The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-04-29
CHAPTER VII
Ian srARrLrp BY A pEsoovERr.

was not n little increased 10y my inability u
r~ccollcct myself, and by my therefore con
coivipc the canvas that covered INC ~ b. th'
groping of the ogrc's hand over my face.
nushod the sail away and stood up, bu'
had instantly TO sit again, my legs being ter
ribly cramIad a drink Of spirits helpcl
me: INV blood presently flowed with brisk
ness
Tho moon was in the west; She hung largo
red and distorted, and shed no light save Nc'
rejection. that waved IN IL sea under her
like several lengths Of undulatng, rel bot
wire.
had no mind TO lie down again. Tho
sold indeed was cruelty sharp, and the smoke
spel from my mouth at every breath, ms
though | held a tobacco pipe tct"lXt my
teeth. ! got upon the ice and stepped ABOUT
it quickly, darting searching glancos into
the gloom TO left and right OF the setting
moon; but all lay bare, bleak and black.
IL seemed as if the night had only just de-
scended, 20 tardy was the dawn. Outside
the s~lanting wall Of ice that made my haven,
the swell swept past ina gurgling, bubhling,
drowning sound, dismal and ghastly, rs
though in truth some such ogre as the mon
ster | had dreamed Of lay suiiocatlng there.
! welcomed the cold coloring OF the east as II
1t had been a ship, and watched the stars dy-
ing and the frozen shore darkenins to the
dim and sitting dawn behind It, against
which the outline of the cliffs ran in a broken
streak of ink. The rising Of the sun gave
me fresh life.
! made up my mind TO climb rs high as ]
could, taking the oar with me to serve asa
pole, that | might view the ice and the ocean
round about, and form a Judgment Of the
weather by the aspect OF the sky, OF Wilch
only the western part was visible from 10y
low strand. Bat first ] must break my fast.
/ remember bitterly iamenting the iacS Of
means 10 make a fire, that ! might Obtain q
warm meal and a hot drink, and dry my
gloves, coat and brccchcs, 10 which th" damp
of the salt chung GENEROUSLY. Had Tins zee
been land, though The most dc-olatc. gloomy,
repulsiye SPOT IN the world, ! had surely
found something that would burn.
| sat in the boat 10 cat lay slender rep1ef.
and when il was ended ] pulled the oarouto Of
the crevice, and found 10 would mako mo 81
good polo to probe my way with and support
myself by up the slope Tire boat Wa nou
held by the mast, which | shook and found
very firm. ! put an empty beer bottle in my
pocket, meaning TO see If / could I'll IL, II
the snow up above was sweet enough % be-
well tasted, and then with a final look at the
boat | started.
The slope was extremely craggy. Blocks
of ice lay about, some on top Of the Others,
and ] had sometimes TO warily walk fifty or
sixty PAGES round these blocks to come az II
part of the slope that was smooth.
l had come TO a stand TO fetch a breath,
and was moving on afresh, when, having
taken not half a dozen steps, lspied the figure
Of a man. He was in a sitting posture, his
back against a rock that had concealed him.
His head was bowed, and his knee drawn
up to a level with his chin, and his naked
hands were clasped upon his legs. His ctti-
tude was that Of a person lost in thought
very easy and calm.
l stopped as if ! had been shot through tho
heart. Had it been a bear or q sea lion. or
any creature which my mind could instantly
have associated with this white and s,iIlc2,
desolation, l might have been startled indeed;
but no such amazcmont could have possessed
me as | now felt. Il never entered into my
head 10 doubt that he was alive. 50 natural
was his attitude, rs of or lost in a mood of
tender melancholy.
stood staring at him, myself motionlcSs.
for some minutes, too greatly astonishcd and
thunderstruck to note more than that be was
a man. Then | looked about me TO see if
he had companions or for sone signs Of a
h"abitation, but the ice was everywhere
naked. fixed my eyes on him again. His
hair was above a foot long, black as ink,
and the blacker may be for the contrast Of
the SNOW. His beard and mustache, which
were also of this raven hue, fell to his girdlc.
He wore u great yellow Tapping hat, such az
was in fashion among the Spaniards and
buccaneers Of the South sea; but over his
ears, for the warmth Of The protection, wero
squares of flannel tied under his beard by "a
very fine red silk handkerchief; and this,
with his hair and pale checks and black
shaggy eyebrows, gave him a terriblc and
CHASTITY appearance. From his shoulders
hung a rich thick cloak, lined with red, and
the legs TO the height Of the knees were in
cased in large boots.
l continued surveying hin. with my heart
beating fast. Evesy instant | expected 10 see
him turn his head and start 10 behold me.
| coughed loudly, holding my pole IN rcadi-
ness for whatever might befall, but he did
not stir; | then holloaed, and was answered
by the echoes Of my own voice among The
rocks. His stiffness persuaded me he was in
one of those deep slumbers which fall upon
Il man in frozen places; for | could not per
shade myself he was dead, 50 living was .his
posture.
This viii not do, thought |; so l went
close to him and peered into his face.
his eyes were fixed; they rcscmhlcd glass
painted as eyes, the colors faded. He had Il
broad belt round his waist, and the hit of a
kline of cutlass pecpcd from under his cloak;
otherwise he was unarmed. | thought he
breathed, and seemed 10 see a movement in
his breast, and | took him toy the shoulder,
but in the hurry of my feelings | cxcrted
moro strength than | was sensible OF. |
pushed him with the violence of sudden
trepidation; my hsnd slipIed of his shoulder,
and he fell on his side, exactly as a statue
would, preserving his posture as though, like
a statue, he hid been chiseled out of marble |
or stone.
l started back frightened by his fall, In
which my fears found Il sort Of life; but 1t
was soon clear TO me his rigidity was that of
q mar frozen TO death. His very hair and
beard stood stiff, as before, as though they
were some exquisite counterfeit IN ebony
Perfectly satisfied that he was dead, | stepped
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