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。