaloudinavoicethatwasenoughtomakeonedieoffright。Havingthebabywithherinaperambulator，Mrs。Finncalledouttohimtogoaway，andashepersistedincomingnearer，shehithimcourageouslywithherumbrellaovertheheadand，withoutoncelookingback，ranlikethewindwiththeperambulatorasfarasthefirsthouseinthevillage。Shestoppedthen，outofbreath，andspoketooldLewis，hammeringthereataheapofstones；andtheoldchap，takingoffhisimmenseblackwiregoggles，gotuponhisshakylegstolookwhereshepointed。Togethertheyfollowedwiththeireyesthefigureofthemanrunningoverafield；theysawhimfalldown，pickhimselfup，andrunonagain，staggeringandwavinghislongarmsabovehishead，inthedirectionoftheNewBarnsFarm。Fromthatmomentheisplainlyinthetoilsofhisobscureandtouchingdestiny。
Thereisnodoubtafterthisofwhathappenedtohim。Alliscertainnow：Mrs。Smith’sintenseter—
ror；AmyFoster’sstolidconvictionheldagainsttheother’snervousattack，thattheman’meantnoharm’；Smith’sexasperation（onhisreturnfromDarnfordMarket）atfindingthedogbarkinghimselfintoafit，theback—doorlocked，hiswifeinhysterics；andallforanunfortunatedirtytramp，supposedtobeeventhenlurkinginhisstackyard。
Washe？Hewouldteachhimtofrightenwomen。
\"Smithisnotoriouslyhot—tempered，butthesightofsomenondescriptandmirycreaturesittingcrossleggedamongstalotofloosestraw，andswingingitselftoandfrolikeabearinacage，madehimpause。Thenthistrampstoodupsi—
lentlybeforehim，onemassofmudandfilthfromheadtofoot。Smith，aloneamongsthisstackswiththisapparition，inthestormytwilightringingwiththeinfuriatedbarkingofthedog，feltthedreadofaninexplicablestrangeness。Butwhenthatbe—
ing，partingwithhisblackhandsthelongmattedlocksthathungbeforehisface，asyoupartthetwohalvesofacurtain，lookedoutathimwithglisten—
ing，wild，black—and—whiteeyes，theweirdnessofthissilentencounterfairlystaggeredhim。Hehadadmittedsince（forthestoryhasbeenalegitimatesubjectofconversationabouthereforyears）thathemademorethanonestepbackwards。Thenasuddenburstofrapid，senselessspeechpersuadedhimatoncethathehadtodowithanescapedluna—
tic。Infact，thatimpressionneverworeoffcom—
pletely。Smithhasnotinhisheartgivenuphissecretconvictionoftheman’sessentialinsanitytothisveryday。
\"Asthecreatureapproachedhim，jabberinginamostdiscomposingmanner，Smith（unawarethathewasbeingaddressedas’graciouslord，’andad—
juredinGod’snametoaffordfoodandshelter）
keptonspeakingfirmlybutgentlytoit，andre—
treatingallthetimeintotheotheryard。Atlast，watchinghischance，byasuddenchargehebun—
dledhimheadlongintothewood—lodge，andin—
stantlyshotthebolt。Thereuponhewipedhisbrow，thoughthedaywascold。Hehaddonehisdutytothecommunitybyshuttingupawander—
ingandprobablydangerousmaniac。Smithisn’tahardmanatall，buthehadroominhisbrainonlyforthatoneideaoflunacy。Hewasnotimagina—
tiveenoughtoaskhimselfwhetherthemanmightnotbeperishingwithcoldandhunger。Meantime，atfirst，themaniacmadeagreatdealofnoiseinthelodge。Mrs。Smithwasscreamingupstairs，whereshehadlockedherselfinherbedroom；butAmyFostersobbedpiteouslyatthekitchendoor，wringingherhandsandmuttering，’Don’t！
don’t！’IdaresaySmithhadaroughtimeofitthateveningwithonenoiseandanother，andthisinsane，disturbingvoicecryingobstinatelythroughthedooronlyaddedtohisirritation。Hecouldn’tpossiblyhaveconnectedthistroublesomelunaticwiththesinkingofashipinEastbay，ofwhichtherehadbeenarumourintheDarnfordmarket—
place。AndIdaresaythemaninsidehadbeenveryneartoinsanityonthatnight。Beforehisexcite—
mentcollapsedandhebecameunconscioushewasthrowinghimselfviolentlyaboutinthedark，roll—
ingonsomedirtysacks，andbitinghisfistswithrage，cold，hunger，amazement，anddespair。
\"HewasamountaineeroftheeasternrangeoftheCarpathians，andthevesselsunkthenightbe—
foreinEastbaywastheHamburgemigrant—shipHerzoginSophia—Dorothea，ofappallingmem—
ory。
\"Afewmonthslaterwecouldreadinthepaperstheaccountsofthebogus’EmigrationAgencies’
amongtheSclavonianpeasantryinthemorere—
moteprovincesofAustria。Theobjectofthesescoundrelswastogetholdofthepoorignorantpeople’shomesteads，andtheywereinleaguewiththelocalusurers。TheyexportedtheirvictimsthroughHamburgmostly。Astotheship，Ihadwatchedheroutofthisverywindow，reachingclose—hauledundershortcanvasintothebayonadark，threateningafternoon。Shecametoanan—
chor，correctlybythechart，offtheBrenzettCoast—
guardstation。Irememberbeforethenightfelllookingoutagainattheoutlinesofhersparsandriggingthatstoodoutdarkandpointedonaback—
groundofragged，slatycloudslikeanotherandaslighterspiretotheleftoftheBrenzettchurch—
tower。Intheeveningthewindrose。AtmidnightIcouldhearinmybedtheterrificgustsandthesoundsofadrivingdeluge。
\"AboutthattimetheCoastguardmenthoughttheysawthelightsofasteamerovertheanchoring—
ground。Inamomenttheyvanished；butitisclearthatanothervesselofsomesorthadtriedforshel—
terinthebayonthatawful，blindnight，hadrammedtheGermanshipamidships（abreach——
asoneofthediverstoldmeafterwards——’thatyoucouldsailaThamesbargethrough’），andthenhadgoneouteitherscathlessordamaged，whoshallsay；buthadgoneout，unknown，unseen，andfatal，toperishmysteriouslyatsea。Ofhernothingevercametolight，andyetthehueandcrythatwasraisedallovertheworldwouldhavefoundheroutifshehadbeeninexistenceanywhereonthefaceofthewaters。
\"Acompletenesswithoutaclue，andastealthysilenceasofaneatlyexecutedcrime，characterisethismurderousdisaster，which，asyoumayremem—
ber，haditsgruesomecelebrity。Thewindwouldhavepreventedtheloudestoutcriesfromreachingtheshore；therehadbeenevidentlynotimeforsig—
nalsofdistress。Itwasdeathwithoutanysortoffuss。TheHamburgship，fillingallatonce，cap—
sizedasshesank，andatdaylighttherewasnoteventheendofaspartobeseenabovewater。Shewasmissed，ofcourse，andatfirsttheCoastguard—
mensurmisedthatshehadeitherdraggedheran—
chororpartedhercablesometimeduringthenight，andhadbeenblownouttosea。Then，afterthetideturned，thewreckmusthaveshiftedalittleandreleasedsomeofthebodies，becauseachild——alittlefair—hairedchildinaredfrock——
cameashoreabreastoftheMartellotower。Bytheafternoonyoucouldseealongthreemilesofbeachdarkfigureswithbarelegsdashinginandoutofthetumblingfoam，andrough—look—
ingmen，womenwithhardfaces，children，mostlyfair—haired，werebeingcarried，stiffanddripping，onstretchers，onwattles，onladders，inalongprocessionpastthedoorofthe’ShipInn，’tobelaidoutinarowunderthenorthwalloftheBrenzettChurch。
\"Officially，thebodyofthelittlegirlintheredfrockisthefirstthingthatcameashorefromthatship。ButIhavepatientsamongsttheseafaringpopulationofWestColebrook，and，unofficially，I
aminformedthatveryearlythatmorningtwobrothers，whowentdowntolookaftertheircobblehauleduponthebeach，found，agoodwayfromBrenzett，anordinaryship’shencooplyinghighanddryontheshore，withelevendrownedducksinside。Theirfamiliesatethebirds，andthehen—
coopwassplitintofirewoodwithahatchet。Itispossiblethataman（supposinghehappenedtobeondeckatthetimeoftheaccident）mighthavefloatedashoreonthathencoop。Hemight。Iad—
mititisimprobable，buttherewastheman——andfordays，nay，forweeks——itdidn’tenterourheadsthatwehadamongstustheonlylivingsoulthathadescapedfromthatdisaster。Themanhimself，evenwhenhelearnedtospeakintelligibly，couldtellusverylittle。Herememberedhehadfeltbet—
ter（aftertheshiphadanchored，Isuppose），andthatthedarkness，thewind，andtheraintookhisbreathaway。Thislooksasifhehadbeenondecksometimeduringthatnight。Butwemustn’tforgethehadbeentakenoutofhisknowledge，thathehadbeensea—sickandbatteneddownbelowforfourdays，thathehadnogeneralnotionofashiporofthesea，andthereforecouldhavenodefiniteideaofwhatwashappeningtohim。Therain，thewind，thedarknessheknew；heunderstoodthebleatingofthesheep，andherememberedthepainofhiswretchednessandmisery，hisheartbrokenas—
tonishmentthatitwasneitherseennorunderstood，hisdismayatfindingallthemenangryandallthewomenfierce。Hehadapproachedthemasabeg—
gar，itistrue，hesaid；butinhiscountry，eveniftheygavenothing，theyspokegentlytobeggars。
