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] <that, if> I again made the
[attempt 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]
<slenderly> acquainted with the geography of this
part of the [world that] <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] <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] <all left behind, on whom the
monster might satisfy his sanguinary and merciless passions.
This idea plunged me> 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.