Iwouldwishtodeclare，atthebeginningofthisstory，thatI
　　shallneverregardthatclusterofisletswhichwecallBermudaastheFortunateIslandsoftheancients。Donotletprofessionalgeographerstakemeup，andsaythatnoonehassoaccountedthem，andthattheancientshaveneverbeensupposedtohavegottenthemselvessofarwestwards。WhatImeantoassertisthis——that，hadanyancientbeencarriedthitherbyenterpriseorstressofweather，hewouldnothavegiventhoseislandssogoodaname。ThattheNeapolitansailorsofKingAlonzoshouldhavebeenwreckedhere，Iconsidertobemorelikely。ThevexedBermoothesisagoodnameforthem。Thereisnogettinginoroutofthemwithoutthegreatestdifficulty，andapatient，slownavigation，whichisveryheart—rending。ThatCalibanshouldhavelivedhereIcanimagine；
　　thatArielwouldhavebeensickoftheplaceiscertain；andthatGovernorProsperoshouldhavebeenwillingtoabandonhisgovernorship，Iconceivetohavebeenonlynatural。Whenoneregardsthepresentstateoftheplace，oneistemptedtodoubtwhetheranyofthegovernorshavebeenconjurorssincehisdays。
　　Bermuda，asalltheworldknows，isaBritishcolonyatwhichwemaintainaconvictestablishment。Mostofouroutlyingconvictestablishmentshavebeensentbackuponourhandsfromourcolonies，buthereoneisstillmaintained。Thereisalsointheislandsastrongmilitaryfortress，thoughnotafortresslookingmagnificenttotheeyesofcivilians，asdoMaltaandGibraltar。Therearealsoheresomesixthousandwhitepeopleandsomesixthousandblackpeople，eating，drinking，sleeping，anddying。
　　TheconvictestablishmentisthemostnotablefeatureofBermudatoastranger，butitdoesnotseemtoattractmuchattentionfromtheregularinhabitantsoftheplace。ThereisnointercoursebetweentheprisonersandtheBermudians。Theconvictsarerarelyseenbythem，andtheconvictislandsarerarelyvisited。Astotheprisonersthemselves，ofcourseitisnotopentothem——orshouldnotbeopentothem——tohaveintercoursewithanybuttheprisonauthorities。
　　Therehave，however，beeninstancesinwhichconvictshaveescapedfromtheirconfinement，andmadetheirwayoutamongtheislands。
　　Poorwretches！Asarule，thereisbutlittlechanceforanythatcansoescape。Thewholelengthoftheclusterisbuttwentymiles，andthebreadthisunderfour。Theprisonersare，ofcourse，whitemen，andthelowerordersofBermuda，amongwhomalonecouldarunagatehaveanychanceofhidinghimself，areallnegroes；sothatsuchaonewouldbeknownatonce。Theirclothesareallmarked。
　　TheironlychanceofapermanentescapewouldbeintheholdofanAmericanship；butwhatcaptainofanAmericanorothershipwouldwillinglyencumberhimselfwithanescapedconvict？But，nevertheless，menhaveescaped；andinoneinstance，Ibelieve，aconvictgotaway，sothatofhimnofarthertidingswereeverheard。
　　ForthetruthofthefollowingtaleIwillnotbyanymeansvouch。
　　Ifoneweretoinquireonthespotonemightprobablyfindthattheladiesallbelieveit，andtheoldmen；thatalltheyoungmenknowexactlyhowmuchofitisfalseandhowmuchtrue；andthatthesteady，middle—aged，well—to—doislandersarequiteconvincedthatitisromancefrombeginningtoend。Myreadersmayrangethemselveswiththeladies，theyoungmen，orthesteady，well—to—
　　do，middle—agedislanders，astheyplease。
　　Someyearsago，soonaftertheprisonwasfirstestablishedonitspresentfooting，threemendidescapefromit，andamongthemacertainnotoriousprisonernamedAaronTrow。Trow’santecedentsinEnglandhadnotbeensovillanouslybadasthoseofmanyofhisfellow—convicts，thoughtheoneoffenceforwhichhewaspunishedhadbeenofadeepdye：hehadshedman’sblood。Ataperiodofgreatdistressinamanufacturingtownhehadledmenontoriot，andwithhisownhandhadslainthefirstconstablewhohadendeavouredtodohisdutyagainsthim。Therehadbeencourageinthedoingofthedeed，andprobablynomalice；butthedeed，letitsmoralblacknesshavebeenwhatitmight，hadsenthimtoBermuda，withasentenceagainsthimofpenalservitudeforlife。Hadhebeenthenamenabletoprisondiscipline，——eventhen，withsuchasentenceagainsthimasthat，——hemighthavewonhiswayback，afterthelapseofyears，tothechildren，andperhaps，tothewife，thathehadleftbehindhim；buthewasamenabletonorules——tonodiscipline。Hisheartwassoretodeathwithanideaofinjury，andhelashedhimselfagainstthebarsofhiscagewithafeelingthatitwouldbewellifhecouldsolashhimselftillhemightperishinhisfury。
　　Andthenadaycameinwhichanattemptwasmadebyalargebodyofconvicts，underhisleadership，togetthebetteroftheofficersoftheprison。Itishardlynecessarytosaythattheattemptfailed。
　　Suchattemptsalwaysfail。Itfailedonthisoccasionsignally，andTrow，withtwoothermen，werecondemnedtobescourgedterribly，andthenkeptinsolitaryconfinementforsomelengthenedtermofmonths。Before，however，thedayofscourgingcame，Trowandhistwoassociateshadescaped。
　　Ihavenotthespacetotellhowthiswaseffected，northepowertodescribethemanner。Theydidescapefromtheestablishmentintotheislands，andthoughtwoofthemweretakenafterasingleday’srunatliberty，AaronTrowhadnotbeenyetretakenevenwhenaweekwasover。Whenamonthwasoverhehadnotbeenretaken，andtheofficersoftheprisonbegantosaythathehadgotawayfromtheminavesseltotheStates。Itwasimpossible，theysaid，thatheshouldhaveremainedintheislandsandnotbeendiscovered。Itwasnotimpossiblethathemighthavedestroyedhimself，leavinghisbodywhereithadnotyetbeenfound。ButhecouldnothavelivedoninBermudaduringthatmonth’ssearch。So，atleast，saidtheofficersoftheprison。Therewas，however，areportthroughtheislandsthathehadbeenseenfromtimetotime；thathehadgottenbreadfromthenegroesatnight，threateningthemwithdeathiftheytoldofhiswhereabouts；andthatalltheclothesofthemateofavesselhadbeenstolenwhilethemanwasbathing，includingasuitofdarkbluecloth，inwhichsuitofclothes，orinoneofsuchanature，astrangerhadbeenseenskulkingabouttherocksnearSt。
　　George。Allthisthegovernoroftheprisonaffectedtodisbelieve，buttheopinionwasbecomingveryrifeintheislandsthatAaronTrowwasstillthere。
　　Avigilantsearch，however，isataskofgreatlabour，andcannotbekeptupforever。Bydegreesitwasrelaxed。Thewardersandgaolersceasedtopatroltheislandroadsbynight，anditwasagreedthatAaronTrowwasgone，orthathewouldbestarvedtodeath，orthathewouldintimebedriventoleavesuchtracesofhiswhereaboutsasmustleadtohisdiscovery；andthisatlastdidturnouttobethefact。
　　Thereisasortofprettinessabouttheseislandswhich，thoughitneverrisestothelovelinessofromanticscenery，isneverthelessattractiveinitsway。Thelandbreaksitselfintolittleknolls，andthesearunsup，hitherandthither，inathousandcreeksandinlets；andthen，too，whentheoleandersareinbloom，theygiveawonderfullybrightcolourtothelandscape。OleandersseemtobetherosesofBermuda，andarecultivatedroundallthevillagesofthebetterclassthroughtheislands。Therearetwotowns，St。
　　GeorgeandHamilton，andonemainhigh—road，whichconnectsthem；
　　buteventhishigh—roadisbrokenbyaferry，overwhicheveryvehiclegoingfromSt。GeorgetoHamiltonmustbeconveyed。Mostofthelocomotioninthesepartsisdonebyboats，andtheresidentslooktothesea，withitsnarrowcreeks，astheirbesthighwayfromtheirfarmstotheirbestmarket。Inthosedays——andthosedayswerenotverylongsince——thebuildingofsmallshipswastheirchieftrade，andtheyvaluedtheirlandmostlyforthesmallscrubbycedar—treeswithwhichthistradewascarriedon。
　　AsonegoesfromSt。GeorgetoHamiltontheroadrunsbetweentwoseas；thattotherightistheocean；thatontheleftisaninlandcreek，whichrunsupthroughalargeportionoftheislands，sothatthelandontheothersideofitisneartothetraveller。Foraconsiderableportionofthewaytherearenohouseslyingneartheroad，and，thereisoneresidence，somewayfromtheroad，sosecludedthatnootherhouselieswithinamileofitbyland。Bywateritmightprobablybereachedwithinhalfamile。ThisplacewascalledCrumpIsland，andherelived，andhadlivedformanyyears，anoldgentleman，anativeofBermuda，whosebusinessithadbeentobuyupcedarwoodandsellittotheship—buildersatHamilton。InourstoryweshallnothaveverymuchtodowitholdMr。Bergen，butitwillbenecessarytosayawordortwoabouthishouse。
　　Itstooduponwhatwouldhavebeenanislandinthecreek，hadnotanarrowcauseway，barelybroadenoughforaroad，joinedittothatlargerislandonwhichstandsthetownofSt。George。Asthemainroadapproachestheferryitrunsthroughsomerough，hilly，openground，whichontherightsidetowardstheoceanhasneverbeencultivated。Thedistancefromtheoceanheremay，perhaps，beaquarterofamile，andthegroundisforthemostpartcoveredwithlowfurze。Ontheleftoftheroadthelandiscultivatedinpatches，andhere，somehalfmileormorefromtheferry，apathturnsawaytoCrumpIsland。Thehousecannotbeseenfromtheroad，and，indeed，canhardlybeseenatall，exceptfromthesea。Itlies，perhaps，threefurlongsfromthehighroad，andthepathtoitisbutlittleused，asthepassagetoandfromitischieflymadebywater。
　　Here，atthetimeofourstory，livedMr。Bergen，andherelivedMr。
　　Bergen’sdaughter。MissBergenwaswellknownatSt。George’sasasteady，goodgirl，whospenthertimeinlookingafterherfather’shouseholdmatters，inmanaginghistwoblackmaid—servantsandtheblackgardener，andwhodidherdutyinthatsphereoflifetowhichshehadbeencalled。Shewasacomely，well—shapedyoungwoman，withasweetcountenance，ratherlargeinsize，andveryquietindemeanour。Inherearlieryears，whenyounggirlsusuallyfirstbudforthintowomanlybeauty，theneighbourshadnotthoughtmuchofAnastasiaBergen，norhadtheyoungmenofSt。GeorgebeenwonttostaytheirboatsunderthewindowofCrumpCottageinorderthattheymightlistentohervoiceorfeelthelightofhereye；butslowly，asyearswentby，AnastasiaBergenbecameawomanthatamanmightwelllove；andamanlearnedtoloveherwhowaswellworthyofawoman’sheart。ThiswasCalebMorton，thePresbyterianministerofSt。George；andCalebMortonhadbeenengagedtomarryMissBergenforthelasttwoyearspast，attheperiodofAaronTrow’sescapefromprison。
　　CalebMortonwasnotanativeofBermuda，buthadbeensentthitherbythesynodofhischurchfromNovaScotia。Hewasatall，handsomeman，atthistimeofsomethirtyyearsofage，ofapresencewhichmightalmosthavebeencalledcommanding。Hewasverystrong，butofatemperamentwhichdidnotoftengivehimopportunitytoputforthhisstrength；andhislifehadbeensuchthatneitherhenorothersknewofwhatnaturemightbehiscourage。
　　Thegreaterpartofhislifewasspentinpreachingtosomefewofthewhitepeoplearoundhim，andinteachingasmanyoftheblacksashecouldgettohearhim。Hisdayswereveryquiet，andhadbeenaltogetherwithoutexcitementuntilhehadmetwithAnastasiaBergen。Itwillsufficeforustosaythathedidmeether，andthatnow，fortwoyearspast，theyhadbeenengagedasmanandwife。
　　OldMr。Bergen，whenheheardoftheengagement，wasnotwellpleasedattheinformation。Inthefirstplace，hisdaughterwasverynecessarytohim，andtheideaofhermarryingandgoingawayhadhardlyasyetoccurredtohim；andthenhewasbynomeansinclinedtopartwithanyofhismoney。Itmustnotbepresumedthathehadamassedafortunebyhistradeincedarwood。FewtradesmeninBermudado，asIimagine，amassfortunes。Ofsomefewhundredpoundshewaspossessed，andthese，inthecourseofnature，wouldgotohisdaughterwhenhedied；buthehadnoinclinationtohandanyportionofthemovertohisdaughterbeforetheydidgotoherinthecourseofnature。Now，theincomewhichCalebMortonearnedasaPresbyterianclergymanwasnotlarge，and，therefore，nodayhadbeenfixedasyetforhismarriagewithAnastasia。
　　But，thoughtheoldmanhadbeenfromthefirstaversetothematch，hishostilityhadnotbeenactive。HehadnotforbiddenMr。Mortonhishouse，oraffectedtobeinanydegreeangrybecausehisdaughterhadalover。Hehadmerelygrumbledforthanintimationthatthosewhomarryinhasterepentatleisure，——thatlovekeptnobodywarmifthepotdidnotboil；andthat，asforhim，itwasasmuchashecoulddotokeephisownpotboilingatCrumpCottage。
　　InanswertothisAnastasiasaidnothing。Sheaskedhimfornomoney，butstillkepthisaccounts，managedhishousehold，andlookedpatientlyforwardforbetterdays。
　　OldMr。BergenhimselfspentmuchofhistimeatHamilton，wherehehadawoodyardwithacoupleofroomsattachedtoit。Itwashiscustomtoremainherethreenightsoftheweek，duringwhichAnastasiawasleftaloneatthecottage；andithappenedbynomeansseldomthatshewasaltogetheralone，forthenegrowhomtheycalledthegardenerwouldgotoherfather’splaceatHamilton，andthetwoblackgirlswouldcrawlawayuptotheroad，tiredwiththemonotonyoftheseaatthecottage。Calebhadmorethanoncetoldherthatshewastoomuchalone，butshehadlaughedathim，sayingthatsolitudeinBermudawasnotdangerous。Nor，indeed，wasit；forthepeoplearequietandwell—mannered，lackingmuchenergy，butbeing，inthesamedegree，freefromanypropensitytoviolence。
　　"Soyouaregoing，"shesaidtoherlover，oneevening，asherosefromthechaironwhichhehadbeenswinginghimselfatthedoorofthecottagewhichlooksdownoverthecreekofthesea。Hehadsatthereforanhourtalkingtoherassheworked，orwatchingherasshemovedabouttheplace。Itwasabeautifulevening，andthesunhadbeenfallingtorestwithalmosttropicalglorybeforehisfeet。
　　Thebrightoleanderswereredwiththeirblossomsallaroundhim，andhehadthoroughlyenjoyedhishourofeasyrest。"Soyouaregoing，"shesaidtohim，notputtingherworkoutofherhandasherosetodepart。
　　"Yes；anditistimeformetogo。IhavestillworktodobeforeI
　　cangettobed。Ah，well；IsupposethedaywillcomeatlastwhenIneednotleaveyouassoonasmyhourofrestisover。"
　　"Come；ofcourseitwillcome。Thatis，ifyourreverenceshouldchoosetowaitforitanothertenyearsorso。"
　　"Ibelieveyouwouldnotmindwaitingtwentyyears。"
　　"NotifacertainfriendofminewouldcomedownandseemeofeveningswhenI’maloneaftertheday。ItseemstomethatI
　　shouldn’tmindwaitingaslongasIhadthattolookfor。"
　　"Youarerightnottobeimpatient，"hesaidtoher，afterapause，asheheldherhandbeforehewent。"Quiteright。IonlywishI
　　couldschoolmyselftobeaseasyaboutit。"
　　"IdidnotsayIwaseasy，"saidAnastasia。"Peopleareseldomeasyinthisworld，Itakeit。IsaidIcouldbepatient。Donotlookinthatway，asthoughyoupretendedthatyouweredissatisfiedwithme。YouknowthatIamtruetoyou，andyououghttobeveryproudofme。"
　　"Iamproudofyou，Anastasia——"onhearingwhichshegotupandcourtesiedtohim。"Iamproudofyou；soproudofyouthatIfeelyoushouldnotbelefthereallalone，withnoonetohelpyouifyouwereintrouble。"
　　"Womendon’tgetintotroubleasmendo，anddonotwantanyonetohelpthem。Ifyouwerealoneinthehouseyouwouldhavetogotobedwithoutyoursupper，becauseyoucouldnotmakeabasinofboiledmilkreadyforyourownmeal。Now，whenyourreverencehasgone，Ishallgotoworkandhavemyteacomfortably。"Andthenhedidgo，biddingGodblessherashelefther。Threehoursafterthathewasdisturbedinhisownlodgingsbyoneofthenegrogirlsfromthecottagerushingtohisdoor，andbegginghiminHeaven’snametocomedowntotheassistanceofhermistress。
　　WhenMortonlefther，Anastasiadidnotproceedtodoasshehadsaid，andseemedtohaveforgottenhereveningmeal。Shehadbeenworkingsedulouslywithherneedleduringallthatlastconversation；butwhenherloverwasgone，sheallowedtheworktofallfromherhands，andsatmotionlessforawhile，gazingatthelaststreakofcolourleftbythesettingsun；buttherewasnolongerasignofitsglorytobetracedintheheavensaroundher。
　　ThetwilightinBermudaisnotlongandenduringasitiswithus，thoughthedaylightdoesnotdepartsuddenly，leavingthedarknessofnightbehinditwithoutanyintermediatetimeofwarning，asisthecasefarthersouth，downamongtheislandsofthetropics。Butthesoft，sweetlightoftheeveninghadwanedandgone，andnighthadabsolutelycomeuponher，whileAnastasiawasstillseatedbeforethecottagewithhereyesfixeduponthewhitestreakofmotionlessseawhichwasstillvisiblethroughthegloom。Shewasthinkingofhim，ofhiswaysoflife，ofhishappiness，andofherdutytowardshim。Shehadtoldhim，withherprettyfemininefalseness，thatshecouldwaitwithoutimpatience；butnowshesaidtoherselfthatitwouldnotbegoodforhimtowaitlonger。Helivedaloneandwithoutcomfort，workingveryhardforhispoorpittance，andshecouldsee，andfeel，andunderstandthatacompanioninhislifewastohimalmostanecessity。Shewouldtellherfatherthatallthismustbebroughttoanend。Shewouldnotaskhimformoney，butshewouldmakehimunderstandthatherservicesmust，atanyrateinpart，betransferred。WhyshouldnotsheandMortonstillliveatthecottagewhentheyweremarried？
　　Andsothinking，andatlastresolving，shesattheretillthedarknightfelluponher。
　　Shewasatlastdisturbedbyfeelingaman’shanduponhershoulder。
　　Shejumpedfromherchairandfacedhim，——notscreaming，foritwasespeciallywithinherpowertocontrolherself，andtomakenoutteranceexceptwithforethought。Perhapsitmighthavebeenbetterforherhadshescreamed，andsentashrillshriekdowntheshoreofthatinlandsea。Shewassilent，however，andwithawe—
　　struckfaceandoutstretchedhandsgazedintothefaceofhimwhostillheldherbytheshoulder。Thenightwasdark；buthereyeswerenowaccustomedtothedarkness，andshecouldseeindistinctlysomethingofhisfeatures。Hewasalow—sizedman，dressedinasuitofsailor’sblueclothing，witharoughcapofhaironhishead，andabeardthathadnotbeenclippedformanyweeks。Hiseyeswerelarge，andhollow，andfrightfullybright，sothatsheseemedtoseenothingelseofhim；butshefeltthestrengthofhisfingersashegraspedhertighterandmoretightlybythearm。
　　"Whoareyou？"shesaid，afteramoment’spause。
　　"Doyouknowme？"heasked。
　　"Knowyou！No。"ButthewordswerehardlyoutofhermouthbeforeitstruckherthatthemanwasAaronTrow，ofwhomeveryoneinBermudahadbeentalking。
　　"Comeintothehouse，"hesaid，"andgivemefood。"Andhestillheldherwithhishandasthoughhewouldcompelhertofollowhim。
　　Shestoodforamomentthinkingwhatshewouldsaytohim；foreventhen，withthatterriblemanstandingclosetoherinthedarkness，herpresenceofminddidnotdeserther。"Surely，"shesaid，"I
　　willgiveyoufoodifyouarehungry。Buttakeyourhandfromme。
　　Nomanwouldlayhishandsonawoman。"
　　"Awoman！"saidthestranger。"Whatdoesthestarvedwolfcareforthat？Awoman’sbloodisassweettohimasthatofaman。Comeintothehouse，Itellyou。"Andthensheprecededhimthroughtheopendoorintothenarrowpassage，andthencetothekitchen。Thereshesawthatthebackdoor，leadingoutontheothersideofthehouse，wasopen，andsheknewthathehadcomedownfromtheroadandenteredonthatside。Shethrewhereyesaround，lookingforthenegrogirls；buttheywereaway，andsherememberedthattherewasnohumanbeingwithinsoundofhervoicebutthismanwhohadtoldherthathewasasawolfthirstyafterherblood！
　　"Givemefoodatonce，"hesaid。
　　"AndwillyougoifIgiveityou？"sheasked。
　　"Iwillknockoutyourbrainsifyoudonot，"hereplied，liftingfromthegrateashort，thickpokerwhichlaythere。"DoasIbidyouatonce。Youalsowouldbelikeatigerifyouhadfastedfortwodays，asIhavedone。"
　　Shecouldsee，asshemovedacrossthekitchen，thathehadalreadysearchedthereforsomethingthathemighteat，butthathehadsearchedinvain。Withthecloseeconomycommonamonghisclassintheislands，allcomestibleswerekeptundercloselockandkeyinthehouseofMr。Bergen。Theirdailyallowancewasgivendaybydaytothenegroservants，andeventhefragmentswerethengatheredupandlockedawayinsafety。Shemovedacrossthekitchentotheaccustomedcupboard，takingthekeysfromherpocket，andhefollowedcloseuponher。Therewasasmalloillamphangingfromthelowceilingwhichjustgavethemlighttoseeeachother。Sheliftedherhandtothistotareitfromitshook，buthepreventedher。"No，byHeaven！"hesaid，"youdon’ttouchthattillI’vedonewithit。There’slightenoughforyoutodragoutyourscraps。"
　　Shediddragoutherscrapsandabowlofmilk，whichmightholdperhapsaquart。Therewasafragmentofbread，amorselofcoldpotato—cake，andtheboneofalegofkid。"Andisthatall？"saidhe。Butashespokehefleshedhisteethagainsttheboneasadogwouldhavedone。
　　"ItisthebestIhave，"shesaid；"Iwishitwerebetter，andyoushouldhavehaditwithoutviolence，asyouhavesufferedsolongfromhunger。"
　　"Bah！Better；yes！Youwouldgivethebestnodoubt，andsetthehellhoundsonmytrackthemomentIamgone。IknowhowmuchI
　　mightexpectfromyourcharity。"
　　"Iwouldhavefedyouforpity’ssake，"sheanswered。
　　"Pity！Whoareyou，thatyoushoulddaretopityme！By—，myyoungwoman，itisIthatpityyou。Imustcutyourthroatunlessyougivememoney。Doyouknowthat？"
　　"Money！Ihavegotnomoney。"
　　"I’llmakeyouhavesomebeforeIgo。Come；don’tmovetillIhavedone。"Andashespoketoherhewentontuggingatthebone，andswallowingthelumpsofstalebread。Hehadalreadyfinishedthebowlofmilk。"And，now，"saidhe，"tellmewhoIam。"
　　"IsupposeyouareAaronTrow，"sheanswered，veryslowly。Hesaidnothingonhearingthis，butcontinuedhismeal，standingclosetohersothatshemightnotpossiblyescapefromhimoutintothedarkness。Twiceorthriceinthosefewminutesshemadeuphermindtomakesuchanattempt，feelingthatitwouldbebettertoleavehiminpossessionofthehouse，andmakesure，ifpossible，ofherownlife。Therewasnomoneythere；notadollar！WhatmoneyherfatherkeptinhispossessionwaslockedupinhissafeatHamilton。
　　Andmighthenotkeeptohisthreat，andmurderher，whenhefoundthatshecouldgivehimnothing？Shedidnottrembleoutwardly，asshestoodtherewatchinghimasheate，butshethoughthowprobableitmightbethatherlastmomentswereverynear。Andyetshecouldscrutinisehisfeatures，form，andgarments，soastocarryawayinhermindaperfectpictureofthem。AaronTrow——forofcourseitwastheescapedconvict——wasnotamanoffrightful，hideousaspect。
　　Hadtheworldusedhimwell，givinghimwhenhewasyoungamplewagesandseparatinghimfromturbulentspirits，healsomighthaveusedtheworldwell；andthenwomenwouldhavepraisedthebrightnessofhiseyeandthemanlyvigourofhisbrow。Butthingshadnotgonewellwithhim。Hehadbeenseparatedfromthewifehehadloved，andthechildrenwhohadbeenraisedathisknee，——
　　separatedbyhisownviolence；andnow，ashehadsaidofhimself，hewasawolfratherthanaman。Ashestoodtheresatisfyingthecravingofhisappetite，breakingupthelargemorselsoffood，hewasanobjectverysadtobeseen。Hungerhadmadehimgauntandyellow，hewassqualidwiththedirtofhishiddenlair，andhehadthelookofabeast；——thatlooktowhichmenfallwhentheylivelikethebrutesofprey，asoutcastsfromtheirbrethren。Butstilltherewasthatabouthisbrowwhichmighthaveredeemedhim，——whichmighthaveturnedherhorrorintopity，hadhebeenwillingthatitshouldbeso。
　　"Andnowgivemesomebrandy，"hesaid。
　　Therewasbrandyinthehouse，——inthesitting—roomwhichwascloseattheirhand，andthekeyofthelittlepresswhichhelditwasinherpocket。Itwasuseless，shethought，torefusehim；andsoshetoldhimthattherewasabottlepartlyfull，butthatshemustgotothenextroomtofetchithim。
　　"We’llgotogether，mydarling，"hesaid。"There’snothinglikegoodcompany。"Andheagainputhishanduponherarmastheypassedintothefamilysitting—room。
　　"Imusttakethelight，"shesaid。Butheunhookedithimself，andcarrieditinhisownhand。
　　Againshewenttoworkwithouttrembling。Shefoundthekeyofthesidecupboard，andunlockingthedoor，handedhimabottlewhichmightcontainabouthalf—a—pintofspirits。"Andisthatall？"hesaid。
　　"Thereisafullbottlehere，"sheanswered，handinghimanother；
　　"butifyoudrinkit，youwillbedrunk，andtheywillcatchyou。"
　　"ByHeavens，yes；andyouwouldbethefirsttohelpthem；wouldyounot？"
　　"Lookhere，"sheanswered。"Ifyouwillgonow，Iwillnotsayawordtoanyoneofyourcoming，norsetthemonyourtracktofollowyou。There，takethefullbottlewithyou。Ifyouwillgo，youshallbesafefromme。"
　　"What，andgowithoutmoney！"
　　"Ihavenonetogiveyou。YoumaybelievemewhenIsayso。Ihavenotadollarinthehouse。"
　　Beforehespokeagainheraisedthehalfemptybottletohismouth，anddrankaslongastherewasadroptodrink。"There，"saidhe，puttingthebottledown，"Iambetterafterthat。Astotheother，youareright，andIwilltakeitwithme。Andnow，youngwoman，aboutthemoney？"
　　"ItellyouthatIhavenotadollar。"
　　"Lookhere，"saidhe，andhespokenowinasoftervoice，asthoughhewouldbeonfriendlytermswithher。"Givemetensovereigns，andIwillgo。Iknowyouhaveit，andwithtensovereignsitispossiblethatImaysavemylife。Youaregood，andwouldnotwishthatamanshoulddiesohorridadeath。Iknowyouaregood。
　　Come，givemethemoney。"Andheputhishandsup，beseechingher，andlookedintoherfacewithimploringeyes。
　　"OnthewordofaChristianwomanIhavenotgotmoneytogiveyou，"
　　shereplied。
　　"Nonsense？"Andashespokehetookherbythearmandshookher。
　　Heshookherviolentlysothathehurther，andherbreathforamomentwasallbutgonefromher。"ItellyouyoumustmakedollarsbeforeIleaveyou，orIwillsohandleyouthatitwouldhavebeenbetterforyoutocoinyourveryblood。"
　　"MayGodhelpmeatmyneed，"shesaid，"asIhavenotaboveafewpennypiecesinthehouse。"
　　"Andyouexpectmetobelievethat！Lookhere！Iwillshaketheteethoutofyourhead，butIwillhaveitfromyou。"Andhedidshakeheragain，usingbothhishandsandstrikingheragainstthewall。
　　"Wouldyou——murderme？"shesaid，hardlyablenowtoutterthewords。
　　"Murderyou，yes；whynot？IcannotbeworsethanIam，wereItomurderyoutentimesover。ButwithmoneyImaypossiblybebetter。"
　　"Ihaveitnot。"
　　"ThenIwilldoworsethanmurderyou。Iwillmakeyousuchanobjectthatalltheworldshallloathetolookonyou。"Andsosayinghetookherbythearmanddraggedherforthfromthewallagainstwhichshehadstood。
　　Thentherecamefromherashriekthatwasheardfardowntheshoreofthatsilentsea，andawayacrosstothesolitaryhousesofthoselivingontheotherside，——ashriek，verysad，sharp，andprolonged，——whichtoldplainlytothosewhohearditofwoman’swoewheninherextremestperil。ThatsoundwasspokenofinBermudaformanyadayafterthat，assomethingwhichhadbeenterribletohear。Butthen，atthatmoment，asitcamewailingthroughthedark，itsoundedasthoughitwerenothuman。Ofthosewhoheardit，notoneguessedfromwhenceitcame，norwasthehandofanybrotherputforwardtohelpthatwomanatherneed。
　　"Didyouhearthat？"saidtheyoungwifetoherhusband，fromthefarsideofthearmofthesea。
　　"Hearit！OhHeaven，yes！Whencediditcome？"Theyoungwifecouldnotsayfromwhenceitcame，butclungclosetoherhusband’sbreast，comfortingherselfwiththeknowledgethatthatterriblesorrowwasnothers。
　　Butaiddidcomeatlast，orratherthatwhichseemedasaid。Longandterriblewasthefightbetweenthathumanbeastofpreyandthepoorvictimwhichhadfallenintohistalons。AnastasiaBergenwasastrong，well—builtwoman，andnowthatthetimehadcometoherwhenastrugglewasnecessary，astruggleforlife，forhonour，forthehappinessofhimwhowasmoretoherthanherself，shefoughtlikeatigressattackedinherownlair。Atsuchamomentasthisshealsocouldbecomewildandsavageasthebeastoftheforest。
　　Whenhepinionedherarmswithoneofhis，ashepressedherdownuponthefloor，shecaughtthefirstjointoftheforefingerofhisotherhandbetweenherteethtillheyelledinagony，andanothersoundwasheardacrossthesilentwater。Andthen，whenonehandwasloosedinthestruggle，shetwisteditthroughhislonghair，anddraggedbackhisheadtillhiseyeswerenearlystartingfromtheirsockets。AnastasiaBergenhadhithertobeenasheerwoman，allfeminineinhernature。Butnowthefoamcametohermouth，andfiresprangfromhereyes，andthemusclesofherbodyworkedasthoughshehadbeentrainedtodeedsofviolence。Ofviolence，AaronTrowhadknownmuchinhisroughlife，butneverhadhecombatedwithharderantagonistthanherwhomhenowheldbeneathhisbreast。
　　"By——Iwillputanendtoyou，"heexclaimed，inhiswrath，ashestruckherviolentlyacrossthefacewithhiselbow。Hishandwasoccupied，andhecouldnotuseitforablow，but，nevertheless，theviolencewassogreatthatthebloodgushedfromhernostrils，whilethebackofherheadwasdrivenwithviolenceagainstthefloor。
　　Butshedidnotloseherholdofhim。Herhandwasstilltwinedcloselythroughhisthickhair，andineverymovehemadesheclungtohimwithallhermight。"Leavegomyhair，"heshoutedather，butshestillkeptherhold，thoughheagaindashedherheadagainstthefloor。