"Before I come on board your vessel," said he, "will you have the kindness to inform me whither you are bound?"

He asked a multitude of questions concerning the route which the dæmon, as he called him, had pursued.

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 any 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.

Strange and harrowing must be his story, frightful the storm which embraced the gallant vessel on its course and wrecked it—thus!

Even broken in spirit as he is, no one can feel more deeply than he does the beauties of nature. The starry sky, the sea, and every sight afforded by these wonderful regions seem still to have the power of elevating his soul from earth.

To you first entering on life, to whom care is new and agony unknown, how can you understand what I have felt and still feel?

I am surrounded by mountains of ice which admit of no escape and threaten every moment to crush my vessel.

What do you mean? What do you demand of your captain? Are you, then, so easily turned from your design? Did you not call this a glorious expedition?

"Since you have preserved my narration," said he, "I would not that a mutilated one should go down to posterity."

Do so, if you will; but I will not. You may give up your purpose, but mine is assigned to me by Heaven, and I dare not.