Isaiditwasunusuallyfarnorthtofindoneofhiscompatriots；
atwhichheshruggedhisshoulders，andrepliedthatamanwouldgoanywheretofindwork。WhatworkhecouldhopetofindatGradenWester，Iwastotallyunabletoconceive；andtheincidentstrucksounpleasantlyuponmymind，thatIaskedthelandlord，whilehewascountingmesomechange，whetherhehadeverbeforeseenanItalianinthevillage。HesaidhehadonceseensomeNorwegians，whohadbeenshipwreckedontheothersideofGradenNessandrescuedbythelifeboatfromCauldhaven。
“No！“saidI；“butanItalian，likethemanwhohasjusthadbreadandcheese。“
“What？“criedhe，“yonblack-avisedfellowwi’theteeth？WasheanI-talian？Weel，yon’sthefirstthateverIsaw，an’Idaresayhe’sliketobethelast。“
Evenashewasspeaking，Iraisedmyeyes，and，castingaglanceintothestreet，beheldthreemeninearnestconversationtogether，andnotthirtyyardsaway。Oneofthemwasmyrecentcompanioninthetavernparlor；theothertwo，bytheirhandsomesallowfeaturesandsofthats，shouldevidentlybelongtothesamerace。Acrowdofvillagechildrenstoodaroundthem，gesticulatingandtalkinggibberishinimitation。Thetriolookedsingularlyforeigntothebleakdirtystreetinwhichtheywerestandingandthedarkgrayheaventhatoverspreadthem；andIconfessmyincredulityreceivedatthatmomentashockfromwhichitneverrecovered。ImightreasonwithmyselfasIpleased，butIcouldnotarguedowntheeffectofwhatIhadseen，andIbegantoshareintheItalianterror。
ItwasalreadydrawingtowardthecloseofthedaybeforeIhadreturnedthenewspaperstothemanse，andgotwellforwardontothelinksonmywayhome。Ishallneverforgetthatwalk。Itgrewverycoldandboisterous；thewindsungintheshortgrassaboutmyfeet；thinrainshowerscamerunningonthegusts；andanimmensemountainrangeofcloudsbegantoariseoutofthebosomofthesea。Itwouldbehardtoimagineamoredismalevening；andwhetheritwasfromtheseexternalinfluences，orbecausemynerveswerealreadyaffectedbywhatIhadheardandseen，mythoughtswereasgloomyastheweather。
TheupperwindowsofthepavilioncommandedaconsiderablespreadoflinksinthedirectionofGradenWester。Toavoidobservation，itwasnecessarytohugthebeachuntilIhadgainedcoverfromthehighersandhillsonthelittleheadland，whenImightstrikeacross，throughthehollows，forthemarginofthewood。Thesunwasaboutsetting；thetidewaslow，andallthequicksandsuncovered；andIwasmovingalong，lostinunpleasantthought，whenIwassuddenlythunderstrucktoperceivetheprintsofhumanfeet。
Theyranparalleltomyowncourse，butlowdownuponthebeach，insteadofalongtheborderoftheturf；and，whenIexaminedthem，Isawatonce，bythesizeandcoarsenessoftheimpression，thatitwasastrangertomeandtothoseofthepavilionwhohadrecentlypassedthatway。Notonlyso；butfromtherecklessnessofthecoursewhichhehadfollowed，steeringneartothemostformidableportionsofthesand，hewasevidentlyastrangertothecountryandtotheill-reputeofGradenbeach。
StepbystepIfollowedtheprints；until，aquarterofamilefarther，IbeheldthemdieawayintothesoutheasternboundaryofGradenFloe。There，whoeverhewas，themiserablemanhadperished。Oneortwogulls，whohad，perhaps，seenhimdisappear，wheeledoverhissepulcherwiththeirusualmelancholypiping。Thesunhadbrokenthroughthecloudsbyalasteffort，andcoloredthewidelevelofquicksandswithaduskypurple。Istoodforsometimegazingatthespot，chilledanddisheartenedbymyownreflections，andwithastrongandcommandingconsciousnessofdeath。Irememberwonderinghowlongthetragedyhadtaken，andwhetherhisscreamshadbeenaudibleatthepavilion。Andthen，makingastrongresolution，Iwasabouttotearmyselfaway，whenagustfiercerthanusualfelluponthisquarterofthebeach，andI
saw，nowwhirlinghighinair，nowskimminglightlyacrossthesurfaceofthesands，asoft，black，felthat，somewhatconicalinshape，suchasIhadremarkedalreadyontheheadsoftheItalians。
Ibelieve，butIamnotsure，thatIutteredacry。Thewindwasdrivingthehatshoreward，andIranroundtheborderofthefloetobereadyagainstitsarrival。Thegustfell，droppingthehatforawhileuponthequicksand，andthen，oncemorefreshening，landeditafewyardsfromwhereIstood。Iseizeditwiththeinterestyoumayimagine。Ithadseensomeservice；indeed，itwasrustierthaneitherofthoseIhadseenthatdayuponthestreet。
Theliningwasred，stampedwiththenameofthemaker，whichI
haveforgotten，andthatoftheplaceofmanufacture，Venedig。
ThisitisnotyetforgottenwasthenamegivenbytheAustrianstothebeautifulcityofVenice，then，andforlongafter，apartoftheirdominions。
Theshockwascomplete。IsawimaginaryItaliansuponeveryside；
andforthefirst，and，Imaysay，forthelasttimeinmyexperience，becameoverpoweredbywhatiscalledapanicterror。I
knewnothing，thatis，tobeafraidof，andyetIadmitthatIwasheartilyafraid；anditwaswithsensiblereluctancethatI
returnedtomyexposedandsolitarycampintheSea-Wood。
ThereIeatsomecoldporridgewhichhadbeenleftoverfromthenightbefore，forIwasdisinclinedtomakeafire；and，feelingstrengthenedandreassured，dismissedallthesefancifulterrorsfrommymind，andlaydowntosleepwithcomposure。
HowlongImayhavesleptitisimpossibleformetoguess；butI
wasawakenedatlastbyasudden，blindingflashoflightintomyface。Itwokemelikeablow。InaninstantIwasuponmyknees。
Butthelighthadgoneassuddenlyasitcame。Thedarknesswasintense。And，asitwasblowinggreatgunsfromthesea，andpouringwithrain，thenoisesofthestormeffectuallyconcealedallothers。
Itwas，Idaresay，halfaminutebeforeIregainedmyself-
possession。Butfortwocircumstances，IshouldhavethoughtIhadbeenawakenedbysomenewandvividformofnightmare。First，theflapofmytent，whichIhadshutcarefullywhenIretired，wasnowunfastened；and，second，Icouldstillperceive，withasharpnessthatexcludedanytheoryofhallucination，thesmellofhotmetalandofburningoil。Theconclusionwasobvious。Ihadbeenawakenedbysomeoneflashingabull’s-eyelanterninmyface。Ithadbeenbutaflash，andaway。Hehadseenmyface，andthengone。Iaskedmyselftheobjectofsostrangeaproceeding，andtheanswercamepat。Theman，whoeverhewas，hadthoughttorecognizeme，andhehadnot。Therewasanotherquestionunresolved；andtothis，Imaysay，Ifearedtogiveananswer；ifhehadrecognizedme，whatwouldhehavedone？
Myfearswereimmediatelydivertedfrommyself，forIsawthatI
hadbeenvisitedinamistake；andIbecamepersuadedthatsomedreadfuldangerthreatenedthepavilion。Itrequiredsomenervetoissueforthintotheblackandintricatethicketwhichsurroundedandoverhungtheden；butIgropedmywaytothelinks，drenchedwithrain，beatenuponanddeafenedbythegusts，andfearingateverysteptolaymyhanduponsomelurkingadversary。ThedarknesswassocompletethatImighthavebeensurroundedbyanarmyandyetnonethewiser，andtheuproarofthegalesoloudthatmyhearingwasasuselessasmysight。
Fortherestofthatnight，whichseemedinterminablylong，I
patrolledthevicinityofthepavilion，withoutseeingalivingcreatureorhearinganynoisebuttheconcertofthewind，thesea，andtherain。Alightintheupperstoryfilteredthroughacrannyoftheshutter，andkeptmecompanytilltheapproachofdawn。
V
Withthefirstpeepofday，Iretiredfromtheopentomyoldlairamongthesandhills，theretoawaitthecomingofmywife。Themorningwasgray，wild，andmelancholy；thewindmoderatedbeforesunrise，andthenwentabout，andblewinpuffsfromtheshore；theseabegantogodown，buttherainstillfellwithoutmercy。Overallthewildernessoflinkstherewasnotacreaturetobeseen。
YetIfeltsuretheneighborhoodwasalivewithskulkingfoes。ThelightthathadbeensosuddenlyandsurprisinglyflasheduponmyfaceasIlaysleeping，andthehatthathadbeenblownashorebythewindfromoverGradenFloe，weretwospeakingsignalsoftheperilthatenvironedClaraandthepartyinthepavilion。
Itwas，perhaps，half-pastseven，ornearereight，beforeIsawthedooropen，andthatdearfigurecometowardmeintherain。Iwaswaitingforheronthebeachbeforeshehadcrossedthesandhills。
“Ihavehadsuchtroubletocome！“shecried。“Theydidnotwishmetogowalkingintherain。“
“Clara，“Isaid，“youarenotfrightened！“
“No，“saidshe，withasimplicitythatfilledmyheartwithconfidence。Formywifewasthebravestaswellasthebestofwomen；inmyexperience，Ihavenotfoundthetwogoalwaystogether，butwithhertheydid；andshecombinedtheextremeoffortitudewiththemostendearingandbeautifulvirtues。
Itoldherwhathadhappened；and，thoughhercheekgrewvisiblypaler，sheretainedperfectcontroloverhersenses。
“YouseenowthatIamsafe，“saidI，inconclusion。“Theydonotmeantoharmme；for，hadtheychosen，Iwasadeadmanlastnight。“
Shelaidherhanduponmyarm。
“AndIhadnopresentiment！“shecried。
Heraccentthrilledmewithdelight。Iputmyarmabouther，andstrainedhertomyside；and，beforeeitherofuswasaware，herhandswereonmyshouldersandmylipsuponhermouth。Yetuptothatmomentnowordoflovehadpassedbetweenus。TothisdayI
rememberthetouchofhercheek，whichwaswetandcoldwiththerain；andmanyatimesince，whenshehasbeenwashingherface，I
havekisseditagainforthesakeofthatmorningonthebeach。
Nowthatsheistakenfromme，andIfinishmypilgrimagealone，I
recallouroldlovingkindnessesandthedeephonestyandaffectionwhichunitedus，andmypresentlossseemsbutatrifleincomparison。
Wemayhavethusstoodforsomeseconds——fortimepassesquicklywithlovers——beforewewerestartledbyapealoflaughtercloseathand。Itwasnotnaturalmirth，butseemedtobeaffectedinordertoconcealanangrierfeeling。Webothturned，thoughIstillkeptmyleftarmaboutClara’swaist；nordidsheseektowithdrawherself；andthere，afewpacesoffuponthebeach，stoodNorthmour，hisheadlowered，hishandsbehindhisback，hisnostrilswhitewithpassion。
“Ah！Cassilis！“hesaid，asIdisclosedmyface。
“Thatsame，“saidI；forIwasnotatallputabout。
“Andso，MissHuddlestone，“hecontinuedslowlybutsavagely，“thisishowyoukeepyourfaithtoyourfatherandtome？Thisisthevalueyousetuponyourfather’slife？Andyouaresoinfatuatedwiththisyounggentlemanthatyoumustbraveruin，anddecency，andcommonhumancaution——“
“MissHuddlestone——“Iwasbeginningtointerrupthim，whenhe，inhisturn，cutinbrutally——
“Youholdyourtongue，“saidhe；“Iamspeakingtothatgirl。“
“Thatgirl，asyoucallher，ismywife，“saidI；andmywifeonlyleanedalittlenearer，sothatIknewshehadaffirmedmywords。
“Yourwhat？“hecried。“Youlie！“
“Northmour，“Isaid，“weallknowyouhaveabadtemper，andIamthelastmantobeirritatedbywords。Forallthat，Iproposethatyouspeaklower，forIamconvincedthatwearenotalone。“
Helookedroundhim，anditwasplainmyremarkhadinsomedegreesoberedhispassion。“Whatdoyoumean？“heasked。
Ionlysaidoneword:“Italians。“
Hesworearoundoath，andlookedatus，fromonetotheother。
“Mr。CassilisknowsallthatIknow，“saidmywife。
“WhatIwanttoknow，“hebrokeout，“iswherethedevilMr。
Cassiliscomesfrom，andwhatthedevilMr。Cassilisisdoinghere。
Yousayyouaremarried；thatIdonotbelieve。Ifyouwere，GradenFloewouldsoondivorceyou；fourminutesandahalf，Cassilis。Ikeepmyprivatecemeteryformyfriends。“
“Ittooksomewhatlonger，“saidI，“forthatItalian。“
Helookedatmeforamomenthalfdaunted，andthen，almostcivilly，askedmetotellmystory。“Youhavetoomuchtheadvantageofme，Cassilis，“headded。Icompliedofcourse；andhelistened，withseveralejaculations，whileItoldhimhowIhadcometoGraden:thatitwasIwhomhehadtriedtomurderonthenightoflanding；andwhatIhadsubsequentlyseenandheardoftheItalians。
“Well，“saidhe，whenIhaddone，“itishereatlast；thereisnomistakeaboutthat。Andwhat，mayIask，doyouproposetodo？“
“Iproposetostaywithyouandlendahand，“saidI。
“Youareabraveman，“hereturned，withapeculiarintonation。
“Iamnotafraid，“saidI。
“Andso，“hecontinued，“Iamtounderstandthatyoutwoaremarried？Andyoustanduptoitbeforemyface，MissHuddlestone？“
“Wearenotyetmarried，“saidClara；“butweshallbeassoonaswecan。“
“Bravo！“criedNorthmour。“Andthebargain？D——nit，you’renotafool，youngwoman；Imaycallaspadeaspadewithyou。Howaboutthebargain？YouknowaswellasIdowhatyourfather’slifedependsupon。Ihaveonlytoputmyhandsundermycoattailsandwalkaway，andhisthroatwouldbecutbeforetheevening。“