I do not know how long I remained in this situation, but when I
awoke I found that the sun had already mounted considerably.
The wind was high, and the waves continually threatened the
safety of my little skiff. I found that the wind was north-east,
and must have driven me far from the coast from which I had
embarked. I endeavoured to change my course, but quickly found
that if I again made the attempt the boat would be instantly
filled with water. Thus situated, my only resource was to drive
before the wind. I confess that I felt a few sensations of
terror. I had no compass with me, and was so little acquainted
with the geography of this part of the world that the sun was of
little benefit to me. I might be driven into the wide Atlantic,
and feel all the tortures of starvation, or be swallowed up in
the immeasurable waters that roared and buffeted around me. I
had already been out many hours, and felt the torment of a
burning thirst, a prelude to my other sufferings. I looked on
the heavens, which were covered by clouds that flew before the
wind only to be replaced by others: I looked upon the sea, it
was to be my grave. "Fiend," I exclaimed, "your task is already
fulfilled!" I thought of Elizabeth, of my father, and of
Clerval; and sunk into a reverie, so despairing and frightful,
that even now, when the scene is on the point of closing before
me for ever, I shudder to reflect on it.
Some hours passed thus; but by degrees, as the sun declined
towards the horizon, the wind died away into a gentle breeze,
and the sea became free from breakers. But these gave place to a
heavy swell; I felt sick, and hardly able to hold the rudder,
when suddenly I saw a line of high land towards the south.