 CHAPTER XIII I had now well stored my grotto with all sorts of winter provisions, and feeling the weather grow very cold I expected and waited patiently for the total darkness. I went little abroad, and employed myself with indoors, endeavoring to fence against the approaching extremity of the cold. For this purpose I prepared a quantity of rushes, which, being very dry, I spread them smoothly on the floor of my bed-chamber, a good thickness, and over them I laid my mattress. Then I made a double sheet of the boat's awning, or sail, that I had brought to cover my goods, and having skewered together several of the jackets and clothes I found in the chest, of them I made a cover lid, so that I lay very commodiously and made very long nights of it, now the dark season was set in. As I lay awake one night, or day, I know not which, I very plainly heard the sound of several human voices, and sometimes very loud. But though I could easily distinguish the articulations, I could not understand the least word that was said, nor did the voices seem at all to me like such as I had anywhere heard before, but much softer and more musical. This startled me, and I rose immediately, slipping on my clothes and taking my gun in my hand, which I always kept charged being my constant traveling companion, and my cutlass. Thus equipped I walked into my ante-chamber where I heard the voices much plainer, till after some little time they by degrees died quite away. After watching here and harkening a good while, hearing nothing, I walked back into the grotto and laid me down again on my bed. I was inclined to open the door of my ante-chamber, but I own I was afraid. Besides, I considered that if I did, I could discover nothing at any distance by reason of the thick and gloomy wood that enclosed me. I had a thousand different surmises about the meaning of this odd incident, and could not conceive how any human creatures should be in my kingdom as I called it, but myself and I never yet see them or any trace of their habitation. But then again I reflected that though I had surrounded the whole lake, yet I had not traced the outbound of the wood next to rock, where there might be innumerable grottoes like mine. Nay, perhaps some as spacious as that I had sailed through to the lake, and that though I had not perceived it, yet this beautiful spot might be very well peopled. But, says I again, if there be any such beings as I am fancying here, surely they don't skulk in their dens like savage beasts by daylight and only patrol for prey by night. If so, I shall probably become a delicious morsel for them ere long, if they meet with me. This kept me still more within doors than before, and I hardly ever stirred out but for water or firing. At length, hearing no more voices nor seeing any one, I began to be more composed in my mind, and at last grew persuaded it was all a mere delusion, and only a fancy of mine, without any real foundation. And sometimes, though I was sure I was fully awake when I heard them, I persuaded myself I had rose in my sleep upon a dream of voices, and recollected with myself the various stories I had heard when a boy of walking in one sleep, and the surprising effects of it. So the whole notion was now blown over. I had not enjoyed my tranquility above a week before my fears were roused afresh, hearing the same sound of voices twice the same night, but not many minutes at a time. What gave me most pain was that they were at such a distance, as I judged by the langer of the sound, that if I had opened my door I could not have seen the udderers through the trees, and I was resolved not to venture out. But then I determined, if they should come again, anything near my grotto, to open the door, see who they were, and stand upon my defence whatever came of it. For, says I, my entrance is so narrow and high, that more than one cannot come at a time, and I can, with ease, dispatch twenty of them before they can secure me, if they should be savages. But if they prove sensible human creatures, it will be a great benefit to me to join myself to their society. Thus had I formed my scheme, but I heard no more of them for a great while, so that, at length, beginning to grow ashamed of my fears, I became tranquil again. The day now returning, and with it my labours, I applied to my usual callings, but my mind ran strangely upon viewing the rock quite round, that is, the whole circuit of my dominions. For, thinks I, there may possibly be an outlet through the rock into some other country, from whence the persons I heard may come. As soon, therefore, as the days grew towards the longest, I prepared for my progress. Having lived so well at home since my settlement, I did not care to trust only to what I could pick up in the woods for my subsistence during this journey, which would not only take up time in procuring, but perhaps not agree with me. So I resolved to carry a supply with me, proportionate to the length of my preambulation. Hereupon, considering that though my walk round the lake was finished in two days, yet as I now intended to go round by the rock, the way would be much longer, and perhaps more troublesome than that was. Remembering also my journey with Glanleps in Africa, and how much I complained of the fruits we carried for our subsistence, these circumstances, I say, laying together, I resolved to load the cart with a variety of food, bread, and fruits especially, and draw that with me. Thus provided, I sallied forth with great cheerfulness, and proceeded in the main easily, though in some places I was forced to make way with my hatchet, the ground was so overrun with underwood. I very narrowly viewed the rock as I went, bottom and sides all the way, but could see nothing like a passage through it, or indeed any more than one opening, or inlet, which I entered for about thirty yards, but it was not above three feet wide, and terminated in the solid rock. After some days' travel, making all the observations I could on the several plants, shrubs, and trees which I met with, particularly where any of these occurred to me entirely new, finding myself a little faintish, I had a mind for a sup of ram's-horn juice, so I cut me one, but upon opening it found therein only a pithy pulp, and no ways fit to taste. I supposed by this I was too early for the milk, it being three months later the last year when I cut them. Hereon, seeing one upon another shrub, which by its rusty colour I judged might have hung all the winter, I opened that, and found it full of milk, but putting some of it into my mouth it was as sour as any vinegar I ever tasted in my life. So, thinks I, and said so too, for as I told you before I always spoke out, here's sauce for something when I want it. And this gave me a hint to store myself with these gourds to hang by for vinegar the next winter. By this time I had come almost to my rill when I entered upon a large, flat of ground, miserably overrun with weeds, matted together very thick. These choked up my wheels in such a manner that I could neither free them with my hands nor get either backwards or forwards, they binding my cart down like so many cords, so that I was obliged to cut my way back again with my hatchet, and take a sweep round in the wood, on the outside of these weeds. In all my life I never saw anything of its size, for it was no thicker than a whip cord, so strong as this weed. And what raised my wonder was the length of it, for I drew out pieces of it near fifty feet long, and even they were broken at the end, so that it might be as long again, for odd I know, for it was so matted and twisted together that it was a great trial of patience to untangle it, but that which was driest, and to me looked the rottenest and weakest, I found to be much the strongest. Upon examination of its parts I discovered it to be composed of an infinite number of small threads, spirally overlaying and enfolding one another. As I saw but few things that I could not find a use for, so this I perceived would serve all the common purposes of pack thread, a thing I was often in want of. This inclined me to take a load of it home with me, indeed the difficulty of getting a quantity in the condition I desired it puzzled me a little. For, says I, if I cut up a good deal of it with my hatchet, as I first designed, I shall only have small lengths, good for little, and to get it in pieces of any considerable length so as to be of service will require much time and labour. But reflecting how much I needed it, and of what benefit it would be, I resolved to make a trial of what I could do. So without more hesitation I went to work, and cutting a fiber close to its root I extricated that thread from all its windings, just as one does an entangled whip cord. When I had thus disengaged a sufficient length I cut that off, and repeating the like operation in about three hours' time but with no little toil I made up my load of different lengths just to my liking. Having finished this task I filled the gourd brought for that purpose with water, and having first viewed the whole remaining part of the rock I returned over the stone bridge home again. This journey, though it took me up several days and was attended with some fatigue, had yet given me great satisfaction. For now I was persuaded I could not have one rival or enemy to fear in my whole dominions, and from the impossibility, as I supposed, of their being any, or of the ingress of any, unless by the same passage I entered at, and by which I was well assured they could never return, I grew contented, and blame myself for the folly of my imaginary voices, as I called them then, and took it for a distemper of the fancy only. The next day I looked over my load of matweed, having given it that name, and separated the different lengths from each other. I then found I had several pieces between forty and fifty feet long, of which I resolved to get a good number more, to make me a dragnet that I might try for some fish in the lake. A day or two after, therefore, I brought home another load of it. Then I picked out a smooth level spot upon the green sward, and having prepared a great number of short wooden pegs, I strained a line of the matweed about ten feet long, tying it at each end to a peg, and stuck a row of pegs along by that line, about two inches ascender. I next strained another line of the same length, parallel to that, at the distance of forty feet from it, and stuck pegs thereby corresponding to the former row. And from each peg on one side to the opposite peg on the other, I tied a like length of my mat line quite through the whole number of pegs, when the work looked like the inside of a harpsichord. I afterwards drove pegs in like manner along the whole length of the two outermost longer lines, and tied shorter lines to them, so that the whole affair then represented the squares of a racket, the corners of each of which squares I tied very tight with smaller pieces of the line, till I had formed a complete net of forty feet long and ten wide. When I had finished my net, as I thought, I wrapped several stones in rags, and fastened them to the bottom to sink it and some of the smallest unscooped dry gourds to the top, to keep that part buoyant. I now longed to begin my new trade, and carried the net to my boat with that intention, but after two or three hauls I found it would not answer for want of length, though by chance I caught a blackish fish without scales, a little bigger than whiting, but much longer, which stuck by the gills in it. So I left the net in the boat, resolving to make an addition to it with all speed, and returning to my grotto, I supped on the fish I had taken, and considered how to pursue my enterprise with better effect. I provided me with another large parcel of line, and having brought two more lengths to perfection, I joined all together, and fixing one end on shore by a pole I had cut for that purpose, I launched my boat with the other end in it, taking a sweep the length of my net round to my stick again, and getting on shore hauled up my net by both ends together. I found now I had mended my instrument, and taken a proper way of applying it, for by this means in five hauls I caught about sixteen fish of three or four different sorts, and one shellfish almost like a lobster, but without great claws, and with a very small short tail, which made me think, as the body was thrice as long as a lobster's in proportion, that it did not swim backwards like that creature, but only crawled forwards, it having lobster-like legs but much shorter and stronger, and that the legs all standing so forward, its tail was, by its motion, to keep the hindre part of its body from dragging upon the ground, as I observed it did when the creature walked on land, it then frequently flacking its short tail. These fish made me rich in provisions, some of them I ate fresh, and the remainder I salted down, but of all the kinds my lobster was the most delicious food, and made me almost three meals. Thus finding there were fish to be had, though my present tackle seemed suitable enough to my family, yet could I not rest till I had improved my fishery by enlarging my net, for, as it was, even with my late addition, I must either sweep little or no compass of ground, or it would have no bag behind me. Upon this I set to work, and shortly doubled the dimensions of it. I had then a mind to try it at the mouth of my reel. So, taking it with me the next time I crossed the lake for water, and fastening it to my pole, close by the right side of the reel, I swept a long compass round to the left, and closing the ends attempted to draw it up in the hollow out of the reel. But by the time I had gathered up two-thirds of the net, I felt a resistance that quite amazed me. In short, I was not able to stand against the force I felt. Whereupon, sitting down in the reel, and clapping my feet to the two sides of it, I exerted all my strength, till finally I became conqueror, and brought up so shocking a monster that I was just rising to run for my life on the side of it. But recollecting that the creature was hampered and could not make so much resistance on the land as in the water, I ventured to drag the net up as far from the reel as my strength and breath would permit me. And then running to the boat for my gun, I returned to the net to examine my prize. Indeed, I had not instantly resolution enough to survey it. And when at length I assumed courage enough to do so, I could not perfectly distinguish the parts they were so discomposed. But taking hold of one end of the net, I endeavored to disentangle the thing, and then drawing the net away a most surprising sight presented itself. The creature reared upright, about three feet high, covered all over with long black shaggy hair, like a bear, which hung down from his head and neck quite along his back and sides. He had two fins, very broad and large, which as he stood erect looked like arms, and these he waved and whirled about with incredible velocity. And though I wondered at first at it, I found afterwards it was the motion of these fins that kept him upright, for I perceived, when they ceased their motion, he fell flat on his belly. He had two very large feet which he stood upon but could not run, and but barely walk on them, which made me in the less haste to dispatch him. And after he had stood upon his feet about four minutes, clapping his fins to his sides, he fell upon his belly. When I found he could not attack me, I was moving closer to him. But upon sight of my stirring, up he rose again and whirled his fins about as before so long as he stood. And now I viewed him round and found he had no tail at all, and that his hindre fins or feet very much resembled a large frogs, but were at least ten inches broad and eighteen long from heel to toe. And his legs were so short that when he stood upright his breech bore upon the ground. His belly, which he kept towards me, was of an ash color and very broad as also was his breast. His eyes were small and blue with a large black sight in the middle, and rather of an oval than round make. He had a long snout like a bore and vast teeth. Thus having surveyed him near half an hour living, I made him rise up once more and shot him in the breast. He fell, and giving a loud howl or groan expired. I had then time to see what else I had caught, and turning over the net found a few of the same fish I had taken before, and some others of a flatish make, and one little lump of flesh unformed, which last by all I could make of it seemed to be either a spawn or young one of that I had shot. The great creature was so heavy I was afraid I must have cut him in pieces to get him to the boat, but with much adieu having stowed the rest I tumbled him on board. I then filled my water-cask and rode homewards. Being got to land I was obliged to bring down my cart to carry my great beast-fish as I termed him up to the grotto. When I had got him dither I had a notion of first tasting and then, if I liked his flesh, of salting him down and drying him. So having flayed him and taken out the guts and entrails I boiled a piece of him, but it made such a blaze that most of the fat ran into the fire, and the flesh proved so dry and rank that I could no ways endure it. I then began to be sorry I had taken so much pains for no profit and had endangered my net into the bargain, for that had got a crack or two in the scuffle, and was thinking to throw away my large but worthless acquisition. However, as I was now prone to weighing all things, before I threw it away I resolved to consider a little, whereupon I changed my mind. Says I, here is a good warm skin, which when dry will make me a rare cushion. Again I have for a long while had no light beside that of the day, but now as this beast's fat makes such a blaze in the fire, and issues in so great a quantity from such a small piece as I broiled, why may not I boil a good tallow or oil out of it, and if I can I have not made so bad a hand of my time as I thought for. In short, I went immediately to work upon this subject, for I never let a project cool after I had once started it, and boiled as much of the flesh as the kettle would hold, and letting it stand to cool I found it turned out very good oil for burning, though I confess I thought it would rather have made tallow. This success quickened my industry, and I repeated the operation till I got about ten quarts of this stuff, which very well rewarded my labour. After I had extracted as much oil as I could from the beastfish, the creature having strongly impressed my imagination, I conceived a new fancy in relation to it, and that was, having heard him make a deep howling groan at his death, I endeavored to persuade myself, and at last verily believed, that the voices I had so often heard in the dark weather proceeded from numbers of these creatures diverting themselves in the lake, or sporting together on the shore, and this thought, in its turn, contributed to ease my apprehensions in that respect. I passed the summer, though I had never yet seen the sun's body, very much to my satisfaction, partly in the work I have been describing, for I had taken two more of the beastfish, and had a great quantity of oil from them, partly in building me a chimney in my anti-chamber of mud and earth, burnt on my own hearth, into a sort of brick, and making a window at one end of the above said chamber, to let in what little light would come through the trees when I did not choose to open my door, and molding an earthen lamp for my oil, and finally in providing and laying in stores, fresh and salt, for I had now cured and dried many more fish against winter. These, I say, were my summer employments at home, intermixed with many agreeable excursions. But now the winter coming on, and the days growing very short, or indeed there being no day properly speaking, but a kind of twilight, I kept mostly in my habitation, though not so much as I had done the winter before, when I had no light within doors, and slept, or at least lay still, great part of my time. For now my lamp was never out. I also turned two of my beastfish skins into a rug to cover my bed, and the third into a cushion, which I always sat upon, and a very soft and warm cushion it made. All this together rendered my life very easy, yay, even comfortable. An indifferent person would now be up to ask, what would this man desire more than he had? To this I answer that I was contented while my condition was such as I have been describing. But a little while after the darkness or twilight came on I frequently heard the voices again, sometimes a few only at a time as it seemed, and then again in great numbers. This threw me into new fears, and I became as uneasy as ever, even to the degree of growing quite melancholy, though otherwise I never received the least injury from anything. I foolishly attempted several times, by looking out of my window, to discover what these odd sounds proceeded from, though I knew it was too dark to see anything there. I was now fully convinced, by a more deliberate attention to them, that they could not be uttered by the beast-fish as I had a fore conjectured, but only by beings capable of articulate speech. But then, what or where they were, it galled me to be ignorant of. At length, one night or day, I cannot say which, hearing the voices very distinctly and praying very earnestly to be either delivered from the uncertainty they had put me under, or to have them removed from me, I took courage and arming myself with gun, pistols, and cutlass, I went out of my grotto and crept down the wood. I then heard them plainer than before, and was able to judge from what point of the compass they proceeded. Hereupon I went forward towards the sound, till I came to the verge of the wood, where I could see the lake very well by the dazzle of the water. Thereon, as I thought, I beheld a fleet of boats covering a large compass, and not far from the bridge. I was shocked, here at, beyond expression. I could not conceive where they came from, or whether they would go. But suppose there must be some other passage to the lake than I had found in my voyage through the cavern, and that for certain they came that way, and from some place of which as yet I had no manner of knowledge. Whilst I was entertaining myself with this speculation, I heard the people in the boats laughing and talking very merrily, though I was too distant to distinguish the words. I discerned soon after all the boats, as I still supposed them, draw up and push for the bridge. Presently after, though I was sure no boat entered the arch, I saw a multitude of people on the opposite shore, all marching towards the bridge. And what was the strangest of all, there was not the least sign of a boat now left upon the whole lake. I then was in a greater consternation than before, but was still much more so when I saw the whole posse of people, that as I have just said, were marching towards the bridge, coming over it to my side of the lake. At this my heart failed, and I was just going to run to my grotto for shelter. But taking one look more, I plainly discovered that the people, leaping one after another from the top of the bridge, as if into the water and then rising again, flew in a long train over the lake, the lengthways of it, quite out of my sight, laughing, hallowing and sporting together, so that looking back again to the bridge and on the lake, I could neither see person nor boat, nor anything else, nor hear the least noise or stir afterwards for that time. I returned to my grotto brimful of this amazing adventure, bemoaning my misfortune in being at a place where I was like to remain ignorant of what was doing about me. For, says I, if I am in a land of spirits, as now I have little room to doubt, there is no guarding against them. I am never safe, even in my grotto, for that can be no security against such beings as can sail on the water in no boats, and fly in the air on no wings, as the case now appears to me, who can be here and there and wherever they please. What a miserable state, I say, am I fallen to. I should have been glad to have had human converse and to have found inhabitants in this place, but there being none, as I supposed hitherto, I contended myself with thinking that I was at least safe from all those evils mankind in society are obnoxious to. But now, what may be the consequence of the next hour, I know not. Nay, I am not able to say but whilst I speak and show my discontent, they may at a distance conceive my thoughts and be hatching revenge against me for my dislike of them. The pressure of my spirits inclining me to repose, I laid me down, but could get no rest. Nor could all my most serious thoughts, even of the Almighty Providence, give me relief under my present anxiety. And all this was only from my state of uncertainty concerning the reality of what I had heard and seen, and from the earnestness with which I coveted a satisfactory knowledge of those beings who had just taken their flight from me. I really believe the fiercest wild beast or the most savage of mankind that had met me, and put me upon my defense, would not have given me half the trouble that then lay upon me, and the more for that I had no seeming possibility of ever being rid of my apprehensions. So, finding I could not sleep, I got up again. But as I could not fly from myself, all the art I could use with myself was but in vain to obtain me any quiet. In the height of my distress I had recourse to prayer with no small benefit, begging that if it pleased not the Almighty Power to remove the object of my fears, at least to resolve my doubts about them, and to render them rather helpful than hurtful to me. I hereupon, as I always did on such occasions, found myself much more placid and easy, and began to hope the best till I had almost persuaded myself that I was out of danger. And then, laying myself down, I rested very sweetly till I was awakened by the impulse of the following dream. Me thought I was in Cornwall, at my wife's aunts, and inquiring after her and my children, the old gentlewoman informed me both my wife and children had been dead some time, and that my wife before her departure desired her, that is, her aunt, immediately upon my arrival, to tell me she was only gone to the lake, where I should be sure to see her, and be happy with her ever after. I then, as I fancied, ran to the lake to find her. In my passage she stopped me crying, wither so fast, Peter, I am your wife, your patty. Me thought I did not know her, she was so altered, but observing her voice and looking more wistfully at her, she appeared to me as the most beautiful creature I ever beheld. I then went to see her in my arms, but the hurry of my spirits awakened me. When I got up I kept at home, not caring even to look out at my door. My dream ran strangely in my head, and I had now nothing but patty in my mind. Oh, cries I, how happy could I be with her, though I had only her in this solitude. Oh, that this was but a reality and not a dream. And indeed, though it was but a dream, I could scarce refrain from running to the lake to meet my patty. But then I checked my folly, and reasoned myself into some degree of temper again. However, I could not forbear crying out, what, nobody to converse with, nobody to assist, comfort, or counsel me. This is a melancholy situation indeed. Thus I ran on, lamenting till I was almost weary, when, on a sudden, I again heard the voices. Hark, says I, here they come again. Well, I am now resolved to face them, come life, come death. It is not to be alone, I thus dread, but to have company about me, and not know who or what is death to me worse than I can suffer from them, be they who or what they will. During my soliloquy, the voices increased, and then, by degrees, diminished as usual. But I had scarce got my gun in my hand, to pursue my resolution of showing myself to those who uttered them, when I felt such a thump upon the roof of my antechamber as shook the whole fabric and set me all over into a tremor. I then heard a sort of shriek and a rustle near the door of my apartment. All which, together, seemed very terrible. But I, having before determined to see what and who it was, resolutely opened my door and leaped out. I saw nobody. All was quite silent, and nothing that I could perceive but my own fears are moving. I went then softly to the corner of the building, and there looking down by the glimmer of my lamp which stood in the window, I saw something in human shape lying at my feet. I gave the word, who is there? Still no one answered. My heart was ready to force away through my side. I was, for a while, fixed to the earth like a statue. At length, recovering, I stepped in, fetched my lamp, and returning saw the very beautiful face my patty appeared under in my dream. And, not considering that it was only a dream, I verily thought I had my patty before me. But she seemed to be stone dead. Upon viewing her other parts, for I had never yet removed my eyes from her face, I found she had a sort of brown chaplet, like lace round her head, under and about which her hair was tucked up entwined. And she seemed to me to be clothed in a thin, hair colored silk garment, which upon trying to raise her I found to be quite warm, and therefore hoped there was life in the body it contained. I then took her into my arms, and treading a step backwards with her, I put out my lamp. However, having her in my arms, I conveyed her through the doorway in the dark into my grotto. Here I laid her upon my bed, and then ran out for my lamp. This, thinks I, is an amazing adventure. How could patty come here, and dressed in silk and whale-bone too? Sure that is not the reigning fashion in England now. But my dream said she was dead. Why, truly, says I, so she seems to be. But be it so, she is warm. Whether this is the place for persons to inhabit after death or not, I can't tell. For I see there are people here, though I don't know them. But be it as it will. She feels as flesh and blood. And if I can but bring her to stir and act again as my wife, what matters it to me what she is? It will be a great blessing and comfort to me. For she never would have come to this very spot but for my good. Topful of these thoughts I re-entered my grotto, shut my door, and lighted my lamp. When going to my patty as I delighted to fancy her, I thought I saw her eyes stir a little. I then set the lamp farther off, for fear of offending them if she should look up. And warming the last glass I had reserved of my Madeira, I carried it to her, but she never stirred. I now supposed the fall had absolutely killed her, and was prodigiously grieved. When laying my hand on her breast, I perceived the fountain of life had some motion. This gave me infinite pleasure. So, not despairing, I dipped my finger in the wine and moistened her lips with it two or three times, and I imagined they opened a little. Upon this I bethought me, and taking a teaspoon, I gently poured a few drops of the wine, by that means, into her mouth. Finding she swallowed it, I poured in another spoonful, and another, till I brought her to herself so well as to be able to sit up. All this I did by a glimmering light which the lamp afforded from a distant part of the room, where I had placed it, as I have said, out of her sight. I then spoke to her, and asked diverse questions, as if she had really been patty, and understood me. In return of which she uttered a language I had no idea of, though in the most musical tone and with the sweetest accent I ever heard. It grieved me I could not understand her. However, thinking she might like to be on her feet, I went to lift her off the bed, when she felt to my touch in the oddest manner imaginable. For while in one respect it was as though she had been cased up in whalebone, it was at the same time as soft and warm as if she had been naked. I then took her in my arms and carried her into my anti-chamber again, where I would feign have entered into conversation, but found she and I could make nothing of it together, unless we could understand one another's speech. It is very strange my dream should have prepossessed me so of patty, and of the alteration of her countenance that I could by no means persuade myself the person I had with me was not she, though upon a deliberate comparison, patty, as pleasing as she always was to my taste, would no more come up to this fair creature than a coarse ale-wife would to Venus herself. You may imagine we stared heartily at each other, and I doubted not, but she wondered as much as I by what means we came so near each other. I offered her everything in my grotto which I thought might please her, some of which she gratefully received, as appeared by her looks and behavior, but she avoided my lamp, and always placed her back toward it. I observing that, and ascribing it to her modesty in my company, let her have her will, and took care to set it in such a position myself as seemed agreeable to her, though it deprived me of a prospect I very much admired. After we had said a good while now and then, I may say, chattering to one another, she got up and took a turn or two about the room. When I saw her in that attitude, her grace and motion perfectly charmed me, and her shape was incomparable. But the strangeness of her dress put me to my trumps to conceive either what it was or how it was put on. Well, we subbed together, and I set the best of everything I had before her, nor could either of us forbear speaking in our own tongue, though we were sensible neither of us understood the other. After supper, I gave her some of my cordials, for which she showed great tokens of thankfulness, and often in her way by signs and gestures which were very far from being insignificant, expressed her gratitude for my kindness. When supper had been some time over, I showed her my bed and made signs for her to go to it. But she seemed very shy of that, till I showed her where I meant to lie myself, by pointing to myself, then to that, and again pointing to her and to my bed. When at length I had made this matter intelligible to her, she lay down very composately, and after I had taken care of my fire and set the things I had been using for supper in their places, I laid myself down too, for I could have no suspicious thoughts or fear of danger from a form so excellent. I treated her for some time with all the respect imaginable, and never suffered her to do the least part of my work. It was very inconvenient to both of us, only to know each other's meaning by signs, but I could not be otherwise than pleased to see that she endeavored all in her power to learn to talk like me. Indeed, I was not behind hand with her in that respect, striving all I could to imitate her. What I all the while wondered at was, she never showed the least disquiet at her confinement, for I kept my door shut at first through fear of losing her, thinking she would have taken an opportunity to run away from me, for little did I then think she could fly. After my new love had been with me for a fortnight, finding my water run low, I was greatly troubled at the thought of quitting her any time to go for more, and having hinted it to her, with seeming uneasiness, she could not for a while fathom my meaning. But when she saw me much confused, she came at length by the many signs I made to imagine it was my concern for her which made me so. Whereupon she expressively enough signified I might be easy, for she did not fear anything happening to her in my absence. On this, as well as I could declare my meaning, I entreated her not to go away before my return. As soon as she understood what I signified to her by actions, she sat down with her arms across, leaning her head against the wall, to assure me she would not stir. However, as I had before nailed a cord to the outside of the door, I tied that for caution's sake to the tree, for fear of the worst, but I believe she had not the least design of removing. I took my boat, net, and water-cask, as usual, desirous of bringing her home a fresh fish dinner, and succeeded so well as to catch enough for several good meals and to spare. What remained I salted, and found she like that better than the fresh after a few days salting, though she did not so well approve of that I had formerly pickled and dried. As my salt grew very low, though I had been as sparing of it as possible, I now resolved to try making some, and the next summer I affected it. Thus we spent the remainder of the winter together, till the days began to be light enough for me to walk abroad a little in the middle of them, for I was now under no apprehensions of her leaving me, as she had before this time had so many opportunities of doing so, but never once attempted it. I must here make one reflection upon our conduct, which you will almost think incredible, vis, that we too of different sexes not wanting our peculiar desires fully inflamed with love to each other and no outward obstacle to prevent our wishes should have been together under the same roof alone for five months, conversing together from morning to night, for by this time she pretty well understood English and I her language. And yet I should never have clasped her in my arms, or have shown any further amorous desires to her than what the deference I all along paid her could give her room to surmise. Nay, I can affirm that I did not even know that the covering she wore was not the work of art, but the work of nature, for I really took it for silk, though it must be premised that I had never seen it by any other light than of my lamp. Indeed the modesty of her carriage and sweetness of her behaviour to me had struck into me such a dread of offending her that, though nothing upon earth could be more capable of exciting passion than her charms, I could have died rather than have attempted only to salute her without actual invitation. When the weather cleared up a little by the lengthening of daylight, I took courage one afternoon to invite her to walk with me to the lake. But she sweetly excused herself from it, whilst there was such a frightful glare of light, as she said. But looking out at the door told me, if I would not go out of the wood, she would accompany me. So we agreed to take a turn only there. I first went myself over the style of the door, and thinking it rather too high for her, I took her in my arms and lifted her over. But even when I had her in this manner, I knew not what to make of her clothing, it sat so true and close. But seeing by a steadier and truer light in the grove, though a heavy gloomy one, then my lamp had afforded, I begged she would let me know of what silk or other composition her garment was made. She smiled and asked me if mine was not the same under my jacket. No, lady, says I, I have nothing but my skin under my clothes. Why, what do you mean? replied she, somewhat tartly. But indeed I was afraid that something was the matter by that nasty covering you wear, that you might not be seen. Are you not a glum? Footnote. A man. End footnote. Yes, says I, fair creature. Here, though you may conceive, she spoke part English, part her own tongue, and I the same as we best understood each other. Yet I shall give you our discourse word for word in plain English. Then, says she, I'm afraid you must have been a very bad man and have been crashy, which I should be very sorry to hear. Footnote. Slit. End footnote. I told her I believed we were none of us so good as we might be, but I hoped my faults had not at most exceeded other men's. But I had suffered abundance of hardships in my time, and that at last, Providence having settled me in this spot, from whence I had no prospect of ever departing, it was none of the least of its mercies to bring to my knowledge and company the most exquisite piece of all his works in her, which I should acknowledge as long as I lived. She was surprised at this discourse, and asked me, if I did not mean to impose upon her and was indeed an in-crashy glum, why I should tell her I had no prospect of departing hence. Footnote. Unslit. End footnote. Have not you, says she, the same prospect that I or any other person has of departing? Sir, added she, you don't do well, and really I fear you are slit, or you would not wear this nasty cumbersome coat, taking hold of my jacket sleeve, if you were not afraid of showing the signs of a bad life upon your natural clothing. I could not for my heart imagine what way there was to get out of my dominions, but certainly thought I, there must be some way or other, or she would not be so peremptory, and as to my jacket and showing myself in my natural clothing, I profess she made me blush, and but for shame I would have stripped to my skin to have satisfied her. But madam, says I, pray pardon me, for you are really mistaken. I have examined every nook and corner of this new world in which we now are, and confined no possible outlet. Nay, even by the same way I came in, I am sure it is impossible to get out again. Why, says she, what outlets have you searched for, or what way can you expect out but the way you came in? And why is that impossible to return by again? If you are not slit, is not the air open to you? Will not the sky admit you to patrol in it, as well as other people? I tell you, sir, I fear you have been slit for your crimes, and though you have been so good to me that I can't help loving you heartily for it, yet if I thought you had been slit, I would not, nay, could not, stay a moment longer with you. No, though it should break my heart to leave you. I found myself now in a strange quandary, longing to know what she meant by being slit, and had a hundred strange notions in my head whether I was slit or not, for though I knew what the word naturally signified well enough, yet in what manner or by what figure of speech she applied it to me I had no idea of. But seeing her look a little angrily upon me, pray, madam, says I, don't be offended if I take the liberty to ask you what you mean by the word crashy, so often repeated by you, for I am an utter stranger to what you mean by it. Sir, says she, pray answer me first how you came here. Madam, replied I, will you please take a walk to the verge of the wood? I will show you the very passage. Sir, says she, I perfectly know the range of the rocks all round, and by the least description without going to see them can tell from which you descended. In truth, said I, most charming lady, I descended from no rock at all, nor would I for a thousand worlds attempt what could not be accomplished but by my destruction. Sir, says she, in some anger, it is false, and you impose upon me. I declare to you, says I, madam, what I tell you is strictly true. I never was near the summit of any of the surrounding rocks or anything like it. But as you are not far from the verge of the wood, be so good as to step a little farther, and I will show you my entrance in hither. Well, says she, now this odious dazzle of light is lessened. I don't care if I do go with you. When we came far enough to see the bridge, there, madam, says I, there is my entrance, where the sea pours into this lake from yonder cavern. It is not possible, says she. This is another untruth, and as I see you would deceive me and are not to be believed, farewell. I must be gone. But hold, says she. Let me ask you one thing more. That is, by what means did you come through that cavern? You could not have used to come over the rock? Bless me, madam, says I. Do you think I and my boat could fly? Come over the rock, did you say? No, madam. I sailed from the great sea, the main ocean, in my boat, through that cavern, into this very lake here. What do you mean by your boat, says she? You seem to make two things of your boat you say you sailed with and yourself. I do so, replied I. For, madam, I take myself to be good flesh and blood, but my boat is made of wood and other materials. Is it so, says she? And pray, where is this boat that is made of wood and other materials, under your jacket? Lord, madam, says I, you put me in fear that you were angry. But now I hope you only joke with me. What, put a boat under my jacket? No, madam. My boat is in the lake. What, more untruths, says she? No, madam, I replied. If you would be satisfied of what I say, every word of which is as true as that my boat now is in the lake, pray, walk with me thither, and make your own eyes judges what sincerity I speak with. To this she agreed, it growing dusky. But assured me, if I did not give her good satisfaction, I should see her no more. We arrived at the lake, and going to my wet dock. Now, madam, says I, pray satisfy yourself whether I spake true or no. She looked at my boat, but could not yet frame a proper notion of it. Says I, madam, in this very boat I sailed from the main ocean through that cavern into this lake. And shall at last think myself the happiest of all men if you continue with me, love me, and credit me, and I promise you I'll never deceive you, but think my life happily spent in your service. I found she was hardly content yet to believe what I told her of my boat to be true, till I stepped into it and pushing from the shore, took my oars in my hand, and sailed along the lake by her as she walked on the shore. At last she seemed so well reconciled to me and my boat that she desired I would take her in. I immediately did so, and we sailed a good way, and as we returned to my dock I described to her how I procured the water we drank, and brought it to shore in that vessel. Well, says she, I have sailed, as you call it, many a mile in my lifetime, but never in such a thing as this. I own it will serve very well where one has a great many things to carry from place to place, but to be laboring thus at an ore when one intends pleasure in sailing is, in my mind, a most ridiculous piece of slavery. Why, pray, madam, how would you have me sail? For getting into the boat only will not carry us this way or that without using some force. But, says she, pray, where did you get this boat, as you call it? Oh, madam, says I, that is too long and fatal a story to begin upon now. This boat was made many thousand miles from hints, among a people cold black, a quite different sort from us, and when I first had it I little thought of seeing this country, but I will make a faithful relation of all to you when we come home. Indeed I began to wish heartily we were there, for it grew into night, and having strolled so far without my gun I was afraid of what I had before seen and heard and hinted our return, but I found my motion was disagreeable to her, and so I dropped it. I now perceived and wondered at it that the later it grew the more agreeable it seemed to her, and as I had now brought her into good humour again by seeing and sailing in my boat I was not willing to prevent its increase. I told her, if she pleased, we would land, and when I had docked my boat I would accompany her where and as long as she liked. As we talked and walked by the lake she made a little run before me and sprung into it. Perceiving this I cried out, whereupon she merrily called on me to follow her. The light was then so dim as prevented my having more than a confused sight of her when she jumped in, and looking earnestly after her I could discern nothing more than a small boat in the water which skimmed along at so great a rate that I almost lost sight of it presently. But running along the shore for fear of losing her I met her gravely walking to meet me, and then had entirely lost sight of the boat upon the lake. This, says she, accosting me with a smile, is my way of sailing, which I perceive by the fright you were in, you are altogether unacquainted with. And as you tell me you came from so many thousand miles off it is possible you may be made differently from me. But surely we are the part of the creation which has had most care bestowed upon it. And I suspect from all your discourse to which I have been very attentive, it is possible you may no more be able to fly than to sail as I do. No charming creature, says I. That I cannot, I'll assure you. She then, stepping to the edge of the lake, for the advantage of a descent before her, sprung up into the air, and a way she went farther than my eyes could follow her. I was quite astonished. So, says I, then all is over, all a delusion which I have so long been in, a mere phantom. Better had it been for me never to have seen her than thus to lose her again. But what could I expect had she stayed, for it is plain she is no human composition. But, says I, she felt like flesh, too, when I lifted her out at the door. I had but very little time for reflection, for in about ten minutes after she had left me in this mixture of grief and amazement she alighted just by me on her feet. Her return, as she plainly saw, filled me with a transport not to be concealed, and which, as she afterwards told me, was very agreeable to her. Indeed, I was some moments in such an agitation of mind from these unparalleled incidents that I was like one thunderstruck. But coming presently to myself and clasping her in my arms with as much love and passion as I was capable of expressing, and for the first time with any desire, are you returned again, kind angel, said I, to bless a wretch who can only be happy in adoring you? Can it be that you, who have so many advantages over me, should quit all the pleasures that nature has formed you for, and all your friends and relations, to take an asylum in my arms? But I here make you a tender of all I am able to bestow, my love and constancy. Come, come, says she, no more raptures. I find you are a worthier man than I thought I had reason to take you for, and I beg your pardon for my distrust whilst I was ignorant of your imperfections. But now I verily believe all you have said is true. And I promise you, as you have seemed so much to delight in me, I will never quit you till death, or other as fatal accident shall part us. But we will now, if you choose, go home. For I know you have been some time uneasy in this gloom, though agreeable to me, for, giving my eyes the pleasure of looking eagerly on you, it conceals my blushes from your sight. In this manner, exchanging mutual endearments and soft speeches, hand in hand we arrived at the grotto, where we, that night, consummated our nuptials without farther ceremony than mutual solemn engagements to each other, which are, in truth, the essence of marriage, and all that was there and then in our power. Every calm is succeeded by a storm, as is every storm by its calm. For after supper, in order to give my bride the opportunity of undressing alone, which I thought might be most agreeable the first night, I withdrew into the antechamber, till I thought she was laid. And then, having first disposed of my lamp, I moved softly towards her, and stepped into bed too. When, on my nearer approach to her, I imagined she had her clothes on. This struck a thorough damp over me, and asking her the reason of it, not being able to touch the least bit of her flesh but her face and hands, she burst out a laughing, and running her hand along my naked side, soon perceived the difference she before had made such doubt of between herself and me, upon which she fairly told me that neither she nor any person she had ever seen before had any other covering than what they were born with, and which they would not willingly part with, but with their lives. This shocked me terribly, not from the horror of the thing itself, or any distaste I had to this covering, for it was quite smooth, warm, and softer than velvet, or the finest skin imaginable. But from an apprehension of her being so wholly encased in it, that though I had so fine a companion and now a wife, yet I should have no conjugal benefit from her, either to my own gratification, or the increase of our species. In the height of my impatience I made diverse essays for unfolding this covering, but unsuccessfully. Surely, says I, there must be some way of coming at my wishes, or why should she seem so shy of me at first, and now we are under engagements to each other meet me halfway with such a yielding compliance. I could, if I had had time to spare, have gone on, starting objections and answering them in my own breast a great while longer, for I now knew not what to make of it. But being prompted to act as well as think and feeling as tenderly as possible upon her bosom, for the folds or plaits of her garment, she lying perfectly still and perceiving diverse flat broad ledges like whale-bone, seemingly under her covering, which closely unfolded her body, I thought it might be all laced on together, somewhat like stays, and felt behind for the lacing. At length perceiving me so puzzled and beyond conception vexed at my disappointment, of a sudden, lest I should grow outrageous, which I was almost come to, she threw down all those seeming ribs flat to her side so imperceptibly to me that I knew nothing of the matter, though I lay close to her, till putting forth my hand again to her bosom, the softest skin, and most delightful body, free from all impediment, presented itself to my wishes, and gave itself up to my embraces. I slept very soundly till morning, and so did she. But at waking I was very solicitous to find out what sort of being I had had in my arms, and with what qualities her garment was endued, or how contrived that, notwithstanding all my fruitless attempts to uncover her, she herself could so instantaneously dispose of it undecirned by me. Well, thought I, she is my wife. I will be satisfied in everything, for surely she will not now refuse to gratify my curiosity. We rose with the light, but surely no two were ever more amorous or more delighted with each other. I, being up first, lighted the fire, and prepared breakfast of some fish soup thickened with my cream cheese, and then calling her I kept my eye towards the bed to see how she dressed herself. But throwing aside the clothes, she stepped out ready dressed and came to me. When I had kissed her and wished her a good day, we sat down to breakfast, which, being soon over, I told her I hoped every minute of our lives would prove as happy as those we so lately passed together, which she seemed to wish with equal ardor. I then told her, now she was my wife, I thought proper to know her name, which I had never before asked, for fear of giving uneasiness. For, as I added, I did not doubt she had observed in my behavior ever since I first saw her a peculiar tenderness for her, and a sedulous concern not to offend, which had obliged me hitherto to stifle several questions I had to ask her whenever they would be agreeable to her. She then bid me begin, for as she was now my wife, whilst I was speaking it became her to be all attention and to give me the utmost satisfaction she could in all I should require, as she herself should have so great an interest in everything for the future which would oblige me. Compliments, if in compliance with old custom I may call them so, for they were by us delivered from the heart, being a little over on both sides, I first desired to know what name she went by before I found her. For, says I, having only hitherto called you madame and my lady, besides the future expression of my love to you in the word dear, I would know your original name, that so I might join it with that tender epithet. That you shall, says she, and also my family at another opportunity. But as my name will not take up long time to repeat at present, it is yuarky. And pray, says she, now gratify me with the knowledge of yours. My dear yuarky, says I. My name was Peter Wilkins when I heard it last. But that is so long ago I had almost forgot it. And now, says I, there is another thing you can give me a pleasure in. You need then only mention it, my dear Peter, says she. That is, says I, only to tell me if you did not, by some accident, fall from the top of the rock over my habitation upon the roof of it when I first took you in here. And whether you are of the country upon the rocks. She, softly smiling, answered, My dear Peter, you run your questions too thick. As to my country, which is not on the rocks, as you suppose, but at a vast distance from hence, I shall leave that till I may hear after, at more leisure, speak of my family as I promised you before. But as to how I came into this grotto, I knew not at first, but soon perceived your humanity had brought me in, to take care of me after a terrible fall I had. Not from the rock as you suppose, but for then I must not now have been living to enjoy you, but from a far less considerable height in the air. I'll tell you how it happened. A parcel of us young people were upon a merry swanjian round this arco, which we usually divert ourselves with at set times of the year, chasing and pursuing one another, sometimes soaring to an extravagant height, and then shooting down again with surprising precipitancy till we even touch the trees. Footnote. Swanjian equals flight. Arco equals water surrounded with a wood. End of footnote. When, of a sudden, we mount again and away. I say, being of this party, and pursued by one of my comrades, I descended down to the very trees, and she after me. But as I mounted, she overshooting me, brushed so stiffly against the upper part of my grandee footnote, the covering and wings of skin they flew with. End of footnote. That I lost my bearing, and being so near the branches before I could recover it again, I sunk into the tree and rendered my grandee useless to me, so that down I came, and that with so much force that I but just felt my fall and lost my senses. Whether I cried out or no upon my coming to the ground, I cannot say, but if I did, my companion was too far gone by that time to hear or take notice of me, as she, probably in so swift a flight, saw not my fall. As to the condition I was in, or what happened immediately afterwards, I must be obliged to you for a relation of that. But one thing I was quickly sensible of, and never can forget, these that I owe my life to your care and kindness to me. I told her she should have that part of her story from me another time. But, says I, there is something so amazing in these flights, or swanjians as you call them, that I must, as the questions for this day, beg you would let me know what is the method of them. What is the nature of your covering, which was at first such an obstacle to my wishes? How you put it on, and how you use it in your swanjian? Surely my dearest Peter, says she, but that I can deny you nothing since you are my bar-cott, which you seem so passionately to desire. The letter of your questions would not be answered, for it must put me to the blush. Footnote. Husband. End of footnote. As to our method of flight, you saw somewhat of that last night, though in a light hardly sufficient for you, and for the nature of my covering, you perceive that now. But to show you how it is put on, as you call it, I am afraid it will be necessary, as far as I can, to put it off, before I can make you comprehend that, which, having done, the whole will be no farther a mystery. But not to be tedious. Is it your command that I uncover? Lay that upon me. It shall be done. Here I was at a plunge, whether to proceed or drop the question. Thinks I, if my curiosity should be fatal to me, as I may see something I can never bear hereafter, I am undone. She waits the command. Why so? I know not the consequence. What shall I do? At last, somewhat resolutely, I asked her whether her answer either way to my command would cause her to leave me, or me to love her less. She, seeing my hesitation and perceiving the cause, was so pleased that she cried out, No, my dear Peter, not that, nor all the force on earth shall ever part me from you. But I conceive you are afraid you shall discover something in me you may not like. I fear not that. But in immodest appearance before you I cannot suffer myself to be guilty of, but under your own command. My lovely yaworkie, says I. Delay then my desires no longer, and since she require a warrant from me, I do command you to do it. Immediately her grandeur flew open, discovering her naked body just to the hip and round the rim of her belly. And expanding itself was near six feet wide. Here my love and curiosity had a hard conflict, the one to gain my attention to the grandeur and the other to retain my eyes and thoughts on her lovely body, which I had never beheld so much of before. Though I was very unwilling to keep her uncovered too long, I could not easily dismiss so charming a sight. I attentively viewed her lovely flesh and examined the case that enshrined it. But as I shall give you a full description of the grandeur hereafter in a more proper place, I will mention it no farther here, than to tell you that when I had narrowly surveyed the upper part of it, she in a moment contracted it round her so close that the nicest I could not perceive the joining of the parts. Indeed, my dear yaworkie, says I, you had the best of reasons for saying you was not fearful I should discover anything in you displeasing. For if my bosom glowed with love before, you have now therein raised an ardent flame, which neither time nor ought else will ever be able to extinguish. I now almost conceive how you fly, though yet I am at a loss, to know how you extend and make use of the lower part of your grandeur which rises up and meets the upper. But I will rather guess at that by what I have seen, than raise the color higher in those fair cheeks which are, however, adorned with blushes. Then running to her and taking her in my arms, I called her the dearest gift of heaven, and left off further interrogatories till another opportunity. End of Chapter 16 RECORDING BY JAMES K. WHITE CHULIVISTA CHAPTER 17 OF THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF PETER WILKINS VOLUME 1 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by James K. White Chulivista THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF PETER WILKINS BY ROBERT PALTIC CHAPTER 17 You worky and I, having no other company than one and others, we talked together almost from morn to night, in order to learn each other's dialect. But how compliable so ever she was in all other respects, I could not persuade her to go out with me to fetch water, or to the lake, in the daytime. It being now the light season, I wanted her to be more abroad. But she excused herself, telling me her people never came into those luminous parts of the country, during the false glare, as they called it, but kept altogether at home, where their light was more moderate and steadier. And that the place where I resided was not frequented by them for half the year, and at other times only upon parties of pleasure, it not being worthwhile to settle habitations where they could not abide always. She said Normsgröt was the finest region in the world, where her king's court was, and a vast kingdom. I asked her twice, or thrice more, to name the country to me, but not all the art we could use, hers and dictating and mine in endeavouring to pronounce it, would render me conqueror of that, her monosyllable, for as such it sounded from her sweet lips. So I relinquished the name to her, telling her whenever she had any more occasion to mention the place, I desired it might be under the style of Dorpt Swangianti, footnote, the land of light, end footnote, which she promised, but wondered, as she could speak the other so glibly, as she called it, I could not do so too. I told her that the light of my native country was far stronger than any I had seen since my arrival at Groundavillet, for that, I found by her, was the name my dominions went by, and that we had a sun, or ball of fire, which rolled over our heads every day with such a light and such a heat, that it would sometimes almost scorch one, it was so hot, and was of such brightness that the I could not look at it without danger of blindness. She was heartily glad, she said, she was not born in so wretched a land, and she did not believe there was any other so good as her own. I thought no benefit could arise from my combating these innocent prejudices, so I let them alone. She had often lamented to me the difference of our eyesight, and the trouble it was to her that she could not at all times go about with me, till it gave me a good deal of uneasiness to see her concern. At last I told her that, though I believed it would be impossible to reduce my sight to the standard of hers, yet I was persuaded I could bring hers to bear the strongest light I had ever seen in this country. She was mightily pleased, with the thought of that, and said she wished I might, for she was sensible of no grief like being obliged to stay at home when I went abroad on my business, and was resolved to try my experiment if I pleased, and in the meantime should heartily pray for the success. I hid on the following invention. I rummaged over all my old things, and by good luck found an old crepe-hat band. This I tried myself, single, before my own eyes, and the strongest light we had. But believing I had not yet obscured it enough, I doubled it, and then thought it might do. But for fear it should not, I troubled it, and then it seemed too dark for eyes like mine to discover objects through it, and so I judged it would suit hers, for I was determined to produce something, if possible, that would do at first without repetition of trial, which I thought would only deject her more by making her look on the matter as impracticable. I now only wanted a proper method for fixing it on her, and this I thought would be easily affected, but had much more difficulty in it than I imagined. At first I proposed to tie the crepe over her eyes, but trying it myself I found it very rough and fretting. I then designed fixing it to an old crown of a hat that held my fish hooks and lines, and so let it hang down before her face. But that also had its inconveniences, as it would slap her eyes in windy weather, and would be not only useless but very troublesome in flight, so that I was scarce evermore puzzled before. At last I thought of a method that answered exceedingly well, the hint of which I took from somewhat I had seen with my master when I was at school, which he called goggles, and which he used to tie round his head to screen his eyes in writing. The thing I made upon that plan was composed of old hat, pieces of ramshorn, and the above mentioned crepe. When I had finished the whole apparatus I tried it first upon myself, and finding great reason to believe it would perfectly answer the intention, I ran directly to your workie. Come, says I, my dear, will you go with me to the water-rill, for I must fetch some this morning? She shook her head, and with tears in her eyes wished she could. But, says she, let me see how light it is abroad. No, says I, my love, you must not look out till you go. Indeed, says she, if it did not affect my eyes and head, you should not ask me twice. Well, says I, my you workie, I am now come to take you with me, and that you may not suffer by it, turn about, and let me apply the remedy I told you of for your sight. She wanted much to see first what it was, but I begged her to forbear till she tried whether it would be useful or not. She told me she would absolutely submit to my direction, so I adjusted the thing to her head. Now, says I, you have it on, let us go out and try it, and let me know the moment you find the light defensive, and take particular notice how you are affected. Here upon a way we marched, and I heard no complaint in all our walk to the lake. Now, my dear you workie, says I, when we got there, what do you think of my contrivance? Can you see it all? Yes, very well, says she. But, my dear Peter, you have taken the advantage of the twilight I know to deceive me, and I had rather have stayed at home than have subjected you to return in the night for the sake of my company. I then assured her it was midday, and no later, which pleased her mightily, and to satisfy her I untied the string behind, and just let her be convinced it was so. When I had fixed the shade on her head again she put up her hands and felt the several materials of which it consisted, and after expressing her admiration of it. So, my dear Peter, says she, you have now encumbered yourself with a wife indeed, for since I can come abroad in a glaring light with so much ease you will never henceforward be without my company. You workie, being thus in spirits, we launched the boat, watered, took a draft of fish, and returned. Passing the night at home in talking of the spectacles, for that was the name I told her they must go by, and of the fishing, for that exercise delighted her to a great degree. But above all, the spectacles were her chief theme. She handled them, and looked at them again and again, and asked several rational questions about them, as how they could have that effect on her eyes, enabling her to see and the like. She ventured out with them next day by herself, and as she threatened, was as good as her word, for she scarcely afterwards let me go abroad by myself, but accompanied me everywhere freely, and with delight. End of Chapter 17 CHULIVISTA About three months after we were married, as we called it, your workie told me she believed she was breeding, and I was mildly pleased with it, for though I had had two children before by Patty, yet I had never seen either of them, so that I longed to be a father. I sometimes amused myself with whimsical conjectures, as whether the child would have a grandeur or not, which of us it would be most like, how we should do without a midwife, and what must become of the infant, as we had not milk, in case your workie could not suckle it. Indeed, I had leisure enough for indulging such reveries, for having laid in our winter stores, my wife and I had nothing to do but enjoy ourselves, over a good fire, praddling and toying together, making as good cheer as we could, and truly that was none of the worst, for we had as fine bread as need to be eaten, we had pears preserved, all sorts of dried fish, and once a fortnight for two or three days together, had fresh fish, we had vinegar, and a biting herb which I had found for pepper, and several sorts of nuts, so there was no want. It was at this time after my return from watering one day where your workie had been with me, that having taken several fish, and amongst them some I had not seen before, I asked her, as we were preparing and salting some of them, how they managed fish in her country, and what variety they had of them there. She told me she neither ever saw nor heard of a fish in her life, till she came to me. How, says I, no fish amongst you? Why, you want one of the greatest dainties that can be set upon a table? Do you wholly eat fish, says I, adorbed swanjanti? Flesh, says she, laughingly. Of what? Nay, says I. You know best what the beasts of your own country are. We have in England where I was born in bread, oxen, very large hogs, sheep, lambs, and calves. These make our ordinary dishes. Then we have deer, hares, rabbits, and these are reckoned dainties, besides numberless kinds of poultry and fish without stint. I never heard of any of these things in my life, says your workie. Nor did I ever eat anything but fruits and herbs, and what is made from them at Norm's Grut. You will speak that crabbed word, says I, again. I beg your pardon, my dear, says she. Adorbed swanjanti, I say. Nor I nor anyone else to my knowledge ever ate any such thing, but seeing you eat fish as you called them, I made no scruple of doing so, too, and liked them very well, especially the salted ones, for I never tasted what you call salt neither till I came here. I cannot think, says I, what sort of a country yours is, or how you all live there. Oh, says she, there is no want. I wish you and I were there. I was afraid I had talked too much of her country already, so we called a new cause. Soon after winter had set in, as we were in bed one night, I heard the voices again, and though my wife had told me of her country folk's swanjans in that place, I, being frightened a little, waked her, and she hearing them too cried out, There they are. It is ten to one, but my sister or some of our family are there. Hark! I believe I hear her voice. I myself harkened very attentively, and by this time, understanding a great deal of their language, I not only could distinguish different speakers, but knew the meaning of several of the words they pronounced. I would have had you worky have gotten up and called to them. Not for the world, says she. Have you a mind to part with me? Though I have no intent to leave you as I am with child, if they should try to force me away without my consent, I may receive some injury to the danger of my own life, or at least of the child's. This reason perfectly satisfying me, endeared the loving creature to me ten times more, if possible, than ever. The next summer brought me a yam, footnote, manchild, end footnote, as fair as alabaster. My wife was delivered without the usual assistance, and had as favorable a labor as could be. The first thing I did, after giving her some fish soup, made as skillfully as I was able, and a little cordial, was to see if my yam had the grandeur or not. Finding it had, so says I to you worky. You have brought me a legitimate heir to my dominions, whose title sure cannot be disputed, being one of you. Though I spoke this with as much pleasure, and in as endearing a way as ever I spoke in my life, and quite innocently the poor you worky burst into tears, to such excess there was no pacifying her. I asked her the reason of her grief, begged and entreated her to let me know what disturbed her, but all in vain, till seeing me in a violent passion such as I had never before appeared to be in, she told me she was very sorry I should question her fidelity to me. She surprised me in saying this, as I never had any such apprehension. No, my dearest wife says I, I never had any such suspicion as you charge me with. I can safely affirm. Nor can I comprehend your meaning by imputing such a thing to me. Oh, says she, I am sure you have no cause for it, but you said the poor child was one of us, as much as to intimate that had it been your own, it would have been born as you were, without the grandeur which thought I cannot bear. And if you continue to think so, it must end me. Therefore take away my life now, rather than let me live to see my father misery. I was heartily sorry for what I had said, when I saw the effects of it, though I did not imagine it could have been perverted to such a contrary meaning. But considering her to be the faithfulest and most loving creature upon earth, and that true love cannot bear anything that touches upon or can be applied, though with ever so forced a construction, to an approbrious or contemptuous meaning, I attributed her groundless resentment to her excess of funness only for me. And falling upon the bed by her, and bathing her face in my tears, I assured her the interpretation she had put on my words was altogether foreign from the view they were spoken with, professing to her that I never had nor ever could have the least cause of jealousy. On my confirming this absolute confidence in her virtue by the strongest asservations, she grew fully convinced of her error, and acknowledged she had been too rash and censoring me. And growing pleased at my fresh professions of love to her, we presently were reconciled, and became again very good friends. When Yorkie had gathered strength again, she proved an excellent nurse to my Pedro, for that was the name I gave him, so that he soon grew a charming child, able to go in his twelfth month, and spoke in his twentieth. This and two other lovely boys I had by her in three years, every one of which she brought up with the breast, and they thrived delicately. I don't mention the little intervening occurrences which happened during this period. They consisted chiefly of the old rota of fishing, watering, providing in the summer for the winter, and in managing my salt work, which altogether kept me at full employment comfortably to maintain an increasing family. In this time I had found out several new sorts of eatables. I had observed, as I said before, abundance of birds about the wood and lake in the summer months. These, by firing at them two or three times on my first coming, I had almost caused to desert my dominions. But as I had for the last two or three years given no disturbance at all to them, they were now in as great plenty as ever, and I made great profit of them by the peace they enjoyed. And yet my table never wanted a supply, fresh in the summer or salted and pickled in the winter. I took notice it was about October these birds used to come. And most of the month of November they were busy in laying their eggs, which I used at that time to find in great plenty along the banks of the lake in the reeds, and made great collections of them. I used also to find a great many in the woods amongst the shrubs and underwood. These furnished our table various ways. For with my cream cheese flour and a little mixture of ramshorn juice, I had taught my wife to make excellent puddings of them. Abundance of them also we ate boiled or fried alone, and often as sauce to our fish. As for the birds themselves, having long omitted to fire at them, I had an effectual means of taking them otherwise by nets, which I set between the trees, and also very large pitfall nets, with which I used to catch all sorts, even from the size of a thrush to that of a turkey. But as I shall say more of these when I come to speak of my ward by and by, and of my poultry, I shall omit any further mention of them here. You may perhaps wonder how I could keep an account of my time so precisely as to talk of the particular months. I will tell you. At my coming from America I was then exact, for we set sail the 14th of November, and struck the first or second day of February so far as I kept perfect reckoning. But after that I was not so exact, though I kept it as well as my perplexity would admit, even then, till the days shortening upon me prevented it. Hereupon I set about making a year for myself. I found the duration of the comparative darkness, or what might with me be termed night, in the course of the twenty-four hours or day gradually increased for six months, after which it decreased reciprocally for an equal time. And the lighter part of the day took its turn, as in our parts of the world, only inversely, so that as the lights decreased became sensible about the middle of March it was at the greatest pitch the latter end of August, or beginning of September, and from thence, on the contrary, went on decreasing to the close of February, when I had the longest portion of light. Hereupon, dividing my year into two seasons only, I began the winter half in March, and the summer half in September. Thus my winter was the spring and summer quarters in Europe, and my summer those of our autumn and winter. From my settling this matter I kept little account of days or weeks, but only reckoned my time by summer and winter, so that I am pretty right as to the revolutions of these, though the years, as to their notation, I kept no account of, nor do I know what year of the Lord it now is. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. The Life and Adventures of Peter Wilkins, by Robert Paltik. CHAPTER XIX. As my boy Pedro grew up, though as I said before he had the grandeur, yet it was of less dimensions than it ought to have been to be useful to him, so that it was visible he could never fly. For it would scarce meet before, whereas it ought to have reached from side to side both ways. This pleased my wife to the heart. For now she was sure, whatever I had done before, I could not suspect her. Be that as it will, the boy's grandeur not being a sufficient vestment for him, it became necessary he should be clothed. I turned over my hoard, but could find nothing that would do, or at least that we knew how to fit him with. I had described my own country vest for lads to your workie, and she formed a tolerable idea of it, but we had no tackle to alter anything with. Oh, my dear, says I, had I but been born with the grandeur, I need not be now racking my brains to get my child clothes. What do you mean by that, says she? Why, says I, I would have flown to my ship, for I had long before related to her all my sea adventures till the vessels coming to the magnetical rock, and have brought some such things from this as you not wanting them in this country can have no notion of. She seemed mighty inquisitive to understand how a ship was made, what it was most like to, how a person who never saw one might know it only by the description and how one might get into it with abundance of the like questions. She then inquired what sort of things those needles and several other utensils were, which I had at times been speaking of, and in what part of a ship they usually kept such articles. And I, to gratify her curiosity, as I perceived, she took a pleasure in hearing me, answered all her questions to a scruple, not then conceiving the secret purpose of all this inquisitiveness. About two days after this, having been out two or three hours in the morning to cut wood, at coming home I found Pedro crying, ready to break his heart, and his little brother Tommy hanging to him and crawling about the floor after him. The youngest pretty baby was fast asleep upon one of the beastfish skins in a corner of the room. I asked Pedro for his mother, but the poor infant had nothing farther to say to the matter than, Mammy run away, I cry, Mammy run away, I cry. I wondered where she was gone, never before missing her from our habitation. However, I waited patiently till bedtime, but no wife. I grew very uneasy then, yet as my children were tired and sleepy, I thought I had best go to bed with them and make quiet. So, giving all three their suppers, we lay down together. They slept, but my mind was too full to permit the closure of my eyes. A thousand different chimeras swam in my imagination relating to my wife, one while I fancied her carried away by her kinsfolks, then that she was gone of her own accord to make peace with her father. But that thought would not fix, being put aside by her constant tenderness to her children and regard to me whom I was sure she would not have left without notice. But alas, says I, she may even now be near me, but taken so ill she cannot get home, or she may have died suddenly in the wood. I lay tumbling and tossing in great anxiety, not able to find out any excusable occasion she could have of so long absence, and then thinks I, if she should either be dead or have quite left me, which will be of equally bad consequence to me, what can I do with three poor helpless infants? If they were a little more grown up, they might be helpful to me, and to each other. But at their age, how shall I ever rear them without the tenderness of a mother, and to see them pine away before my face and not know how to help them will distract me? Finding I could neither sleep nor lie still, I rose, intending to search all the woods about, and call to her that if any accident had prevented sight of her, she might at least hear me. But upon opening the door and just stepping out, how agreeably was I surprised to meet her coming in, with something on her arm? My dear you worky, says I, where have you been? What has befallen you to keep you out so long? The poor children have been at their wit's end to find you, and I, my dear, have been inconsolable, and was now almost distracted coming in search of you. You worky looked very blank to think what concern she had given me in the children. My dearest Peter, says she, kissing me, pray forgive me the only thing I have ever done to offend you, and the last cause you shall ever have by my good will to complain of me. But walk within doors, and I will give you a farther account of my absence. Don't you remember what delight I took the other day to hear you talk of your ship? Yes, says I. You did so, but what of that? Nay, pray, says she, forgive me, for I have been to see it. That's impossible, says I, and truly this was the first time I ever thought she went about to deceive me. I do assure you, says she, I have, and a wonderful thing it is. But if you distrust me, and what I say, I have brought proof of it. Step out with me to the verge of the wood, and satisfy yourself. But pray, says I, who presented you with this upon your arm? I vow, says she, I had forgot this. Yes, this will, I believe, confirm to you what I have said. I turned it over and over, and looking wistfully upon her, says I, this waistcoat indeed is the very fellow to one that lay in the captain's locker in the cabin. Say not the very fellow, says she, but rather say the very same, for I'll assure you it is so. And had you been with me, we might have got so many things for ourselves and the children we should never have wanted more, though we had lived these hundred years. But as it is, I have left something without the wood for you to bring up. When we had our talk out, she, hearing the children stir, took them up, and was going, as she always did, to get their breakfasts. Hold, says I, this journey must have fatigued you too much already. Lay yourself to rest, and leave everything else to me. My dear, says she, you seem to think this flight tiresome, but you are mistaken. I am more weary with walking to the lake and back again, than with all the rest. Oh, says she, if you had but the grandeur, flying would rest you after the greatest labour. For the parts which are moved with exercise on the earth are all at rest in flight, as on the contrary the parts used in flight are when on earthly travel. The whole trouble of flight is in mounting from the plain ground, but when once you are upon the grandeur, at a proper height, all the rest is play, a mere trifle. You need only think of your way, and incline to it. Your grandeur directs you as readily as your feet obey you on the ground, without thinking of every step you take. It does not require labour as your boat does to keep you a-going. After we had composed ourselves we walked to the verge of the wood to see what cargo my wife had brought from the ship. I was astonished at the bulk of it, and seeing by the outside it consisted of clothes, I took it with much ado upon my shoulders and carried it home. But upon opening it I found far more treasure than I could have imagined, for there was a hammer, a great many spikes and nails, three spoons, about five plates of pewter, four knives and a fork, a small china punch-bowl, two chocolate cups, a paper of needles, and several of pins, a parcel of coarse thread, a pair of shoes, and abundance of such other things as she had heard me wish for and describe. Besides as much linen and woollen of one sort or another as made a good package for all the other things, with a great tin-porge pot of about two gallons tied to the outside, and all these as nicely stowed as if she had been bred a packer. When I had viewed the bundle and poised the weight, how was it possible, my dear Yorkie, said I, for you to bring all this? You could never carry them in your hands. No, no, replied she. I carry them on my back. Is it possible, says I, for your grandeur to bear yourself and all this weight too in the air, and to such a height as the top of these rocks? You will always, replies she, make the height a part of your difficulty in flying. But you are deceived, for as the first stroke I have heard you say often, in fighting is half the battle, so it is in flying. Get but once fairly on the wind, nothing can hurt you afterwards. My method, let me tell you, was this. I climbed to the highest part of the ship, where I could stand clear, having first put up my burden, which you have there. And then getting that on my back, near my shoulders, I took the two cords you see hang loose to it in my two hands, and extending my grandeur, leaped off flatwise with my face towards the water. When instantly playing two or three good strokes with my grandeur, I was out of danger. Now, if I had found the bundle too heavy to make my first strokes with, I should directly have turned on my back, dropped my bundle, and floated in my grandeur to the ship again, as you once saw me float on the lake. Says I, you must have flown a prodigious distance to the lake, for I was several days sailing, I believe three weeks, from my ship before I reached the gulf, and after that could be little less than five weeks, as I accounted for it, and at a great rate of sailing too under the rock before I reached the lake, so that the ship must be a monstrous way off. No, no, says she. Your ship lies but over Yon Cliff, that rises as it were with two points, and as to the rock itself it is not broader than our lake is long. But what made you so tedious in your passage was many of the windings and turnings in the cavern returning in to themselves again, so that you might have gone round and round till this time, if the tide had not luckily struck you into the direct passage. This, says she, I have heard from some of my countrymen who have flown up it, but could never get quite through. I wish with all my hearts as I, fortune had brought me first to light in this country, or, but for your sake I could almost say, had never brought me into it at all, for to be a creature of the least significance of the whole race but one is a melancholy circumstance. Fear not, says she, my love, for you have a wife will hazard all for you, though you are restrained, and as my inclinations and affections are so much yours that I need but know your desires to execute them as far as my power extends, surely you, who can act by another, may be content to forego the trouble of your own performance. I perceive indeed, continued she, you want mightily to go to your ship, and are more uneasy, now you know it is safe than you was before. But that being passed my skill to assist you in, if you will command your deputy to go backwards and forwards in your stead, I am ready to obey you. Thus ended our conversation about the ship for that time, but it left not my mind so soon, for a stronger hankering after it pursued me now than ever since my wife's flight, but to no purpose. We sat us down and sorted out our cargo piece by piece, and having found several things proper for the children, my wife longed to enter upon some piece of work towards clothing Pedro in the manner she had heard me talk of, and laid hard at me to show her the use of the needles, thread, and other things she had brought. Indeed I must say she proved very tractable, and from the little instruction I was able to give her soon outwrought my knowledge, for I could only show her that the thread went through the needle, and both through the cloth to hold it together. But for anything else I was as ignorant as she. In much less time than I could have imagined she had clothed my son Pedro, and had made a sort of mantle for the youngest. But now seeing us so smart, for I took upon me sometimes to wear the green waistcoat she had brought under my dirty jacket. She began to be ashamed of herself, as she said, in our fine company, and afterwards, as I shall soon acquaint you, got into our fashion. Seeing the advantages her flight to the ship and that so many conveniences arose from it, she was frequently at me to let her go again. I should as much have wished for another return of goods as she, but I could by no means think of parting with my factor, for I knew her eagerness to please me, and that she would stick at nothing to perform it. And, thinks I, should any accident happen to her by overloading or otherwise, and I should lose her, all the other commodities of the whole world put together would not compensate her loss. But as she so earnestly desired it, and assured me she would run no hazards I was prevailed on at length by her incessant importunities to let her go, though under certain restrictions which she promised me to comply with. As first, I insisted upon it that she should take a tour quite round the rock, setting out the same way I had last gone with my boat, and, if possible, find out the gulf which I told her she could not mistake, by reason of the noise the fall of the water made, and desired her to remark the place so as I might know with inside where it was without. And then I told her she might review and search every hole in the ship as she pleased, and if there were any small things she had a mind to bring from it, she was welcome, provided the bundle she should make up was not above a fourth part either of the bulk or weight of the last. All which she having engaged punctually to observe, she bade me not expect her till I saw her, and she would return as soon as possible. I then went with her to the confines of the wood, for I told her I desired to see her mount, and she, after we had embraced, bidding me to stand behind her, took her flight.