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foremast； and； ordering some of the crew to help him； directed
the others to rig out the pumps。
The words had hardly passed his lips before the men broke into
open mutiny。 With a savage look at me； their ringleader declared
that the passengers might do as they pleased； but that he and his
messmates were determined to take to the boat； and leave the
accursed ship； and _the dead man in her；_ to go to the bottom
together。 As he spoke there was a shout among the sailors； and I
observed some of them pointing derisively behind me。 Looking
round； I saw Monkton； who had hitherto kept close at my side；
making his way back to the cabin。 I followed him directly； but
the water and confusion on deck； and the impossibility； from the
position of the brig； of moving the feet without the slow
assistance of the hands； so impeded my progress that it was
impossible for me to overtake him。 When I had got below he was
crouched upon the coffin； with the water on the cabin floor
whirling and splashing about him as the ship heaved and plunged。
I saw a warning brightness in his eyes； a warning flush on his
cheek； as I approached and said to him：
〃There is nothing left for it； Alfred； but to bow to our
misfortune； and do the best we can to save our lives。〃
〃Save yours；〃 he cried； waving his hand to me； 〃for _you_ have a
future before you。 Mine is gone when this coffin goes to the
bottom。 If the ship sinks； I shall know that the fatality is
accomplished； and shall sink with her。〃
I saw that he was in no state to be reasoned with or persuaded；
and raised myself again to the deck。 The men were cutting away
all obstacles so as to launch the longboat placed amidships over
the depressed bulwark of the brig as she lay on her side； and the
captain； after having made a last vain exertion to restore his
authority； was looking on at them in silence。 The violence of the
squall seemed already to be spending itself； and I asked whether
there was really no chance for us if we remained by the ship。 The
captain answered that there might have been the best chance if
the men had obeyed his orders； but that now there was none。
Knowing that I could place no dependence on the presence of mind
of Monkton's servant； I confided to the captain； in the fewest
and plainest words； the condition of my unhappy friend； and asked
if I might depend on his help。 He nodded his head； and we
descended together to the cabin。 Even at this day it costs me
pain to write of the terrible necessity to which the strength and
obstinacy of Monkton's delusion reduced us in the last resort。 We
were compelled to secure his hands； and drag him by main force to
the deck。 The men were on the point of launching the boat； and
refused at first to receive us into it。
〃You cowards！〃 cried the captain； 〃have we got the dead man with
us this time？ Isn't he going to the bottom along with the brig？
Who are you afraid of when we get into the boat？〃
This sort of appeal produced the desired effect； the men became
ashamed of themselves； and retracted their refusal。
Just as we pushed off from the sinking ship Alfred made an effort
to break from me； but I held him firm； and he never repeated the
attempt。 He sat by me with drooping head； still and silent； while
the sailors rowed away from the vessel； still and silent when；
with one accord； they paused at a little distance off； and we all
waited and watched to see the brig sink； still and silent； even
when that sinking happened； when the laboring hull plunged slowly
into a hollow of the seahesitated； as it seemed； for one
moment； rose a little again； then sank to rise no more。
Sank with her dead freightsank； and snatched forever from our
power the corpse which we had discovered almost by a
miraclethose jealously…preserved remains； on the safe…keeping
of which rested so strangely the hopes and the love…destinies of
two living beings！ As the last signs of the ship in the depths of
the waters；
I felt Monkton trembling all over as he sat close at my side； and
heard him repeating to himself； sadly； and many times over； the
name of 〃Ada。〃
I tried to turn his thoughts to another subject； but it was
useless。 He pointed over the sea to where the brig had once been；
and where nothing was left to look at but the rolling waves。
〃The empty place will now remain empty forever in Wincot vault。〃
As he said these words； he fixed his eyes for a moment sadly and
earnestly on my face； then looked away； leaned his cheek on his
hand； and spoke no more。
We were sighted long before nightfall by a trading vessel； were
taken on board； and landed at Cartagena in Spain。 Alfred never
held up his head； and never once spoke to me of his own accord
the whole time we were at sea in the merchantman。 I observed；
however； with alarm； that he talked often and incoherently to
himselfconstantly muttering the lines of the old
prophecyconstantly referring to the fatal place that was empty
in Wincot vaultconstantly repeating in broken accents； which it
affected me inexpressibly to hear； the name of the poor girl who
was awaiting his return to England。 Nor were these the only
causes for the apprehension that I now felt on his account。
Toward the end of our voyage he began to suffer from alternations
of fever…fits and shivering…fits； which I ignorantly imagined to
be attacks of ague。 I was soon undeceived。 We had hardly been a
day on shore before he became so much worse that I secured the
best medical assistance Cartagena could afford。 For a day or two
the doctors differed； as usual； about the nature of his
complaint； but ere long alarming symptoms displayed themselves。
The medical men declared that his life was in danger； and told me
that his disease was brain fever。
Shocked and grieved as I was； I hardly knew how to act at first
under the fresh responsibility now laid upon me。 Ultimately I
decided on writing to the old priest who had been Alfred's tutor；
and who； as I knew； still resided at Wincot Abbey。 I told this
gentleman all that had happened； begged him to break my
melancholy news as gently as possible to Miss Elmslie； and
assured him of my resolution to remain with Monkton to the last。
After I had dispatched my letter； and had sent to Gibraltar to
secure the best English medical advice that could be obtained； I
felt that I had done my best； and that nothing remained but to
wait and hope。
Many a sad and anxious hour did I pass by my poor friend's
bedside。 Many a time did I doubt whether I had done right in
giving any encouragement to his delusion。 The reasons for doing
so which had suggested themselves to me after my first interview
with him seemed； however； on reflection； to be valid reasons
still。 The only way of hastening his return to England and to
Miss Elmslie； who was pining for that return； was the way I had
taken。 It was not my fault that a disaster which no man could
foresee had overthrown all his projects and all mine。 But； now
that the calamity had happened and was irretrievable； how； in the
event of his physical recovery； was his moral malady to be
combated？
When I reflected on the hereditary taint in his mental
organization； on that first childis