The Fearsome Island by Albert Kinross

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Preface and introduction to The Fearsome Island by Albert Kinross.
This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by Ruth Golding of Hithing, Kent.

(00:23):
The Fiersome Island being a modern rendering of the narrative
of one Silas Fordred, master mariner of hythe whose shipwreck
and subsequent adventures are herein set forth. Also an appendix
accounting in a rational manner for the seeming marvels that
Silas Fordred encountered during his sojourn on the Fearsome Island

(00:47):
of Don Diego Rodriguez by Albert Kinross the preface. In
the reproduction of this narrative, it was my intention to
modernize the English of the original version. I am no
great scholar, being more interested in the humanity of things

(01:08):
than in their esthetics, and in the retelling of this story,
I find that I have been completely overpowered by the
original version, so that the language in which this history
is here set forth is no language I have. However,
let it stand, as I feel that the leisurely dialect
that I have instinctively adopted is more in keeping with

(01:31):
the character and surroundings of Silas Fodred than the crisp,
clear cut phraseology of to day. Also in the original
manuscript were many coarse phrases that I have all but eliminated.
Should one or two such have crept into this version,
will the indulgent reader kindly pass them by merely regarding

(01:55):
such in the light of landmarks of a day that
was wont to express its thoughts and sentiments with no
uncertain voice. Albert Kinross Hampstead, eighteen ninety six, Introduction. I
was staying down at Hines last winter, and among other occupations,

(02:17):
I found time to assist my very good friend Cobb,
town Clerk of the Old Sinkport, in sorting a mass
of ancient documents but recently discovered in a musty chest
that back the beadle had stumbled across in the town
hall cellar. These papers were for the most part connected

(02:38):
with the businesses transacted by Cobb's remotest predecessors, with meat
and drink furnished at the Lord Warden's banquets, and tithes
paid to his grace, The Archbishop of Canterbury our national
enemy across the channel had given the worthy counselors of
those days much food for thought, and there were many

(03:00):
accounts of money spent with the objective of offensive and
defensive chastisement to be inflicted on that relentless foe. But
among all these documents, many of which might possess great
interest for the antiquarian or social economist, there was one

(03:21):
that I read and re read thrice before imparting its
contents to my good friend Cobb, or stay such rather
was my intention. But on second thoughts, I carefully placed
the time worn sheets in my ulster pocket. There was

(03:41):
quite a bundle of them. And here in town I
am turning into modern English what Silas Fordred penned with
great labor and difficulty in the days of good Queen
bess Fordred shall tell his own story, And you, my readers,
among whom I hope friend Cobb will occupy a foremost place,

(04:06):
believe or doubt the story rings honest, and the truth
was more in favor in those days than in this
skeptic age. Here follow the time stained papers of Silas Fordred,
worked up into a narrative of some literary merit for

(04:27):
style and polish, had he none, this blunt mariner of
yester year. For want of a better title, and I
hold that all things should have a distinctive name. I
have headed this narrative the Fearsome Island before the assembled
town Council of Hytheborough. I have read and set my

(04:52):
name to this true statement of what befell me in
my last voyage to the Southern Seas. If any there
be that doubt, let them go down to my house
in State Street and inspect the strange bark that carried
me from the Fearsome Island to the good ship Queen

(05:12):
Marie that brought me hither. Further, have I not shown
you vessels of gold that were in the dark chamber.
Likewise the thirteen great diamonds that hung round the neck
of the Bronze Idol. Also have you seen the knife
of Spanish steel with the round ruby at its hilt,

(05:33):
and the two fangs that broke on my hand from
the mouth of the Hag of Turret. The captain and
seamen of the ship Queen Marie have spoken of the
hairy man that was a dying when I was discovered
afloat and without food. What I have written is true

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on my oath and by my hope of entering Heaven,
Signed silas Ordred, witnessed by Evan, the Welshman town clerk.
End of the introduction Chapter one of The Fearsome Island

(06:16):
by Albert Kinross. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
On the third day of June fifteen fifty eight, Mary
that was called Bloody being then our Queen, Thomas snowd
and I set out from hythe for the great port
of Dover, where lay the ship Brave Luck, that we

(06:39):
had jointly purchased to trade with for our own profits
and benefaction. Previously, both of us had been in the
employ of Deeds, the great London merchant, who hath more
ships than I have toes or fingers. We rose early
in the morning, so that when we reached Dover, the

(07:00):
sun was close on midday, and we were greatly athirst.
Straightway we boarded our ship, in whose cabin was meat
and drink in plenty, and our appetites being stilled, we
went into Dover town to prepare for the voyage we
were about to undertake. That same day. We engaged fourteen

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seamen and three boys, also a black man from beyond
the Middle Sea, who was reputed to cook exceeding well
and without causing an over great stink. Our cargo we
put aboard child's things from cheapside, and horns that would
make music. Also cloth stuffs for such as were garments,

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and good bows and arrows and broadswords for them that
loved to fight. At the eleventh hour, and before we
hove anchor, I bethought me of Dick Whittington, that was
thrice Lord Mayor of London, and I eyed back to
the town and bought two cats that were with kitten,
also a tom cat exceeding fierce and black, that was

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sold me by a witch and had eaten man's flesh.
That night we slept on board greatly tired, for we
had been astir since sunrise, putting chests and bales in
the hold. And it was on the second morning, after
quitting hythe that we set sail and passed down the

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Channel on our way to Grand Canary and the Southern Seas.
It were idle to write here what befell during the
first two months of our voyage, that in all things
greatly resembled other voyages. Fair winds and pleasant trade, with
good profits were our lot. The Negro cook was of

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a merry mood, and amused as hugely, for he could
dance and sing and make agreeable noises with pieces of
wood held in his hands, and his smile was wide
as the smile of a crocodile. Nor was he idle
as his business, for he could prepare excellent dishes, many
of which were new and unknown to us, and therefore

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the pleasanter. We touched at the Gold River that runs
into the Ocean on the west of Africa, and spent
some days bartering for gold, dust, ivory, and palm oil.
It was here that our cook, the Black Nave, played
us a scurvy trick. When we set sail once more,

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that fowl Indian was nowhere to be found, and we
were without cook. And then I remembered that he had
said that his home was in these parts. He had
deceived and deserted us, and his soul was black as
his skin. From the Gold River we sailed south along

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the coast and went ashore at many places till we
reached a harbor, from whence we could see a mountain
with a flat top like a table. We had bartered
away all our cargo, and there was no further cause
to prolong our voyage. So here we turned our ship's
head and sailed joyfully north. On the third day of

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journeying homewards, great gales began to blow. For six days
and six nights we ran with bare masts before the winds,
and only God on High knew in what sea we were.
And though we prayed at morn and eve, he told
us nought. On that sixth day, methought the world would end,

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for there were huger seas about est than any I
had ever seen before. The hold was full of water,
and I wept bitter tears as wave after wave broke
over snowed ship, and mine bishrue me, said I to Thomas,
my partner. Our cargo will suffer damage. The parmel runs

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to waste, Aye, said Snowd, tis I who feel each
drop that spoils even as thou. And he shook his
bare head, and the great tears stood in his eyes,
For Snowd was a man of much thrift, though unmarried.

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The great cat that had eaten man's flesh was sore afraid.
Its hair stood erect on its back, and its eyes
shone like burnished brass. And in the night of that day,
as Thomas, Snowd and I were praying for light and
a smooth sea, for we had neither slept nor eaten,

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save upright all the six days. And huger wave than
all curled and split, hinted into a thousand pieces over us,
and the water stung our faces like a shower of
broken glass, while the ship Brave Luck swayed like a
man drunk with ale, and its bow rose high into

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the air above our heads. God save us, Snowed, said I, Amen,
said Snowd. And though we shouted, our voices were as
a whisper. We could hear the seamen call on Mary,
that is, the Virgin, and Jesus who died on the cross.

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And some knelt, while others threw their arms above their
heads and trembled with the fear of death. There were
wild eyes around us, and faces drawn and terrible, as
the faces of wild beasts that are mad with hunger
and evil passion. I saw these things as in a dream,

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for they moved me not overmuch, and the men about
me were not men as I had known them. And
nothing was real till the ship fell from under us,
and we were in the waters. Snowed and I in
a valley TwixT mountains of water, now rising to the crest,

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now falling deep like balls of down in an autumn wind.
We could see the heads of the others bobbing like
black corks. And overhead in the sky we saw the
lightning glitter and run, while in our ears the thunder
boomed death knells. It was a brave yet awful sight.

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And I think that hell can contain nothing more terrible
than that black sea, with the black faces bobbing through
the darkness through which the lightning swished like a rapier
of cold gold. Over the hold of our ship had
been a cover of wood with handles of rope, and

(14:09):
two yards long and broad. This cover I made out,
bearing down on me. I reached out a hand, and
my arm was fast twisted in the rope. Ere the
next wave could bear me from this raft. Snowed was
at my side. Give me your hand, Snowed, I shouted,

(14:31):
but he could not hear my voice above the wind
and waves that roared like many lions. I reached out
my other arm and caught the top of his jerkin,
twas of good stout leather, and he looked at me.
His head was like a painting of John the Baptist's
head on a platter, and spat water from his mouth.

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God save thee Fordred. I saw the words on his lips,
but heard nought, Amen said I. And we clung together
for the dear life, for weary minute after minute, And
when at last the gray dawn broke, there was land
not over far from us, and the waves were bearing

(15:15):
us thither at great speed. As we neared the shore,
we let go of our raft, and, taking what little
strength remained to us, we swam on by ourselves till
a huge breaker flung us heavily on the beach. We
picked ourselves up again. It was a joyful feeling, this,

(15:37):
standing once more upright on our legs, and went inland
beyond the sea's reach. We cast off our dripping garments
and knelt naked to pray a thanksgiving. But we were
so tired and exhausted that we fell down close together,

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our legs refusing their office, and we slept thus in
the gray dawn, naked and worn out. The far off
lands are warmer than ours, so we feared not to
be sick by thus lying bare under the open sky.
So we fell asleep, a weary from our toil and watching,

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and we lay quite still till the noonday sun smote
on our eyelids. When we awoke, the sky was deep blue,
the wind had ceased to rage, and the sea had
grown calm and serene, so that we felt like two
that had dreamed an evil dream, and were but newly awakened.

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There was a pinching feeling at our stomachs. We had
fasted for many hours, and what we had lately eaten
was of no great moment. Snowed and I arose and
walked in land to where there were trees with strange fruits,
such as grow in distant lands. And we sat in

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the branches of one such and ate from a great
gourd we had found at its foot. I looked at
Snod and saw that he was naked. Friend Snowed, said,
I where be thy garments? For surely thou dost bear
thee as Adam when in the garden of Eden, Friend
Fordred cried, Snod, look to thyself, And I looked, and

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I too was naked. Then I looked up at Snowd,
but he was nowhere to be seen. And I looked
down at Snod and he was fallen from the branch
with overmuch laughing, and lay now rolling on his back,
with a full mouth and great tears on his cheek.

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Silas Fordred, he cried, wouldst thou choke me? And I too,
who laughed till I dropped from my branch onto Thomas
Snowd's stomach. Nay, we will both choke, I said, and
began to laugh anew, But Snowd was silent, for he

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had no wind. After we had eaten, we walked slowly
back to the spot where lay our clothes, dry but marvelous,
small from the water and the hot sun. And then
we went down to the sea, all smooth and smiling,
God save us, Fordred said, Snowd, where bee wee ah,

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where beewie? I answered, And we shook our heads and
looked around and upwards. And as we looked, what should
we see but a huge idol, a great figure shining
and of bronze, such as mariners say our worship in
the isles beyond Cathay that are called Nippon. We both

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rubbed our eyes so as to make sure that we
saw true. Aye, there was the figure, a great woman,
with a calm face, and neither shift nor other garment
for eyes. There were broad holes, and in and about
these hollow sockets flew sea birds, and they perched on

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her breasts, on her knees, and about her feet. Good
Fordred said, snowd, if that be God of these parts,
let us make a bisance. It may be fitting and
proper that we should nay, said I, in a stern voice,
and loud. Thomas snowed. Rather, let us cross ourselves and

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pray to the blessed Virgin, who hath just saved us
from death by drowning Thou art right, good Fordred, he replied,
And we repeated the Lord's prayer twice, for twas the
only prayer that we could repeat from memory. After that,
we walked closer to the idol, with stout hearts and unafraid,

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and we looked into its face, to its great nose
and the holes that were eyes, and to its neck,
and on its neck hung stones that sparkled, big stones,
all white and glistening, as I have seen the diamond
stones shine in a goldsmith's shop. Only these stones were

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larger than any that I had ever seen before. And
I have been to the Tower of London and seen
the great ruby that was in the crown of King
Harry of Agincourt. Those be diamonds, said Snowd. I will
not say ye nay, I replied. Then we looked again

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up and down, and at the feet of the great
figure were human bones, skulls and leg bones, and ribs
and arms. See ye those, friend, Snowed, I asked, yay,
I see them. They be human sacrifices. I have heard

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tell of such among those that be heathens. Thomas Snowd
was one that always had answer and explanation at his
tongue's tip, even though he knew nothing of the matter
in hand. This was his great weakness, a small thing,
for he was as gallant as seamen as ever trod

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a ship. We looked once more, and all the skeletons
were broken across the middle, and the upper parts lay here,
and the lower parts lay there. See that, friend, Snowed,
I asked, And my thoughts went back to the bones

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that are in the crypt of the hithe church. Yea,
he made reply, as was his wont tears most like
to be their manner of offering sacrifice. And for a
few moments we stood wondering what manner of God this
might be, and whose were the bones that lay all

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white at its feet. Again, our eyes lighted on the
great white stones that sparkled more than a woman's eyes.
They be for us, said snowd wilt, climb and take
them ti. It's easy to reach. Mayhap there will come

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worshippers ere long until be too late. Be wise, friend, Snowed,
said I, and think thyself of good luck. Should the
worshipers not offer thee up as a sacrifice, the diamonds
can wait. And should we be discovered by the men
that inhabit this land, we might have to pay a
huge price. I led him away, and we walked about

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all that day without seeing sign of man or human habitation.
We ate fruits and berries, and great crabs that came
out of the sea and sought to pinch us. These
we slew with stones and pieces of rock, breaking their shells,
after which they died. It was raw meat, but a

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hungry man waits not for a cook. That night we
slept under a broad tree near a brook of running
water that we had drank from. The Next morning, when
I awoke, I was alone, and Thomas Snowed was nowhere
to be seen. Snowed. Thomas snowed. I cried till my

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throat pained, but there came no reply. Last I bethought
me of the diamond stones and the great lust that
had shone in Snoud's eyes on the yesterday. Quick I
sprang to my feet and ran with great speed toward
the seashore, where stood the great idol of bronze with

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the glistening necklet. And as I approached, I could see
snowd A climbing from the huge toes on to the knees.
Get thee down, I cried, Get thee down, Thou thief,
Thou sacrilegious thief. There will be mischief in the deed

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and dire punishment to follow. So I spake to Thomas
snowd for God hath given me an honest soul. He
he did not. And again I cried, get thee down
Thomas snowed, But he he did not. And now he
had one hand on the outstanding breast, and he stood

(25:04):
on the brazen knee. And then as he swung upward
to the neck where sparkled the jewel, the great bronze
arms did close. I did close. I say, and I
have sworn it did close fast and sharp over Thomas Snowed,
and his head and trunk fell one way, and his

(25:28):
legs and belly another. II right to my feet, And
as I crossed myself and fell down on my knees,
I saw the arms of that accursed figure swing back,
wide open and empty as before. And Thomas Snowed lay
at my feet in two halves, so that I understood

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the meaning of the broken skeletons, all sundered in the middle.
And I shook my fist at the cursed idol, and
the arms were wide apart and without motion, and the
great white jewels sparkled mockingly in that morning sun. I

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knelt some minutes, all fearsome and trembling, wondering to what
devil's land this body of mine had strayed. And as
I knelt, I could feel something soft yet firm, pressing
gently against my thigh bone, and at the same time
I could hear a low sound, such as is made

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by a cat that is pleased. I looked round to
my side, and there was the black cat from the ship,
a fondling of me, he that had eat man's flesh
and had dwelt with a witch. He was very friendly,
and there was a fond look in his face. But

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for all that, I arose hastily, bethinking me of the
body of poor Thomas Snowed that lay there, dead and
in two parts, and me seemed it were well, Did
I arise and bury him? Ere harm befell? So I
searched till I found a sharp stone, all broad and flat,

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like a spade, and with it I dug in the
soft sand, so that by ten o'clock that day, by
the sun, I had buried Thomas snowed all that was
mortal of that gallant mariner. As the sand lay thick
over him, I did think to say a prayer, and
again I prayed to our Father, which art in heaven,

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that being the only prayer that I could repeat without
book or priest. I was alone now, and as the
armen left my lips, my solitude and isolation came back
to me strong and full, and my heart felt heavy
within me, and tears of self pity stood in both

(28:10):
my eyes. I was fit to weep and lay helpless
and without hope, as is a despairing woman, till with
great effort I repeated silas fordred that art a man,
be thou a man? This I said thrice, gaining strength

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with each repetition, and the mist before my eyes vanished,
though a tear trickled slow down both the sides of
my nose and splashed onto the thirsty sand below. I
saw clear once more, and the black cat was before me,
gazing piteously into my face, as if to share my

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burden of sorrow. I drew him gently on to my lap,
and we both sat lonely and forsaken on the empty strand,
pondering over what next we should do in that gruesome
land of the Brazen Idol. End of chapter one, Chapter

(29:26):
two of The Fearsome Island by Albert Kinross. This LibriVox
recording is in the public domain. On the next morning,
the cat and I held counsel. We had slept together
on the previous night for the sake of the companionship
of the other black cat of the Witch, said I,

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after gazing long at him, steadfastly and with much thought,
do thou, that art skilled in sorcery? Lead and I
will follow. And with that I laid my hand lightly
on the beast's head, and it looked up into my
eyes unafraid, and as a friend might do. After which,

(30:12):
with tail erect and mustachios pointing right and left, it
went in land. I following, and for two days and
a night we journeyed through thick woods, with here and
there a rich plain that was as fair a pasture
land as other marshes around Romney Town. Towards the vesper hour,

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on the second day of our wanderings, we came to
a hill on whose crest stood a fair castle, which,
though no wise old or a crumbling yet looked neglected
and forsaken, being much overgrown with mosses, weeds, and climbing
plants that flourish with great vigor in southern lands and

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grow therein in one year more than such things grow
in ten years in our own country. Black Cat, said,
I let us enter, and together we strode up the
hillside to a fair gate that was arched and had
ornaments of wrought iron to its face of strong wood.

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This gate was let into the castle wall over against
a round tower, such as I have seen at Windsor
as a boy at the castle of King Harry, that
had six wives. Round about us reigned a deathlike silence,
and from the castle came no sound. I looked up,

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marveling at the rank grasses and untended growths, at the
window glass, whereon the dust and grime lay thick, at
the weather stained masonry, and beyond at the garden about
the castle, where grew neither fruit nor flower, nothing but
worthless plants and common weeds, such as were in the

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woods through which we had passed on our way. Thither
greatly I wondered as to who might dwell in this
deserted palace, and I looked around for means of entry.
Over on the gate was a large knocker of bronze,
and shaped like an open hand stretched out in welcome.

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It was on a hinge, and the knuckles were thick
and heavy, so that when it fell, the noise might
be the greater. I reached out my hand and was
about to raise the knocker and clamor at the gateway,
when I bethought me of poor Thomas snowed and the
fate that had overtaken him. Black cat said I there

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be stratagy, and there be cunning, And wherefore did I lack?
These arts? Were I silas fordred master Mariner. With that
I unfastened my belt of good leather that cost me
one groat and a penny at Canterbury Fair. And I
lifted up the bronze hand with the belt that I

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had wound around it. And behold the bronze fingers clutched
the belt, clothed as do lion's claws. Yea, even as
the arms of the idol had closed on poor Thomas snowed.
I laughed loud to myself at the sight, and the

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cat too did laugh, for I had escaped a cruel
device and had outwitted some uncommon malignant sorcerer. Hi. I
swung the hand with my good leather thong, and then
I loosed my hold, and the fist fell back with
a crash. While at the same instant the gateway opened

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wide from the inside and without human air. By the
waning daylight, I could see a broad hall, tiled and
paved with rich rugs and skins on the floor. The
walls were hung with tapestries and designs made of rare spears, bucklers,

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and swords. Here and there were low couches that looked
soft and inviting. It was a fair sight for eyes
and body that had not rested on comfort and ease
for many months. The sun was sinking fast, and the
darkness approaches quick in these lands. So I thought it

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unwise to enter the castle at this late hour, and
resolved to spend that night on the hillside, deeming it
safer to rest there than in the great hall. The
black cat, whom I had named Satan for a jest,
lay by my side, as on the other nights, he
being by now mighty trustful me and friendly ever and Anon.

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Our eyes wandered through the darkness to the black outline
of the castle, and though there were many windows, we
saw no light or sign of light in any one
of the rooms. Only once I thought I could see
a faint glimmer as of a lamp, shine from the
round window in the turret. But I looked again and

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it was gone. And I looked again, and it was
a moonbeam that had painted a patch of silver on
the pane. On the morrow, when the sun stood clear
in the sky, and after I had bathed and drank
water from a running stream, so that all my wits
might be with me, I entered at the castle gate.

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The brazen hand was still clenched over my belt of leather.
Satan was the first to enter the hall, a great
chamber with many doors let into the wall on either side,
while at the far end rose a broad stairway, which
we ascended without mishap. It would be idle were I

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to describe what was in that castle, Suffice to say
it was like a nobleman's palace, with chairs of carved woodwork,
and great beds with spreading canopies, such as I have
seen at the palace at Hampton Court. By aid of
my friend Roger, the ratcatcher, who dost dwell in that
famous abode, with great caution, we peered into many chambers,

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and no harm befell. And when we had descended the
stairway and explored the rooms about the great hall, we
passed yet beyond to where there were kitchens and store rooms,
where we found stacks of dried fruits and vegetables, also
sealed tins that we broke, and wherein were large pieces

(37:03):
of flesh, beef and pork, and the tongues of oxen.
We sat us down and feasted until our insides could
be no more distended, And our thirst, being then far
stronger than our hunger, we arose, thinking to go down
to the stream that ran beside the hill whereon stood

(37:23):
the castle. There to drink our fill of water. Now,
as once more we crossed the Great Hall, a marvelous,
strange thing befell I had trodden on a square tile.
It was green in color, being the centerpiece of the
design that ornamented the paving. And this green tile yielded

(37:48):
under my foot, so that, fearing some new witchcraft, with
a deadly fear at my heart, I sprang high up
into the air. It was mercy that my legs were
well up under me, for as a flash, there swung
TwixT wall and wall a long blade of steel, shaped

(38:09):
as a giant sword. It passed low down, just above
the head of Satan the cat, just below the soles
of my feet. It was a marvelous, cunning piece of sorcery.
For was I not bound to light once more on
that green tile, so broad it was, And yet again

(38:32):
and yet again, till I should be quite tired and
without strength to spring. And then I shuddered three times.
I jumped high into the air, like to a girl
that skips with a rope. Only this rope of mine
was a steel knife, sharp and keen. And I thought

(38:54):
many things, and all of them very terrible. And uncomforting,
And three times the long steel blade hissed by low
down and from wall to wall. A fourth time I
lighted on the green tile. But on this occasion the
spell worked not true. The sword issued forthless before, yet

(39:19):
instead of flashing TwixT wall and wall, it swerved in
its course, hesitated, and then fell harmlessly to the ground,
dead and without power. The charm that had caused it
to chop to and fro had failed. I touched it
lightly with my forefinger, and it did not stir. I

(39:43):
handled it yet more familiarly, and it moved not. It
was a long blade, long as the hall was broad,
somewhat rusty and ill looking. It was for lack of
armorer's care, yet sharp withal and the fine temper. Yea,

(40:03):
I thought the magic of the devil thy smith hath
left thee. Thanks be to God, for truly thou art
an evil device and an unholy And as in a dream,
I saw myself springing into the air, till at last,
weak and feeble, I could spring no more. And what

(40:25):
I then perceived caused me to shudder anew. I went
from the prostrate blade back to the green tile, and
trod upon it with the end of one foot, and
the long knife quivered like an animal wounded in a
chase and a dying Yet it stirred not from the ground.

(40:49):
Magic blade, that art no longer magic. Thy strength is gone,
I said aloud, and with that I broke off the
end of the sword with my two hands that were
protected by a cloth I had taken from one of
the couches that stood around. I stooped and sweated, and

(41:09):
my face was purple. Yet ere I had done. The
huge blade was in five pieces, and powerless to do
further harm. It was with a greater Thurstan. Before that,
Satan and I sped downhill to the stream. Here we

(41:30):
drank our fill, and it was good to be once
more out in the open air, under the free sky,
with nought to fear and no care at our hearts.
The rest of that day we sat in the cool
shade of a wood, listening to the apes and birds
of colored plumage that chattered in the trees. Satan, the

(41:54):
black cat, lies dead and unburied in a strange land,
and no human eye marked his death. His last hour
was perchance the most evil in both our lives, And
may be in that hour I had no thought for him,
or he for me. Yet now in my security, I

(42:19):
think daily on him, and their eyes tears to my eyes.
For he was dear to me, and I to him,
and the dangers that we shared together I shall never forget.
In the night, I again ascended the hill and wandered
around and about the castle, for a spirit of unrest

(42:41):
possessed me, and I could not sleep. No light was
visible from any window, and all was black and inanimate.
As before, on the round window of the turret, the
same patch of moonlight silvered the pane. Yet there was

(43:01):
no moon in the skies, nought, but an army of stars, wondrous,
bright and near to earth, as are the stars of
all distant lands. Later I slept deep, yet ere my
eyes closed. I had pondered much over that patch of

(43:22):
moonlight on the round window of the turret, For albeit
there was no moon visible in the sky, a moon
ray pale and argentine, it most certainly was that I
had seen, And I resolved that I would ascend to
the turret and seek to discover from whence sprang this

(43:45):
strange light that had so puzzled me. On the morrow,
Satan and I once more set out for the stream
in search of meat. Again, we ate our fill, and
our abbot tights were very great, and pressing from this
chamber there led underground a stone stairway that we afterwards

(44:10):
descended cautiously and one foot moving slow after the other.
The walls of this stairway were damp and mildewed, and
when we reached the cellar below, the air was humid
and lifeless as a stagnant tarn. There were holes in
the walls through which streamed pale rays of light, so

(44:34):
that we discovered the nature of this underground chamber without
great mystery or labor. Underfoot was the naked earth, without
flagstone or paving, and on all sides stretched a huge crypt,
a ceiling of many curves supported by numberless pillars. At

(44:56):
Canterbury Cathedral where lie the bones of Saint Thomas abs
it is just such a crypt, though vaster, far than
the one Satan and I explored that morning. There were
many casks about us, and goodly flasks of glass and
earthenware that held rich wines and oils. Also, there were

(45:18):
quaintly painted chests filled with the dried leaf of some
unknown plant. I drank sparingly of the rich wines that
we had discovered, tasting of many sorts and colors, and
each was of a quality, rarer, and more costly than
any liquor I had drunk before. The dust and cobwebs

(45:42):
lay thick on all that was about us, and I
thought that few men had drunk wine of so old
a vintage. Yet, because of the sorcery that was all
about us, I restrained my natural desires, and forebode to
drink more than I could carry without detriment to my

(46:02):
reason and good sense, knowing full well that I should
want all the wits I was possessed of, even on
that day as on the previous days. Further on in
this great cellar was a space with a palisade of
wood all about it, and within were barrels, two or
three of which had their heads stoven, so that their

(46:25):
contents were spread on the ground beside them. I climbed
the palisade, and Satan pressed with his body through the
bars gunpowder. As I live, I cried, fingering the black
grains that strewed the ground. I had no great use

(46:45):
of so dangerous a neighbor, And yet thought I if
the sorceries and dangers with which I am hourly beset,
cease not maybe I shall lose patience and send this
castle and all all its witchcrafts are flying into the air.
For I looked not upon this store of gunpowder with dread,

(47:08):
as some men might have done, but as an ally
for stood it, not at my service as much as
at the use of any other man. Satan and I
then proceeded further through the cryptlike cellar, and at the
further end was yet another stairway. This we ascended as

(47:28):
carefully as was our wont and soon we were standing
in a vast apartment that we had heretofore been unaware of.
This new chamber was quite unlike any of the others
through which we had passed, being bare and huger than
any dwelling room, with a ceiling high and vaulted. Indeed,

(47:51):
it was in shape more like the inside of a
church than a room in a nobleman's palace. In this
chamber were and moles and furnaces empty and idle. Here
also were strange machines whose uses I could in no
way surmise. And all these things were rusty and red

(48:16):
and discolored with unuse. This chamber reminded me of a
vast smithy, only it was of another and a more
cunning nature than any smith's shop that I had ever seen.
Around the walls were shelves whereon stood great jars and caskets,

(48:37):
and there were chests that had drawers that were filled
with carpenter's stores, screws and nails, and gimlets, and files
and rivets. There were also boxes full of thin sticks
of wood with a red substance at their end, and
I rubbing two such together, they burst into flame. Then

(49:01):
I bethought me of the gunpowder in the cellar below,
and I put a box of these fire makers in
my pouch, so that I could act at a short notice.
I marveled greatly at the long rows of jars, many
of which were of glass, so that I could see
that they were filled with colored liquids, and all of

(49:24):
them bore inscriptions in a strange tongue. For a strange tongue,
it must have been the words being written with English characters,
yet conveying no meaning to me. As I spelt them
out from one such a jar, I took the cover,
and there arose a smell most nauseous, so that I

(49:46):
had much to do that I might not vomit. Yet
one more jar did I uncover, and there arose fumes
into the air about me, ruddy brown in color, and
of an evil quality, so thick and foul that I
was nice suffocated when these vapors entered at my mouth.

(50:09):
There was a large doorway at the end of the chamber,
and to this both Satan and I scampered. Quick We
opened it, and before us was the forsaken garden that
was about the castle. We stood long on the threshold, exceeding,
thankful for air that was pure and of good odor.

(50:31):
The gateway through which we had passed opened out onto
the back of the castle, and before us lay the
tangled desolation of the garden that had fallen to such
lamentable decay. There were seats and arbors, all moss grown
and scarcely recognizable. And we sat us down and pondered

(50:51):
over the things that were about us, marveling much how
it was that they were there, and how it was
that their present plight was so lonesome and untended. Tis
like the fable of the briar Rose. Friend Satan, I said,
as I scratched the top of his head, and then

(51:12):
I smacked my lips together. Maybe I shall kiss the princess,
I continued, and she will awake and chide me for
a hairy faced varlet. My hand was on my chin,
and I could feel my beard grown long and thick.
And never a barber shop would I Silas Fordred enter

(51:36):
for many a long day. My hair, too was long
and unkempt, And truly had a princess gazed on me,
I fear greatly that she would have turned on her
side and essayed to sleep once more. With such like thoughts,
I wandered through the tangled bushes and network of creeping

(51:59):
plants that plucked at my feet and tripped me up,
while the green tendrils tapped at my face and curled
round my fingers, filling the air with a moist odor
somewhat rank, yet not unpleasing. We had proceeded us slowly

(52:19):
for some hundreds of yards when we came to an
open space where stood three buildings that had closed doors.
Each of these structures was of stone, low in the roof,
and of simple form, and from their shape it was
easy to tell that they consisted of but a single chamber.

(52:43):
These we passed and repassed with much curiosity. But by
now we had grown prudent and slow of action, ay
even fearful, so that we were content to return to
the woods as on the previous day, to idler away
the time and bethinkus of the morrow. It was quite

(53:05):
silent in the wood, save for the stirring of leaves
and the cries and motions of bird and beast, and
Satan sat on blissfully at my side, with his head
resting on his outstretched paws. On a sudden, however, the
black cat rose to his feet, with hair erect and

(53:27):
his body forming an archway, while his claws came forth
from their sheath. What is it, friend, Satan, I cried.
I looked in a direction of his eyes, and true
there was cause for alarm. Gazing straight at us, and
some little distance away was a man, all naked and hairy,

(53:53):
as is an ape. I rose to my feet and
saw that he had no weapon. This gave me some courage,
so that I called aloud, hairy man, who art thou?
And what wouldst thou? He made no answer, and there
was a look of terror on his face. Twas brown

(54:14):
in color of a somewhat lighter hue than a negro's.
Come hither, thou, man, ape, I said, loud and clear.
He gave a shrill cry, and then, turning round, he
fled into the wood. I followed as fast as I
was able. Yet this hairy man was lithe and agile,

(54:37):
as is a greyhound, so that ere I had run
many yards, I had lost all trace of him. Breathless,
I returned to Satan, the cat, eater of man's flesh.
I said, we be not alone, perchance, this is a
land of hairy men and sorcerers. Satan the cat purred

(55:02):
his agreement. We must watch and wait, said I, and
Heaven above will help us. For cat, though thy hue
be black, thou hast borne me like a true Christian.
And I drew him toward me and rubbed his black

(55:22):
face against my cheek with much affection. That day we
saw no more of the hairy man, nor did we
see other man or woman of like breed and nature.
In the night, as I gazed upward to the castle
on the hill, the patch of silver light was again

(55:45):
visible on the turret window. I resolved that on the
next day I would ascend the stairway and explore the tower,
which as yet I had not entered, for there was
no moon in the sky. And I marveled greatly as

(56:06):
to the why and how of that patch of silver
light that shone each night on the turret window, with
our apparent cause or natural source. End of chapter two,

(56:28):
Chapter three of The Fearsome Island by Albert Kinross. This
LibriVox recording is in the public domain. On the morrow,
Satan and I set out for the store room, whither
we daily hide for meat and sustenance. It was a
dismal day, with a dark sky, from which the rain

(56:49):
fell in thick sheets, so that we ate more than
we needed, and drank our fill aigh and more than
our fill of the wine in the cellar below. I
remember well that I emptied a flask of red, and
a flask of yellow, and yet another flask of red,
for the leaden sky had made me sorrowful, and the

(57:12):
warm wine brought me comfort. By noon, I had driven
all care from my heart, and I was singing ribbled
songs and a sitting on the floor with Satan, whom
I had made to drink his fill of wine from
a platter. Satan old crow, I cried, tis a goodly tavern,

(57:34):
wilt pay the reckoning. He came towards me, yet not
in a straight line, but in a curve. The face
he wore was not his own, twas more like the
face of a stupid sheep, for the liquor had reached
his brain, and his head and limbs were unsteady. Thou

(57:55):
drunken knave, I cried, get thee Hence no din hast
thou with which to pay? What glasses thou hast, burst out,
thou black tinker, And with that we fell into each
other's arms and rolled on the floor together and wondrous happy.

(58:15):
Twas then that I bethought me of the turret and
the silver moonlight I had seen on its window these
last three nights. Friend be el Zebub, said I to
my companion, we too will venture to the tower and
see what it holds, perchance a duplicate moon. Marry thou

(58:38):
roistering puss up onto thy four legs, and do thou
lead the way. Together we struggled out into the hall,
and then upstairs, till we came to a doorway that
opened onto a winding staircase that, as I rightly surmised,
led to the chamber in the turret well. I remember

(59:00):
we wound round this last flight. The steps were of stone,
and we held on to the damp walls, muttering to ourselves,
and Ever and Anon laughing aloud, for the wine was
hot in our heads, and our legs went one way
and our bodies another. At length we reached the stairway head,

(59:22):
and I threw open a brass studded door. Before us
was a round apartment, The floor littered with huge folios,
while a red curtain of heavy silk hung from floor
to ceiling at the further end. On entering this chamber,
we were greeted by a cry, shrill and uncanny, as

(59:45):
the shriek of a night bird. I looked about me,
and there rose from a low chair an aged crone,
bent well nigh double, with a lifeless face and long
wisps of hair that were a pale yellow from age. Two.
Long teeth brown as toasted almonds projected on either side

(01:00:09):
of her mouth, while on her chins sprouted a fine
beard that I plucked as I looked into her face
and drew her toward me. Her eyes were small, malevolent,
and like beads of glass. What make you up here,
old hag? I said, holding tight to her beard too

(01:00:33):
as to make sure of her face. For most things
that were about me, I could see double I and
some threefold. She laid her hand to was dry and
lean with thick black veins on my arm, and hissed
with rage, just as a serpent trying with feeble force

(01:00:55):
to disengage her beard. What make you up here, old witch?
Spells and sorcery? I asked once more? Then I turned
to Satan that had dwelt with the witch. Knowest thou
this lady, I said, with a thick voice. The black

(01:01:18):
cat shrunk to my side, marvelous, steady and sober, Satan,
Thou that I bought of a witch? Thou that knowest
the ways of sorcerers? Is it safe to let this
old crone live? Or shall I hurl her from the
turret window? And with that I drew the hair yet

(01:01:41):
closer towards me and made as if to execute my threat. Indeed,
kind third twas not I, she whined, dost speak the
English tongue? Aye? I forgot thou art a witch and
speak all tongues. Indeed, sweet sir, I have done you

(01:02:04):
no harm? Praythee release my beard. Twas not you, I
burst out. You have done me no harm. Then you
know what devil's work has gone forward under this roof,
Hag of the turret, was the sword that flashed under
my heels of die forging. Indeed, kind sir, she whimpered,

(01:02:31):
I had no power over that blade, nor over the
bronze hand on the gateway. I fear these things even
as you fear them. I am but an old woman
and no witch. Pray, kind sir, release your hold on

(01:02:51):
my beard, for the pain is great. Heaven help you
if you lie, I said, and I loosed my hold.
She fell back, muttering to herself in a strange tongue,
and her glance was that evil and malevolent that eyes

(01:03:11):
shuddered at sight of so terrible a visage. I turned
to Friend Satan, who, in spite of temporary calmness, was
heavy with wine. He lay now on the floor of
the chamber, asleep and breathing hard from his nostrils, so
that I could see his mustachio's bend and sway arouse thee,

(01:03:33):
Friend Satan, I cried, treading with my foot on his back,
and thou old Hag beware. I strode several times round
the chamber, turning over the huge volumes that were strewn about,
under which I could understand no word. Though I be
a good scholar, having been intended as a boy for

(01:03:55):
the priesthood, and I had studied hard till the day
that I quitted them monastery for the ocean that had
the greater attraction for me. I stood before the circular
window that I had gazed on from below, and on
the other side of the turret was another window of
the same shape and size. We were high up above

(01:04:18):
the earth, and I could see across wood and meadowland
far away to the sea. And wherever I looked stretched
the blue of the distant ocean. Tis an island, this
land of brazen idols and bearded hags. Eh old snake,

(01:04:38):
and what may be its name? I cried it. Hath
no name, she said, and thy name I have none.
Then the hag of the turret, shalt thou be called? Henceforth,
come now below to the cellar, and we will celebrate

(01:04:59):
thy christening. I laid my hand on her shoulder, and
I felt that she was shaking with fear under my palm.
I am not of a cruel disposition, and I was moved.
Have no dread, I cried, so long as thy conduct

(01:05:20):
is harmless and of good report, thou art safe. I
am neither witch nor sorcerer, nought but a plain seaman.
Silas Fordred master Mariner of hythe She scowled at me,
most bad humoredly. I love seemen. They are brave and
free as the ocean, said the witch. Ay, thou lovest

(01:05:45):
the most did the sirens. I know thy love and
will none of it. You'll mock me because I am
old and withered. Tis not generous, Silas fordred Master Brenner
of Hide, tis not generous, nor is it brave. Gearne

(01:06:07):
back to thy spells and incantations. And I looked at
the great tomes that were spread about the room. Yet stay,
I continued, whence comes the patch of moonlight that I
see nightly on thy windowpane. For answer, she pressed a

(01:06:29):
spring in the wall, And as I live there, burnt
in a globe of glass above our heads, a pale
thread of light, white as a moon ray. A strange
lamp is this, ay, and another of thy sorcerer's tricks.
Take care that it works no harm an innocent device,

(01:06:56):
she protested, and simple tis well mark what I have said,
And now good day, and mind thou keepest to thy turret,
For should I meet thee below, I will spit thee
like a woodcock on one of thine own swords. She

(01:07:17):
scowled most evily, the thin lips curling inward over her
toothless gums, while the two fangs at the corners pressed
down on her withered chin. Come, friend, Satan, said, I,
stirring the weary cat with my foot, let us away. Together.

(01:07:39):
We descended the stairway, and the brass studded door closed
over our heads, then down hill to the stream that
bordered the wood to idle through the long afternoon as
best we might. Thus, stretched at our ease, we thought
over the day's events and what they might bow mood.

(01:08:01):
The hairy man of the yesterday came not within our
ken nor did we see further chase or sign of
thing human, so there was nought to disturb our reflections.
In the nighttime, the pale light glowed on the round
window pane as before, and not many hours after sunset

(01:08:24):
we slept, greatly tired from the wine and the day's excitements.
Till late into the next day, after our usual meal,
and we drank sparingly. This time we again ascended to
the turret and held converse with the witch. This we
did for lack of other employment, and because the time

(01:08:47):
hung heavy on our hands. We stayed and spoke with
her till both Satan and I were wearied with fruitless discourse.
Then downstairs again, wishing we had kept to our own company.
Our condition was most lonesome. And after a while we

(01:09:08):
wandered in the forsaken garden. For twas much like ourselves,
and there is a wondrous sympathy twixtings animate and things inanimate,
be they in a like plight and condition? Yea. And
even though we were silent and without power of comforting
the other with speech, I saw in this neglected garden

(01:09:33):
much that spoke to me in sympathy, and tried hard
to soothe my heavy heart. For it seemed to me
as though the uncared plants felt what I felt, and
had they had utterance, they would have voiced my own thoughts.
Even the insects and bugs that crawled from leaf to

(01:09:54):
leaf were in a less pitiable plight than this forsaken garden,
and myself, And when I had thought and pitied myself
a while, there were tears on my cheek that rolled
on to the fur of Satan, my friend, and made
round spots on his coat that were more shiny than

(01:10:14):
what was dry. As I sat thus thinking of gloomy things,
I bethought me of the three buildings with the closed doors,
and I resolv'd once more to visit them, for anything
was a distraction in my present plight, and I saw
no danger in this survey of stones and mortar. The

(01:10:39):
sun was high in the afternoon sky that was a deep,
hard bloom, and so clear was the air that each
leaf and flowers stood clear cut and separate, as though
hewn in colored stone. When we reached the open space
where stood the three chambers, we found that they were

(01:11:01):
as before, with but one slight difference. The doors of
the first two were closed, but the third door stood open.
To my gaze, I bethought me of the Hag of
the turret, and wondered greatly whether the open door was
her doing. I looked into the chamber, for there was

(01:11:25):
nought to hinder me, and before my eyes were spread
a rich feast laid out in vessels of beaten gold,
such vessels as the ones that I had brought from thence,
and that I have shown you at my house in
State Street. There were broad dishes and platters, and flasks

(01:11:48):
and goblets, yellow and a shine that made my fingers
to itch and ache. It was foolish of me to
wish for gold at that time, For what use had
I for wealth in a land where there was none
to buy or sell with but a bent crone and

(01:12:08):
a man all hairy. On one dish was a boar's head,
on another a swan, And there were all manner of
rich meats and fair jellies and fruits that call'd to
mind the dainties that I have heard tell I eaten
by the Lord Mayor of London and his aldermen each

(01:12:29):
ninth day of November. Satan too looked at the rich feast,
and without more ado, he ran inside and began to
eat from a huge paste, And he, coming to no harm,
I lost fear and follow'd, for I had eaten no
cooked food for many days, and the banquet enticed me greatly.

(01:12:53):
Boldly I entered and laid my hand on a fine peach.
As I touch'd it, the fruit crumbled to dust in
my fingers, while behind me the door closed fast with
a thud, and I was in black darkness, with only
Satan's eyes for a lamp. The air about me, which

(01:13:17):
at first was sweet and pure, grew thick and noxious,
and there press'd a great weight on my chest, so
that it was hard to breathe. And I stood there
in the darkness, thinking that my last hour was come,
and wondering whether I had best bestir myself and see

(01:13:38):
if there was no chance of escape. I gathered together
all my strength and breathed, but rarely and through my nostrils,
while Satan the cat whined piteously at my side. I
tore at the walls with my hands, but they were
firm and pitiless, and vainly. I sought to find the

(01:14:01):
door that had closed and shut out all the light,
for there were no windows to this chamber, and the
darkness was black and endless. The thick, nauseous air grew
heavier and heavier, and now my eyes burnt fit to
drop from out my head, while my tongue clove to

(01:14:23):
my mouth and felt parched and dry, like to a
piece of smoked meat. My limbs grew heavy, and without strength.
The great vein on my forehead beat like a Nuremberg
time dial. I was afraid to pray, for the thick
air would have entered at my lips and choked me.

(01:14:46):
The faster satan the cat had ceased to whine. The
green light in his eyes glowed no longer, and as
my foot stood heard him, I felt that he was
as lead heavy and without life. All was silent, save

(01:15:10):
for the noises in my head and the low hiss
of the rank gas that issued from somewhere under my feet.
On a sudden, a long, shrill laugh, fiendish and diabolic,
pierced the silence, and then another, and yet another. I

(01:15:32):
ceased my efforts to escape, and stood still and intent,
trying to gather from whence came this burst of merriment.
The sound was somewhat distant, and as I listened, the
laughter ceased, and the shrill voice burst into a cackling

(01:15:53):
chant that it intoned in some strange tongue. It must
be someone in the garden without I thought, most likely
it is the hag of the turret. Whereupon I resolved,
should I outlive this hour to strangle her with my

(01:16:14):
thumbs and fingers aye, and without speech or question, quick
these thoughts and many others galloped through my brain, and
all the time I was sinking, slowly sinking. My heart
still beat and wondrous loud too, but my body was

(01:16:37):
weary and without strength. I swayed and I staggered, for
I could breathe no more, and my head was going
round and round like the wheel of a cart. Then
I fell, clutching on my way the carving of a
stone that projected some inches from the wall at my side. Well,

(01:16:59):
I remember timber that fall, and the hopeless sense of
the end of all things that came with it. Then
I recollect even better and with a greater zest. How
I reached that thrice blessed piece of carving that for
one moment stayed my fall, And how stone and carving

(01:17:23):
moved under my hand, making a crevice in the wall,
so that there cut through the darkness a thin blade
of light, while a million dust atoms danced merrily in
line TwixT the cleft and the paving. The stone that
I held was loose, and the mortar about it decayed.

(01:17:45):
The cool draft of air played on my face, giving
me fresh courage, so that with might and main, I
pulled and pushed at that heaven scent stone, so that
at last it fell to the ground outside the chamber,
whilst a daylight and God's own blessed air did enter,
like unto two glorious angels. As the stone fell to

(01:18:11):
earth with a thud, I heard yet another sound, a
cry of rage and lamentation. I put my head through
the hole I had made, so that I might breathe
more freely and rid my entrails of the nauseous gas.
And the garden was around me. As before, I was

(01:18:31):
too busy with my own bodily affairs to pay much
heed to the cry that I had heard and the
anger that was in the voice. Yet as once more
I felt alive and somewhat vigorous, I looked hard about me,
and through the bushes and tangle of the garden, I
made out the aged crone of the turret, hobbling homewards,

(01:18:55):
a shaking of her staff and muttering in her beard,
as the air from without rushed into the dark chamber. Behold,
and I have sworn it, the door once more opened
wide and without help from me or human being, and

(01:19:16):
again there was light in the room, so that I
could see the body of Satan the cat, that was
quite dead. Also could I see the feast and the
vessels of gold. Now, with all haste, I seized four goblets,

(01:19:38):
a great flask, six broad dishes, and nine platters, these
being all that I could carry, I being then a
weak man and over weary, And with these I ran
into the open and sank down on my knees, praying
a prayer of my own making that rose to my

(01:19:58):
lips from out of my heart of heart. Afterwards, I
bethought me of the black cat that I had left
behind me. And further, it seemed unwise were I to
return for his body, he being dead and beyond the
reach of human aid. As I thought of my friend

(01:20:21):
Satan the cat, a great rage seized upon me, for
he had been to me a dear companion during some
of the longest days that I have ever lived through,
Trusting and large hearted, he had been of unchanging mood
and warm affections. And the hag of Turret it was

(01:20:44):
that had wrought this murder. I was a thirst for revenge,
yet somewhat feeble from my recent adventure, And though my
first impulse was to run straight up to the turret
and fling the cursed which from the window. Yet I
thought I would wait till the morrow ere I wrought

(01:21:05):
this justice. I was greatly weary, both in mind and body,
so that taken unawares, my wits would have been too
feeble to meet cunning by cunning, and my body too
weary to bear any encounter that called for over much exertion.
Alone and by myself. Back to the wood, I hie

(01:21:28):
with my golden dishes, and these I hid secure in
a spot that I could well remember, twas under the
roots of a great tree. I was on my knees,
engaged in this business, when suddenly I looked about me,
and behold, the hairy man of two days before was
a watching of me with much curiosity. Straightway. I arose

(01:21:54):
and advanced towards him, but he stepped back, as at
our first meeting. I stood still and waited for him
to speak. There was no great fear on his face
as there had been when we had first encountered the other.
Yet no one word did he say, only clenched his

(01:22:15):
hairy fist and pointed with his other arm in the
direction of the castle, uttering strange sounds and grinding his
teeth together till the noise pained me. Thou do knowest
a witch? I asked, and I bent my back as
the hag of the turret bent her back, and I

(01:22:37):
pulled at my beard and pointed to the sides of
my mouth, so as to call to his mind the
two fangs of the witch. He understood my meaning, for
he smiled and shook his head up and down. Then
he sprang high into the air and trod hard with
his feet on the earth, as if to stamp the

(01:23:00):
life out of some prostrate body. I we will trample
her to death, and worse, far worse, I cried for answer.
This hairy man neighed like a horse, and then ran
away into the wood, without sighn or word. I turned

(01:23:22):
to my gold platers that were still where I had
placed them, and I marveled much at the strange conduct
of this hairy heathen that ran all naked in the
wood and hated the witch with as great a hatred
as mine own. All the while my head ached sore
and my eyes smarted, and had I possessed a mirror,

(01:23:45):
I would have seen that they were red. I was
not easily rid of that noxious gas that I had breathed,
and at sunset I laid me down to rest, somewhat
sick of body and greatly weary and worn out. It
was yet more lonesome than before to lie thus lone

(01:24:09):
and companionless. And often in the night I awoke and
wondering at the emptiness of my arms, and missing the
familiar breathing at my side. I cried aloud, say to
an old friend, where stay you? Till I remembered that
he had been slain by black magic, and that on

(01:24:32):
the morrow I would up to the turret and slay
the hag that dwelt there, without question or other word.
End of chapter three, chapter four of The Fearsome Island

(01:24:54):
by Albert Kinross. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
There was little of mercy and little of sweetness in
my heart. When I next ascended the stairway that led
to the chamber where dwelt the hag of the turret.
Three steps did I take it a time, and in

(01:25:17):
my right hand was a sword of good steel, the
best of those that hung on the walls in the
great hall below. Carefully I had sharpened and ground the edge,
and there was little flesh that was human, that the
keen blade would not divide. Well. I remember how my

(01:25:38):
eyeballs were aflame with hatred and lust of blood, how
my throat was hard and dry, and my teeth firm set.
There was no softness in me as I thought of
the woman's years and helpless state, And swiftly the stone

(01:25:58):
stairs fell back under the spring of my stride. She
had sought to kill me, I that had done her
no wrong, and my cat Satan she had slain with
as black a cunning as any that I had as
yet encountered. The blood of Thomas snowed, cried loud for vengeance,

(01:26:21):
and the grip on my sword hilt tightened at the
thought of how it would cleave and make a parting
in the yellow wisps of hair, then downward to the
chin through the coarse beard, and the hag of the
turret would work no more evil, whatever else might befall.

(01:26:41):
I flung open her chamber door, and she advanced to
meet me with the same cunning smile that was her
wonted mask. Then she read the message in my eyes
and in my hand, and down at my feet. She
flung herself, sore, afraid and trembling speak. She cried, nay,

(01:27:03):
look not at me. Thus, what have I done? What
is my fault? I made no answer to her question.
I give thee one minute's grace for prayer, said I,
and pray thy hardest, for afterwards thou shalt die a
swift death. Again, she asked me for reason and explanation

(01:27:29):
of my harsh conduct, but I uttered no word. Still
I stood with lowered blade, counting the seconds till I
should have counted sixty. The last ten I spoke aloud,
so that the torture and the suspense might be the greater.
Fifty seven, I said, fifty eight. I hardly knew my

(01:27:54):
own voice towards that stern and hard fifty nine six
I began, but stopped short, for the hag had sprung
to her feet, and, with a terrible cry as of
a wild panther at bay, she crossed the room to
where hung on the wall the heavy curtain of red silk. Dondeggel,

(01:28:19):
my father, I crave thy help, she cried aloud, and
her voice shrieked high and unearthly, such a voice as
neither human man nor woman has ever heard, or uttered.
With her lean hand, she drew aside the curtain, and

(01:28:40):
there stood before me a man with cold, black eyes,
so hard, so piercing, that they froze the blood in
my veins and the marrow in my back, So that
I was held fast and stood still and rigid, as
I have seen burnt birds pause, fixed and motionless, when

(01:29:03):
held fast by the glassy eyes of a serpent. The
naked blade dropped from my ice cold hand onto the floor,
for I was transfixed and rendered without strength, and perforce
had I to gaze, and yet gaze more, with both

(01:29:25):
my eyes sealed fast to the eyes of this apparition.
I recall this new figure well, and indeed with good reason,
twas a man of middle age, clad in black velvet
and with a bare head. The face I shall never forget,

(01:29:47):
so proud, so fierce, so saturnine was its expression, that
even now, with eyes closed, I could see it as
distinct to day as I could on that our first
and last did encounter. The complexion was dark, swarthy as
that of a spaniard. On the chin was a peaked beard,

(01:30:10):
and the hair on the man's head was coal black.
Yet beyond all stood out the two eyes that held
me fast, as if by magic. Thus stood I spellbound
and unable to stir hand or foot. And round me
walked the bent hag, gleeful of mood, rubbing her two

(01:30:34):
hands round about each other, and mewing with pleasure like
some great cat. For a while she hovered round about me,
enjoying to the full my discomfiture. Then from a chest
she brought out a mirror, and for an instant she
held it TwixT me and the cold black eyes that

(01:30:57):
gripped mine. Own face that I saw was ghastly white
under my own brown beard. On my brow stood glassy
beads of sweat. The lines of fear made my face
lowly and mean, and mine eyes were wide open and
without life or power. She withdrew the mirror, and once

(01:31:22):
again I was spell bound by the sable figure with
the evil glance. Shall I draw the curtain? She whispered
in my ear. Yes, there was no sound, but she
marked the words on my lips. You have seen sufficient,

(01:31:45):
would you not like yet? One more look? She held
the silk in her bony hand. No, for the sake
of the virgin. The word stuck in my throat, For
I was hoarse with terror. I swear thou wilt leave
me in peace and never more enter this chamber. I

(01:32:07):
swear I would have sworn away my hopes of life
and heaven in that moment, So empty was I of
power and courage. Now go, she cried, and the curtain
was drawn once more over those hell born eyes. Her

(01:32:28):
hand still clutched the silk, and at any moment the
man in black might once more stand before me. Hastily
I turned to the doorway. Yet before I left the chamber,
she held the mirror once more before my face. But
all that I saw was a mist on the glass,

(01:32:48):
and there was no reflection either of my face or
aught else. Fearfully I sprang downstairs in hastened, as though
pursued by ten million devils, For had I not been
on the near confines of hell and gazed on what
no human eye ever was fashioned to gaze upon. For

(01:33:13):
the eyes in my head were without true sight, and
all before them was yellow and formless, as though I
had stared into the face of the sun and been
blinded by its glare. Terror Struck and abject, I kept
far away from the castle till such time as hunger

(01:33:34):
forced me to the storm, and the cellar to drown
my fear and anguish. I drank deeper on that day
than I have ever drunk before or since. My head
was afire and my gait haphazard. When with a flask
of red wine under each arm, I once more set

(01:33:54):
out for my lair in the woods. As I passed
through the Great Hall, my attention was aroused by a
mirror alike in form and size to the one that
the Hag of the Turret had held before my face
in the morning. It lay on one of the couches.
There will be no fiersome face, all white and chattering, now,

(01:34:19):
said I thickly, and I could feel the wine burning
under my skin. My heart was light and careless, and
I picked up the mirror and gazed into it. An
instant later I had dashed it to the ground, where
it splintered into a thousand fragments. For by all heaven

(01:34:41):
and Earth, I had gazed at the same terror torn face,
all white and bloodless, that I had seen reflected in
this very mirror when it was held up between my
eyes and the apparition that was in the turret behind
the heavy curtain of re red silk. Hastily I left

(01:35:03):
the castle and wandered to a seat in the forsaken garden,
where I thought and quaked anew, for the courage that
the wine had lent me was all but fled. And
I was as a child that has been burnt to
the bone, and is once more face to face with
the fire, only to a sorcery that I stood in

(01:35:26):
awe of, and I had suffered or much from it,
as I sat thus trembling in all my four limbs.
May I be lost in the deepest pit, if the
cursed which did not find me out and make mock
of me, silas fordress, master mariner of hide, where be

(01:35:51):
thy carriage and thy cunning now ha? And she laughed
long and high in her throat. I said no word,
and my chin was on my chest. That weary and
spent was I. It was not well to threaten hi

(01:36:17):
and seek to slay an old woman that had done
no harm. Even if thy evil planning had succeeded, it
would not have been well. The hag of the turret
would not have died unavenged for thoud. But a man,

(01:36:38):
a weak common man, with naught but brute strength and
a cowardly heart, get thee away. I have suffered enough,
so leave me in peace. Not yet, I have not
done with yet. Come with me, and I will show

(01:37:02):
the brave sight away old hag, or I shall do
the harm, I cried. She laughed all around her mouth,
showing her toothless gums and the roots of the two
brown fangs that were on either side. Her hand went

(01:37:24):
to her girdle, and I could see the gleam of
a blood red stone above her fingers that were clutching
the hilt of a long dagger. Calm you, we're a calm,
she pleaded. For now her voice took on a wheedling tone,
and she turned in the direction of the three chambers

(01:37:46):
that stood separate and side by side with closed doors.
I followed her. Heaven alone knoweth why I rose to
my feet at her behead and went the same way
as she. All I can say is that I had
a lurking hope in my heart that something of chance

(01:38:09):
or justice might deliver her into my hands. And then
you come, you obey me, silas fordred. Do you help
to push me across the threshold of the dark chamber?
And her hand went significantly to the dagger hilt, with

(01:38:33):
the great ruby at its head. She had read the
thought of vengeance from my face, and silently I vowed
that I would think no more, but when the fit
moment arrived, I would act, and she should die, whatever
dog's death she had intended for me. By now we

(01:38:56):
had reached the three chambers, and as once before and
that on a memorable occasion, two of the doors were closed,
and the others stood wide open. Curiously, I gazed within
the witch, marking the direction of my eyes, and noting
with a great satisfaction their expression of greed and lust

(01:39:20):
of gain. For what I saw was a chamber full
of wide open chests and caskets, all full and overrunning
with colored gems and coined gold, twas like what I
had seen in the windows of the lombards that changed monies.
Only here were precious gems in such a plenty, and

(01:39:44):
gold pieces by the bushel and by the gallon, such
wealth as I had never gazed on before, aye, and
of whose mere existence I had not dreamed. Though I
tried my hardest, I could not suppress all desire. And

(01:40:04):
as my eyes lit up, the bearded hag noticed my
thirst and chuckled and made strange noises of satisfaction tis
some other devil's business, of that I have no doubt,
said I, inwardly, and calming myself. I stood firm and

(01:40:26):
cold before the doorway. Thou canst go and take what
wealth that pleases thee, cried the hag in my ear.
I made no answer, but stood firm and at a
good space from the doorway. Thou wilt have riches enough

(01:40:46):
to purchase a whole county. Thou wilt be able to
build schools and churches, and thou wilt be the first
commoner in all hides. Barrah Master Silas fordred the mariner.
I smiled disdainfully the wine I had recently drunk, coming

(01:41:10):
once more to my aid nay nay, I said, I
have had enough of thy riches and thy lures. I
will none of them. And I turned on my heel.
Surely friend silence. She cried, Thou art but a fool,
and not the clever knave that I mistoock thee. For aye, aye,

(01:41:35):
that I know well and more beside, said I with
a smile, and moved away from her. She was greatly angered,
and the corners of her mouth twitched with suppressed rage.
Still she hobbled after me did this, bent Hag, come back, friend, silace,

(01:41:57):
she called, come back and plant both thy arms into
this wealth. Truly, thou shalt come to no harm. Nay more,
I will enter with thee. Thrice have I answered thee,
and each time said I nay. Let this be my

(01:42:19):
last word, and dine. And I stood away from her
with folded arms. Truly, thou makest me impatient, enter with
me now? Or never shalt thou enter the chamber of riches,
and a poor man shalt thou dye naked and with

(01:42:40):
an empty belly. I said no word in reply. Never,
in all thy life shalt thou enter. She hissed in
my ear, Calm thyself, bent Hag, calm thyself. Thy conduct

(01:43:01):
befits not thy years. And I laughed aloud in her face,
so that she grew a deep yellow with rage and hatred.
With that, I set off for the wood and left her,
spitting and affume before the open doorway. I had not
gone many steps when I turned round and saw that

(01:43:24):
she was on my heels, her lips white with passion,
her expression more evil and menacing than I had as
yet seen it, her eyes fierce and glittering. At a
hawk's thou wilt can tell Yon doorways silas fordred. She
cried and beat on the ground with her staff. I

(01:43:47):
will not, thou, mothied and fury, get thee to the devil,
And I laughed aloud in her face. Her yellow visage
changed to a deep orange, and great veins stood out
on her lean cheeks and forehead. Thou wilt enter yon

(01:44:09):
chamber that eye swear either alive or else dead, But
enter yon chamber. The house shalt, and her voice choked
short in her neck. I shall not, said, I quite cold,

(01:44:32):
Thou's child, She shrieked. I smiled broad into her face,
so that, losing all prudence and all self command, she
spat and boiled at the mouth, hissing like a serpent
in pain. I watched her with an indifferent eye. Thou's

(01:44:54):
child enter, She cried, living not beg Thou shout hint
her and so saying, She snatched the dagger from her
girdle and flew at me in a fury of hate
and bitter rage. Well, I remember how the long lean
blade flashed TwixT my face and the sky, and how

(01:45:19):
an instant later I had her wrists tight in my
two hands. Then there was a noise as of a
twig snapping, and the bone of her arm, dry and
brittle with age, broke into two pieces. While I fell
forward as the strain gave way. Quickly I arose to

(01:45:39):
my feet, and she was at me again. Yet this
time the dagger lay on the ground, and she came
to me with wide open mouth, the brown fang on
either side bare to the roots. The fingers of her
one hand were apart and curved like claws, and the
other arm hung loose at her side, eyed, the lower

(01:46:01):
half flapping idly to and fro As she moved like
to a tigress, with the white froth on her parted lips.
She sprang at me, and I, mad with hate and rage,
forced my one hand through her wide open jaws, while
with the other I clasped her lean legs at the bend. High.

(01:46:25):
I held her in the air and ran thus, she
swinging above my head, hissing and writhing with pain and hatred.
High above my head, she twisted and turned, and then
I flung her with all my strength, whirled her clean
and clear through the wide open doorway of the chamber

(01:46:48):
of riches, where were the colored jewels and the chests
of gold. As the lean shanks were freed and my
hands drew across the toothless gums, the two fangs on
the sides of her mouth snapped short and fell at
my feet, while overhead there swished through the air that

(01:47:11):
cursed Hag of the Turret to light with all force
amid the gold and precious gems to earth. She fell
with a rattling sound, and that was the last I saw,
or ever shall see of her lean carcass. For in

(01:47:33):
the self same moment, as she touched ground, a broad
sheet of flame yellow as the gold within filled the
entire chamber dropped from ceiling to floor a curtain of fire.
I gazed, breathless and awe struck at this spectacle, yet

(01:47:56):
with a keen joy in my heart, as I thought
of the Hag of the Turret, who must now be
roasting within as later as she would broil in hell.
For the space of ten seconds, the broad flame licked
and waved. Then it expired, and all was clear and

(01:48:20):
simple as before. Only the Hag of the Turret was
nowhere to be seen. And for that I thanked God
and his son and the blessed virgin at my feet
that had left deep marks in the turf by reason
of my last great effort were the two yellow fangs

(01:48:42):
that had broke short on my hand. These I picked
up and placed carefully within my pouch as a remembrance
of the she fiend from whose mouth they had dropped,
And you, who have seen them at my house in States,
can now understand why I troubled to bring home with

(01:49:04):
me ivory of so worthless a nature. I knelt long
and devoutly, praying to the God that had rid me
of so cursed a companion, voicing my thanks with much
direct and grateful speech, And even when I could no

(01:49:25):
more think of fitting phrases, I still knelt with closed
eyes as my thanks swelled in my heart, and spoke
for me ay and perhaps with a sweeter tongue than
the bald utterances, which were all that so simple a
man as myself could think of, and weave into a prayer.

(01:49:47):
At length, these devotions and some tears having eased my heart,
I looked up, and in front of me, and on
all fours, was the hairy man, looking humbly into my face.
As our glances met, he pranced around like a colt

(01:50:07):
that is out at pasture, put his face to the ground,
and placed my hand to his head, so that I
wondered whether he did not mistake me for a priest
and was seeking my blessing. I knew that he had
seen me at prayer, and that perchance I had misled
him into holding that I was a priest. I am

(01:50:31):
no friar, I cried, but plain silas fordred master mariner
of Hithe that suffered shipwreck on this accursed island some
months since. The hairy Man spoke not, but instead he
made strange noises as to the beasts of the forest,

(01:50:52):
and signs with his arms, like under a negro trader.
Once more he pressed my hand his head, and he
was about to lay his cheek against my feet, when
I arose with some collar. Hairy Man said, I thou
art little better than a fool bear thee as a man,

(01:51:14):
and not as a dog that has been lately whipped.
Yet again, and for some time longer, he pranced for joy,
and pointed first to his eyes, and then into the
chamber with the wide open door, wherein the witch had
lately disappeared. Didst see the somersault? She turned? I asked,

(01:51:37):
twas bravely done I, the unaked one. He recognized the
cheery tone of my voice, and once more skipped joyfully
toward me, while I, somewhat weary of his too evident pleasure,
smote him heavily in the ribs, so that he was gratified,
yet not too much so. After I had taken this precaution,

(01:52:02):
he kept at a safe distance from me, and though
ever and anon there came a smile into the corner
of his eye, he ventured no more within reach of
my foot or fist, till his joy was of a
calmer nature. After a while, I went into the castle,
the savage following close at my heel. I had that

(01:52:26):
day triumphed over the hag of the turret, and the
presence of a companion, I, even of a companion that
spoke no real tongue, and moreover, was hairy from head
to toe, had given me new hope and courage, so
much so that I resolved forthwith and while my revived

(01:52:47):
manhood was still hot within me, to mount the turret
stairway and see whether I could not conquer the evil
eyed monster beyond the curtain, as I had conquered heard
the Hag his friend. I had read the story of
David and Goliath, and I was minded to meet this foe,

(01:53:09):
even as the Hebrew Harpist had met the Philistine. But I,
having neither sling nor stone, took with me instead a
heavy hammer of iron, which weapon I resolved to hurl
at the evil one's head. The moment that the hairy man,
whom I should so instruct, had withdrawn the curtain stealthily,

(01:53:32):
so as not to give alarm and warning to the
black browed sorcerer overhead. We mounted the narrow stairway, and
with some catching at our breath, entered the doorway of
the turret chamber. Within this deserted apartment was deep stillness,

(01:53:52):
and at the far end hung the heavy curtain of
red silk, lengthways from ceiling to flagstone. As before, with
some trouble, and after a great making of signs, I
at length instructed my new found ally in his duty,
and at a signal from me, the curtain was drawn aside,

(01:54:17):
and quick before the sinister face had power to hold me,
I flung the hammer at it with all my force.
No sooner had the halft left my hand than a
great fear seized upon me, and I closed my eyes,
wondering what dire consequences would follow on my attack. I

(01:54:38):
stood in darkness many long seconds, expecting the turret to
sway and topple to the earth. I Yet stranger and
more hurtful events and mischances did I think of. Yet
through the stillness there came only one sound, the falling

(01:54:59):
of a shower of splintered glass, that recalled the breaking
of the mirror that I had flung from me in
the morning. I opened my eyes, and beyond the curtain
that the hairy man still held to his side, and
his face was in that moment a fine picture of
varied humors. There was nought but an empty space, under

(01:55:24):
which was inscribed in tall letters of Ebony, deego roderic coves.
And on the floor of the chamber lay a thousand
fragments of glass. Many of these I stooped over and
gazed at with much curiosity. Most of them were portions

(01:55:48):
of a mirror, so that in their depths I caught
glimpses of my own face. On others were patches of
black velvet, and in one I met the ear and
awful eye of the figure that had struck such terror
into me on that self same day, I put these

(01:56:10):
pieces of glass aside and pondered, while all the time
the hairy man stood awe struck and silent before me.
Man of the furry hide, said I, at last, surely
this was a mirror much such an one as that
which carried the imprint of my face this morning, and

(01:56:34):
in it yon demon, and Heaven alone knoweth where and
what he be had gazed at some one time or
another his evil eye. It was that reflected in this
glass chance fixed and held me motionless some few hours.
Since twas no real man that I saw, but a

(01:56:57):
shadow wrought by black magic and strange crafts, the which,
praise be to Heaven hath paid the price of her
evil doings, and there will be no new sorcery on
this island. For many a long day, I looked at
the tall letters of Ebony once more, and repeated them

(01:57:18):
many times, marveling greatly as to their meaning and significance.
Then a thought came to me, one that I had
strangely overlooked, that filled my breast and mind with new alarms.
If the mirror I had shattered held but a reflection
of the sorcerer. Where was that sorcerer's self? And might

(01:57:43):
not he at any moment weave some new spell about me? Aye?
But chance, at this present instant he might be planning
my destruction. Many times I repeated the two eben words
dego Roderic Hoover's marveling, the while greatly as to what
could be their meaning and significance. From the turret, we

(01:58:08):
once more descended to the garden, where stood the chamber
that was the tomb of the hag of the turret.
The door was still wide open, and the wealth within
tempted me greatly. Although I was well aware of the
uselessness of riches in my present plight, such is the

(01:58:29):
force of custom and habit. I made my way from
thence resolv'd to let well alone, and to touch nought
else that might in any way tempt or cause me harm.
I passed the third chamber, and this time a fresh
doorway stood open, so that I could gaze and satisfy

(01:58:50):
my curiosity. Now I saw clear into a room quaintly
alight and all rosy as is a sunset. And within
were lovely maidens that neither stirred nor spoke, clad in wondrous,
thin and gauzy garments, and of a marvelous fair complexion

(01:59:12):
that the tender light made yet more strangely beautiful. Hairy
man said, I let us away. This is some new spell.
And I grasped his shoulder, and the two of us
strode hastily from the spot onward through the garden. As
I pressed forward past the place where I had struggled

(01:59:35):
with the witch, I made out something that glittered on
the grass. What I picked up was the dagger that
the hag had sought to kill me, with a long
blade of Spanish steel, and at its hilt was a
round ruby. This I stuck into my belt that I

(01:59:55):
had lately taken from one of the rooms in the
castle for my own leathern goirdle was still clenched by
the brazen fist that swung on the castle doorway. This
knife you have seen in company with my other belongings,
and such of you as are skilled in these matters,
can testify as to the fineness of the workmanship and

(02:00:17):
the luster of the precious stone at its head. The
dusk was fast approaching, and the day was well nigh sped.
It had been a day of great events, and much
danger and activity, And many a time within the last
twenty four hours had my heart stuck fast in my

(02:00:37):
throat and my teeth chattered in my mouth. For it
is not given to every man to perform deeds of
valor without misgiving and inward qualms. Nay more, I dare
swear that the bravest hero, one that can face human
enemies without knowing dread or fear, would have shrunk a

(02:00:59):
god asked at the black sorceries and other superhuman dangers,
wherewith I had that day done battle? Now my mind
was somewhat at rest. May be that it shared the
same weariness that beset my body. Also was my hunger great,
and my thirst of a similar quality. Long did the

(02:01:23):
hairy Man and I sit together in the storeroom, making
a giant supper, and my belt hung idly on my loins,
and I was scant of breath. When I had done,
my new found ally sat beside me on the floor,
eating with great gusto and no little astonishment at the

(02:01:44):
source of our meal. He, in common with myself, never
before having seen flesh that was preserved in sealed tins,
nor had he ever tasted wines and heady liquors of
any sort till this same night we drank wisely, and,
in spite of the manifest danger of the action, fell

(02:02:07):
asleep where we had eaten, this being the first night
that I had spent under a roof since the day
that I and Thomas snowed set out from hythe end
of chapter four, chapter five of The Fearsome Island by

(02:02:36):
Albert Kinross. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
Hairy Man said I next morning, as we rubbed our
eyes and stretched our limbs, for we had slept deep. Henceforth,
thou shalt be known as Esau, a fitter name, and
a more ancient. Now. Esau, let us to break breakfast,

(02:03:00):
and afterwards we will hold a council and resolve on
what measures we can take to quit this thrice accursed
island and all that it holds. It was of little
use this converse with Esau, but it was good and
cheering to hear the sound of my voice. And when
I spoke, my companion smiled with over great intelligence, although

(02:03:26):
he understood no single word. Esau said I. When our
meal was done, and we had lain for some time
on the floor, a blinking upward at the roofing, what
shall we do now? I waited not for a reply,
but continued, A ship we shall build, even though it

(02:03:47):
be but a small one, and in it we shall
sail away from this witch ridden land, where naught is
safe or of good health. Thereupon we arose and made
our way to the great room beyond the hall, the
chamber that was like to a huge smithy. Here there
were axes and saws, and shipwright's tools in plenty, also

(02:04:11):
a barrow with wheels, and a light truck. These two
carriages we filled with all manner of implements, and some
sacks containing the small wear of our trade. On the
canvas of one of these last was painted strange to
say in a black lettering, clavos de fierro, words that

(02:04:33):
signify ship's nails in the Spanish tongue, a language with
which I am well acquainted from frequent intercourse with the
mariners of that great nation. Three times in all did
Esau and I make the journey TwixT the castle and
the seashore. After our first journey we built a rude hut,

(02:04:55):
wherein to place the contents of our barrow also were
somewha what stronger habitation that would give us shelter at
night time, for I was o'er weary of sleeping in
the open, exposed to rain and whatever wind and weather
with which Providence might favor me. Before we once more

(02:05:16):
set our faces inland, we bathed and made merry in
the sea, spending much such a day as do English
townsfolk who go to the shore in summer time. All
about us was unchanged, and the great Bronze Idol kept
watch and ward over the coast, silent and passive as ever,

(02:05:39):
while at its feet the bleached skeletons, all sundered in
the middle, were strewn here and there. At sight of
the strange God, the smile vanished from Esau's face, and
he beat his head on the sand and made moan,
And with clenched fist, he cried aloud in the Idol's face,

(02:06:01):
and made deep noises in his throat that were his
manner of cursing, so that I knew that he could
be no worshiper of the Great Bronze God. It is well, friend, Esau,
said I, and I am overjoyed to find thee not
idolatrous and a heathen, as our most wild men. After

(02:06:24):
that we departed once more in land, and on our
return to the shore we were laden with sheets and
cloths that we had taken from the great beds, and
wax and stout cords and threads, for we would have
to make sails and shrouds for our masts. What space
we had over we filled with the flesh that was

(02:06:45):
in the sealed tins, and flasks of wine, and swords
and spears from the Great Hall, with which weapons we
hoped to slay any of the birds and beasts in
the woods, so that we might eat fresh meat every day.
All these goods were stowed carefully away in our heart,

(02:07:06):
and then we set to work on our ship, hewing
down trees in the woods, and laboring with great vigor
from daybreak to dusk. In the evening, when our work
was done, we would walk round the coast, spying for
a sale or sign of man. Yet none such did
we ever see, And always there confronted us the great

(02:07:30):
bronze Idol, with the thirteen white gems at its throat. Now,
one day, when we had walked maybe half a league
along the lonely strand, we chanced on what seemed to
be a bower, and as we came closer, we could
see that what we had mistaken for an arbor was

(02:07:52):
a long, low house of wood, with but three walls
and a roof, all overgrown with moss trailing plants. Carefully
we approached and walked round the house, first on one
side and then on the other, till we came to
the front that faced the sea, the side that was

(02:08:14):
open and had no wall, And here we discerned the
prow of a small ship. The blood rushed to my
face at the sight, and I ran forward in great haste,
so that my hands might feel what mine eyes had beheld.
Of truth, it was a ship, wondrous light, yet of

(02:08:37):
a marvelous secure build, as I that am a seaman,
could rightly vouch for, and as you that have seen
it without my house in State Street can testify. This
strange vessel had neither masked sail nor awe. It was
all open and bare, save but for a single cabin

(02:09:00):
that was furnished for extreme comfort and ease. And at
the one end the body of the vessel was made
solid with wooden planking, a top of which were three
handrels of silver wrought like the handles of a door.
At first I feared that the ship was of witchcraft,

(02:09:20):
like unto the other marvels that I had encountered in
this island. Nevertheless, Esau and myself slept that night secure
within the cabin, without evil dream or other harm, so
that on the morrow I bethought me that this was
of good omen and be the silver handles what they might,

(02:09:41):
I would venture across the seas in this strange bark.
Under the ship was a wooden stage, long and broad,
with wheels that I greased with the fat of a beast,
so that without great ado, Esau and I were able
to float our new found prize eyes, and with the

(02:10:01):
oars that we had already fashioned, we rode near a
league along the shore without mishap, save that Esau, who
was no waterman, did fall heavily backward more times than once.
The last part of our journey was performed at some speed.
For this bark was marvelously light, being mostly built of

(02:10:24):
cork that weighs but little, and what steel and timber
that was used in its construction was of a fine quality,
very strong, yet in no wise weighty. Thankful was I
that Providence had put in my path the thing that
of all things I most desired, And now that we

(02:10:45):
had a vessel, I resolved that we would put to
sea with the least possible delay and get us away
from the heathen land, where but to be alive was
a great danger. Yet, before we hoisted our sails to
the winds and disappeared down the horizon, I resolved to
make one last journey to the castle on the hilltop,

(02:11:07):
for our stores of flesh and wine were getting low,
and I had hidden my gold platters in the wood,
and these I resolved to take with us, they being
of great price. Esau and I had made us a
mast and a stout sail, with all needful tackle in
the shape of shrouds and sheets, and we had only

(02:11:29):
to get provisions and fresh water aboard before setting out
to a port of safety. Once more, we went a
journeying with our two barrows through the woods and pasture
lands that lay between the sea shore and the castle.
As ever, the brazen hand still clenched my girdle of leather,

(02:11:49):
and the gate stood wide open. First of all, we
went down to my old lair in the woods and
loaded the gold vessels into my barrow, and then we
spent some time going to and fro with armfuls of
provisions and flasks of wine, till both our barrows could
hold no more. This done, we had a farewell repast

(02:12:12):
in the storeroom, and we sat making merry till Esau
suddenly sprang up and ran swiftly to the gateway. Then
he rushed madly down hill to the wood, signing with
his head and arms that he would return ere sundown.
Marveling greatly as to the meaning of this sudden flight,

(02:12:35):
I watched him disappear in the foliage, and then for
the last time I wandered through the castle. All was
still as death and utterly deserted. And yet thought I,
as I sat in the great Smith's shop, it would
be well were I to save other shipwrecked mariners from

(02:12:59):
the spell and sorceries that had done unto death Thomas
snowed and Satan the black cat, and from which I
myself had but barely escaped, and of which Esaw the
hairy Man stirred in such evident fear. Therefore I hied
me to the cellar where were the barrels of gunpowder

(02:13:21):
that I have spoken of before, And laboring hard I
piled eight of these in the great hall, five I
left below. They were sufficient to have destroyed a city.
One barrel I placed at the closed doorway of the
dark chamber. And as I was rolling another towards the

(02:13:42):
chamber with the beauteous maidens and the rosy light, whom
should I spy, but Esau greatly exercised in mind and body,
driving before him a wild pig that ran, shrieking and
in evident dread. The hairy man followed as swift as
any hair, and in his hand he held a stout cudgel,

(02:14:07):
with which he ever and anon belabored the terrified hog. Amazed,
I surveyed this strange spectacle, wondering to what end could
serve this baiting and harrying of the ill looking creature.
We were all three of us going in the direction
of the chamber with the lovely maidens, And as I approached,

(02:14:30):
I could see that the door stood wide open as ever,
and that the damsels were wondrous fair to gaze upon.
From these pleasant reflections, my mind was called back to
my comrade, who now felt a thwacking the wild pig
more mercilessly than before, so that the airs were filled

(02:14:52):
with a piteous squealing that, mingled with the cries of Esau,
made as great a tumult as the island had ever
listened to. I marked the open door, and then I
guessed what Esau was attempting. With a final blow, he
drove the wild pig, now frantic with fear and pain,

(02:15:14):
across the threshold of the chamber. And then I saw
what manner of fate would have overtaken me had I
been foolish enough or hasty enough to have yielded to
this great tempting, and to have ventured into that house.
The wild pig rushed headlong to its fate, as ghastly

(02:15:37):
and as merciless a doom as any that e're befell,
living man or beast. For one moment it stood within,
hesitating which way to turn, and casting a wild eye
over its shoulder at its barbarous pursuer. Then, like to
the gnashing of a thousand hung green teeth, there fell

(02:16:02):
from roof to floor of the chamber, countless sharp pointed
spears that dropped vertically with a great clamor and clashing
of steel, as the metal head struck the flagstones upon
every square foot of flooring. There fell sure and straight
no less than three of these sharp pointed rods of iron,

(02:16:27):
so that, as I looked, the chamber was barred from
wall to wall, thick with iron staves, as is a
forest with trees. By eighteen such spears was pierced. The
wild pig held hard and fast, so that he died upright,

(02:16:49):
standing dead and bleeding on his fore legs. The lovely
maidens neither stirred nor made signs either of horror or joy.
They stood silent, untouched, and uninjured, while all about them
was bar on bar of iron. So this was the

(02:17:14):
special devilment that overhung the third chamber, and straightway I
rolled my cask to its very threshold, in the same
manner as I had placed another against the doorway of
the dark chamber. Esau and I fetched yet another barrel,
and this we stood upright before the chamber of riches,

(02:17:35):
so that the ashes of the Hag of the turret
and her last dwelling place might be scattered in one
common eruption. All that there now remained for me to
do was to lay a powder train TwixT all these barrels,
which I cheerily set about making a black line, thick

(02:17:56):
and heavy, that ran from the cellar to the Great
Hall and to the three chambers, then downhill to the wood.
This done, we returned for our two barrows, that we
tundled along to a good mile beyond where ended the
train of gunpowder. It was now quite dark, and we

(02:18:18):
moved hastily. I holding in my hand a box of
the red tipped splinters of wood that, when rubbed hard,
burst into flame. Cautiously and with great care, I set
fire to the end of the powder train, and then
the two of us ran till we were out of breath.

(02:18:40):
Presently there were two reports, and a bright flame spread
like sheet lightning across the night the chambers, I cried,
as a third explosion rang out. We were now beyond
the wood in an open country, and we could see

(02:19:00):
the castle on the hilltop stand dark against the sky.
An instant later, and the countryside stood out green and
gold as in broad daylight, and turret and walls toppled
and fell, as does a child's house that is built
of wooden bricks, and then was blotted out and clouded

(02:19:22):
with a huge volume of smoke, thick, dense, and a paque. Afterwards,
silence and black night, and all was still and peaceful
as before he saw. The hairy Man had witnessed this

(02:19:43):
great spectacle, and now frantic with delight, he capered about me,
and nilt at my feet, and put his lips to
my hands, till I had perforce to kick him hard,
so that he might take himself away and be grateful
with a lesser show of devotion. This he did, rubbing

(02:20:05):
his flanks and the other spots where my foot had dwelt.
So was that a cursed castle wiped from off the
face of this earth, and thus were Satan the black
cat and Thomas snowed, My fellow adventurer avenged fully, and

(02:20:26):
to the hilt end of chapter five, chapter six of
The Fearsome Island by Albert Kinross. This LibriVox recording is
in the public domain. There was a feeling of triumph

(02:20:49):
in my heart as once more we journeyed to the
seashore to embark on our good ship and set sail
across the green waters. Ranefully, we pushed our barrows before us,
I singing brave songs as I stowed, And though our
loads were weightier than they had ever been before, our

(02:21:10):
two carriages seemed wondrous light and easy of guidance. Hope
is a wondrous well, and I had drunk deep of
its waters, a rare medicine that, after these many days
of fear and terror, was bringing my manhood back to
me and implanting new courage in my heart. Our ship

(02:21:34):
stood ready, and carefully we stowed away our provisions and
the spoils of the dark chamber. The next two days
we went a hunting, slaying whatever beast or fowl came
in our way, so that we might have fresh meat
in plenty. Many goods we filled with fresh water from

(02:21:55):
a stream, and on the third day we resolved that
we would hoist our sail at sunrise on the following morning,
and then away. The last eve, I paid a visit
of farewell to the Great Bronze Idol. The thirteen diamond
stones sparkled as never they had sparkled before, and as

(02:22:19):
I gazed, a huge desire seized on me and grew
so strong that I, feeling that with the new ship
had come new strength and power, swore loudly and with
many oaths that the jewels should be mine. In the morning,

(02:22:41):
when all was ready and we had only to push
off from the shore, to be free and beyond the
reach of the evil and the magic that lurked within
this bewitched island. I helped Esau to float our ship,
and instructed him to get out the oars and rowe
close along the shore till till he was opposite the

(02:23:01):
spot where stood the brazen Idol, making sign to him
that I would join him at that place. Swimming straight
out from the shore onto our vessel, he set off
without misgiving of any kind, while I, walking rapidly, was
presently face to face with the great figure and the

(02:23:22):
glistening stones. So that I might have the more courage,
I talked wildly in the idol's brazen face, with strange
grimaces and much mockery, saying thou art a false God,
and the jewels be not thine. Beside other things unwise

(02:23:43):
to recall. Also did I roll my tongue at the
dumb figure, and I spat with scorn on the sand
at its feet. For in the night time, as I
lay awake, I had thought of a plan whereby I
might reap the necklet. And now I approached the great

(02:24:04):
idol with a rope that I made fast about its waist,
using great caution and keeping well without the reach of
the brazen arms. I had thought that I might approach
the idol from behind, using to that end the half
of my rope that hung from the hips to the
ground beside me, For by the aid of the rope

(02:24:27):
I could reach the figures middle. From thence I could
easily climb to the brazen shoulders, and then the gems
would be mine. At first I tried to ascend the
rope with my hands, dragging my body after me, but
the idol was at too great a height from the ground,

(02:24:48):
and I had not sufficient strength to reach its waist,
where I would have obtained a foothold. I attempted this
manner of reaching the necklace till I was well nigh
fit to draw from exhaustion, and then this having failed,
another plan came to me. I would use my feet,

(02:25:09):
steadying myself by the rope, and thus climb step by
step to the idol's waist, much as children holding their
father's hands climbed from his knee to his thigh, and
then upward over his body to his shoulders. Once more,
I attempted to ascend the huge figure, but the polished

(02:25:31):
bronze was all smooth and slippery as his winter ice,
so that my feet could get no foothold, and moved
as if they had been greased with fat. And after
every few steps I had to begin afresh. Seven times
I fell, hanging by the rope in mid air and

(02:25:51):
swinging to and fro without control of my body. At
the seventh fall, I was mad with rage and fury,
for I am of a hot temper, and losing hold
of my rope furiously did I run round to the
face of the great figure, crying idle thou art a
false god, And I silas fordred, fear thee, not nay

(02:26:16):
nor an hundred of thy breed, and much more of
a like nature. With that I climbed in a mad
heat onto the great knee, still calling out aloud my defiance.
From thence I onto the loins, and as my hand

(02:26:37):
pressed on the outstanding breast, I heard a noise as
of metal grinding against metal, and the brazen arms quivered,
while in that self same moment I loosed my hold
and fell heavily to earth, and over my head I

(02:26:58):
heard the clash of their great arms as they met
the body, twas as the striking of a bell. I
lay on the sea shore, stunned and dazed from my fall,
and then the ground beside me shook, and there was
a noise as of thunder that is near. For some

(02:27:22):
moments I was without sense or understanding. And when my
mind once more became live and active, and I had
rubbed my eyes, wondering the while whether I was on
earth and alive or dead, and in the realms beyond,
there came back to me the clash of the giant arms,

(02:27:43):
and the memory of how I had striven to rest
the necklet from the brazen throat. The sun was strong
in my eyes, and I raised my head, trying to
discover the exact nature of what had befallen, and behold
at my side lay one half of the bronze idol

(02:28:05):
that was broken across the middle and in two parts,
as were Thomas snowed, and the skeletons that lay about
and around it. The lower half of the figure was
still seated, rigid and meaningless. The upper part had fallen
on to the earth beside me, and on its neck

(02:28:29):
glistened and shone the thirteen great diamonds. Slowly it dawned
upon me what had befallen, and I explained the reason
of the severed body. Thus the brazen arms had found
no body to break their force, and they had closed
with all their might and weight on the brass body

(02:28:51):
of the Idol self, and had sundered it as they
had sundered the flesh and bones of poor Thomas. Snow,
my friend. Now I rose to my feet and tore
the necklet from the brazen throat that lay all helpless
at my side. And the stones were set in fine gold,

(02:29:15):
and close at hand, they were even larger and brighter
than they had seemed when sparkling up on high above
my head. Gleefully, I put the jewels into my pouch,
where were also the fangs that I had broke from
the jaw of the hag of the turret. And then
a great fear seized on me, For though I am

(02:29:39):
a man pious and a believer in the one and
only God and his son Jesus and the Virgin Mary,
yet still did I dread that the Idol might seek
to avenge what I had caused to befall and quick
and straight without halting. Yet ever, and anon looking backward

(02:30:00):
over my shoulder to see whether or not I was pursued.
I ran as fast as my legs could bear me
to the water's edge, and spied for my ship and Esau,
who was rowing her close in shore. They were near
at hand, and with a cry of joy, I plunged

(02:30:20):
into the surf, first feeling at my pouch to see
that the diamonds was to cure within. Then I turned
hastily to the land, a new wave of dread surging
through my body. Esau marked the swiftness with which I
struck out from the shore, and I swam like one possessed,

(02:30:45):
for following me with the speed of the wind was
the sable figure of the turret, he whose image I
had destroyed with a hammer, the vile sorcerer himself. At
last I clambered over the side of the ship, and
without a word, I sprang in a cold sweat of

(02:31:07):
fear and despair to the rope that would hoist our sail.
And when Esau knew that I was tugging for the
dear life, he too came over and worked beside me,
though with a surprised look in his face, as if
he wondered as to the cause of this excessive fear.
And haste. Look, look, I cried, he follows us. And

(02:31:32):
I pointed to the shore, and Esau looked and shook
his head. There is nothing, you say, And I too
turned my eyes landward. Yet all I could see was
the flat foreshore, with the sundered idol, and the woods
and foliage beyond. Only when we were far from land,

(02:31:58):
with the sea spreading right under our keel, did I
regain my composure and throw off the fear that had
seized upon me. As I escaped with my booty, Esau
had all the while gazed at me in wonder and
with some joy, for he had marked the broken God.

(02:32:20):
Yet had he not understood what actual occurrences had taken
place during my absence That forenoon. With much making of signs,
I told him all that was possible, And when I
held the great gems before his eyes, he blinked and smiled,
dazzled by their exceeding beauty, and joyful to think that

(02:32:45):
I had overcome the dread figure that guarded those shores.
That night, with sail hoist over our heads, we were
far out to sea, and the land of strange witch
crafts and fearsome spells was nowhere to be seen, while
all around us stretched and sighed the great waters. Yet

(02:33:11):
one more mystery came to pass. Ere we were quit
of the Sorcerer's coast, wherein we had fared so evily,
And this time we were Fortune's favorites, and the new
spell worked as a service. I had spoken before of
the three handles that are of solid silver, and like

(02:33:31):
to those on a door, that you may see yourselves
on the strange bark. Though now you may turn and
wrench these handles and nought befalls. Yet when on the
third day of our voyage, and I have sworn it,
I turned the middle handle, out of mere curiosity. Straightway

(02:33:53):
did the ship proceed with speed some ten times greater
than before, as those stir and pressed forward by some
strange miracle, like unto one of those that had told
of in the Holy Book, Like an arrow. It clothed
the waters, and the spray danced joyfully at its flanks,

(02:34:15):
while the sweet cool wind played on our faces and
made the blood under our cheeks quick and flush with motion. Again,
Night turned the handle, and then the ship moved as
it had moved before, with but a single sail. Another
handle was a rudder that steered marvelous sure, so that

(02:34:37):
when both spells were at work, we progressed with great
ease and swiftness. For seven days and seven nights we
shot forward like a sea bird, although our sail lay
idle aboard. Then we dropped down to a dead stillness,

(02:34:57):
drifting idly as the water's listed, And though I turned
the handles all manner of ways, the ship went none
the faster. The magic that had given us wings had ceased,
and we rehoist our sail and went onward at a
more natural speed. All the time our eyes were turned

(02:35:21):
to the north, and to the south, and eastwards and westwards,
seeking for a ship or a land where there were men,
so that we might be informed as to what strange
seas we were sailing, and in what direction lay the
good port of hive and England, my own native land.
Though we had left the fearsome island and all its

(02:35:44):
witchcrafts behind us. Yet were our hardships in no ways ended? Indeed,
when I think aright, me seems that they were, but
just begun. For what our sudden death and dangers, quick
and violent, compared to the slow tortures of hunger and thirst.

(02:36:07):
Looking backward in the enforced leisure of our aimless sailing,
and I had many a long hour wherein to think
of what was past, I discovered that for all my
self commiseration, there was a certain pleasurable excitement mingled with
the fears and dangers I had encountered during my sojourn

(02:36:27):
on the witch cursed land that I had quitted. From
one hour to another, I had been lost in wonder
and thought, not knowing what the next might bring forth.
And together with this insecurity there was a certain secret
blessing that I had not hitherto recognized. For had I

(02:36:49):
not learned to know and to believe in myself? And
had I not been tried and tempted as our few men?
And was I not the stronger and the manlier. For
all these wrestlings I had issued unharmed from countless dangers,
And for much of my present safety and security I

(02:37:11):
had but to thank my own ready wit and courage.
And on the day when Esau and myself set out
on our homeward voyage, I felt more of a man,
I a man strong and of a clear brain, than
ever I had felt before or since either for that matter,
And it seemed that in spite of the many anxious

(02:37:34):
and troubled days and nights that I had lately undergone,
still had I much to be grateful for. Yet there
was a far stronger and a more wearisome test of
courage and manhood before me than any I had undergone.
And though twas of a less entertaining nature, yet nevertheless

(02:37:57):
was its mark deeper and more lasting than all my
struggles against witchcraft and black sorcery. The first days of
our voyage were idly spent. I had much to think on,
and Esau was content to watch me and prepare our food.
Above our heads were blue skies, and I have ever

(02:38:20):
observed that when the heavens are without cloud, the heart
of man doth also beat, serene and joyful. On our
setting out, I had made Esau where a suit of
blue cloth that I had taken express from the castle,
for I knew that as we sailed, the airs would
grow colder and he would feel the lack of garments.

(02:38:42):
He wore this costume for the first two days of
our voyage, and though I could see that it irked him,
he made no sign of disapproval. On the morning of
the third day, he was hairy and naked as before,
and when I questioned him, he pointed to the waters,
and I could not but smile. So like an idle

(02:39:05):
child was he, with his excuses and shamelessness. We had
fair weather for the first two weeks of our voyage.
And though this be a long time, when passed on
the open sea, and with but a single companion, and
he devoid of reasonable speech, yet the whole while was
I of a stout heart and exceeding cheering. All these

(02:39:30):
days we had spied neither sail nor land, though from
morn till eve we kept an eager watch, and through
the night we looked hard for light and a beacon.
I had taught Esau that seamanship, which was needful for
the safe conduct of our ship, and he was greatly
content to serve me, though marveling greatly at the vast

(02:39:52):
expanse of ocean that seemed to have no ending. By
and by the warm airs through which we had ust
grew cooler, and overhead the blue of the sky took
on a paler hue. The seed too grew more boisterous,
and he saw the hairy man that was no sailor,

(02:40:13):
was sick and greatly troubled. He lay quite still in
the cabin with his two hands pressed to his middle,
and the big tears ran down the sides of his face,
and he made moan and groaned, so that I, who listened,
was sore, moved, and pitiful. After a while, the cold

(02:40:36):
airs took hold of him, and he lay below and coughed,
till my heart grew heavy within me. For some days
we encountered stormy weather, after which came a great calm,
and for more than a week we lay quite still
while our sail hung idle on the mast. Fine. Now

(02:41:00):
we had lost all count of time, and I was sore, perplexed,
and doubtful, wondering with some misgiving as to how this
voyage would end. Yet another misfortune was in store for us,
for the provisions that we had aboard grew less and less,
and day for day we ate but half our fill,

(02:41:22):
and we were athirst from morn to night, never daring
to drink largely from our fast emptying goods. At first,
when we encountered the dead calm I have spoken of,
we made some efforts with our oars, but after a
while our feebleness of mind and body proved too strong

(02:41:43):
and we were content to drift idly, a prey to
all manner of hopeless thoughts. Many a time in those
long days did I wish that I had been content
to remain on the island. And in Esaus eyes that
were large and reproachful, I saw the same misgiving. Yet

(02:42:07):
now twas too late to turn back. And we floated
from night to morning, with still another comrade to bear
us company and keep watch, so that we were three
on board the ship, and our names were Esau and
Silas Fordred, and the evil conscience of silas Fordred. Those

(02:42:31):
days were over long, and I grew thin and haggard
with thought, hunger, and inaction. In the morning of each
new day, I would reflect that I had done what
I had done, meaning no harm and with all good intent.
Yet in the afternoon, when for hours I had gazed

(02:42:52):
on Esau, lying quite still and with a deadly cough
in his chest, groaning heavily from sickness and evil nourishment,
my conscience smote me, and I felt that I was
both a brute and a fool for having bartered dry
land and ample meat for this desert of green sea

(02:43:14):
that gave forth nothing. Then I thought that had we
had better fortune, and had we encountered a vessel that
had aided us, I would have had no cause for
self reproach. I pondered on these things hour after hour,

(02:43:34):
and my thoughts were but a circle. And in this
circle I wandered continually and ever so that what my
brain held was of little use to me and of
much harm. Greatly and often did I fear that my
reason might desert me, and that some day I should

(02:43:57):
be discovered on the open sea man and with a
vacant gaze, all alone, save but for a naked savage,
and he nigh dead from hunger, sickness and thirst. A
pretty picture, truly, and by no means over pleasant to

(02:44:17):
dwell with continuously. I shall write no more of these hardships,
suffice to say that I would not endure them over
again for all the wealth that is in the universe.
And believe me, there was more real suffering in these
long weeks spent hungry and in pain on the empty

(02:44:41):
sea than in all my traffickings with sorcerers and idols
of bronze. We had lost count of time and most
other things, and every moment I was expecting the ghost
of Esau to be given up. When the good ship
Queen Marie of Plymouth crossed our track and took us abroad.

(02:45:05):
God alone knows how long we had been afloat, and
how near I had been unto death. Esau, that was
a naked savage, had less power of endurance than I,
that can read and write and do wear clothing. For
three days after we were rescued, and though the captain

(02:45:27):
of the Queen Marie spared us no care or attention, Esau,
the hairy Man died in my arms. He had been
greatly ailing when we had encountered the English barque, coughing
much and being warm with fever, and there was no
strength left in him after the many days he had

(02:45:50):
thirsted and lived on insufficient food. We buried him at sea.
And thus, of all the four that had dwelt on
the fearsome island, I alone survived. The two halves of
Thomas snowd were buried on the sea shore. Satan the

(02:46:11):
Black Cat, died in the dark chamber. As I have narrated,
he saw the hairy Man died at sea on board
the ship Queen Marie. From hunger, thirst and sickness brought
on by exposure to wind and weather, for he was
no seaman, but a naked savage of the woods and

(02:46:31):
dry land. Thus alone did I return from the first
voyage I had undertaken on my ship brave luck that
now lies fathoms deep in an unknown sea, with riches
and wealth in plenty. Yet the price I had paid
was a dear one, such as no man dare pay.

(02:46:54):
A second time, the captain of the Queen Marie made
my strange bark with the silver handles, fast to his
own ship, so that I was able to bring it hither.
And thirteen days after our encounter he landed me at Plymouth,
from whitport I made my way homeward, after rewarding my

(02:47:16):
rescuers fittingly with thanks and with gold. Thus did I
return once more to Hythe and hear ye I have
written the truth and naught but what these eyes have seen.
And may God and a virgin save me if I
speak untrue. Signed Silas Fordrid, master mariner of Hythe, witnessed

(02:47:44):
by Evan the Welshman town clerk, dated February third, sixteen sixty,
end of chapter six appendix of The Fearsome Island by
Albert Kinross. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.

(02:48:10):
Such is the narrative of Silas Fordred, master mariner of
hythe the Sinkport in the County of Kent. Now, on
reading this strange story, I was greatly perplexed. It seemed
difficult to believe that this direct Elizabethan mariner had fabricated
the string of events here reproduced for by his own showing.

(02:48:34):
He was a plain and simple man, without over much
imagination or fantasy. And I found it indeed hard, with
my extended knowledge of man and woman, to set down
this yarn of Silas Fordred's as one huge lie from
beginning to end, as a man of shorter sight and
less penetration might have set it down. Often I pondered

(02:48:59):
over the strange land of the Bronze Idol and what
had happened there, And the only clue I had to
the mystery was the inscription in tall ebony letters, Digo
Rodrick Coves, which in truth was little help to me.
Yet for many months these two words remained in my head,

(02:49:22):
and often have I seen them stand out clear and
black before my eyes. Everything comes to him that waits,
So that one day, as I was burrowing among some
old volumes in the Great Library of the British Museum.
I ran across a large folio, bound in brown leather

(02:49:44):
and printed in the Spanish tongue. In that language was
inscribed on the title page, the Life and Adventures of
Don Diego Rodriguez. Again the words Diego Rodrick Covid came
back to me, and eagerly I read page after page

(02:50:04):
of the great volume. From it I gathered that Don
Diego Rodriguez was a man of much cunning, with great
learning and skill in alchemy. Towards the end of the
fifteenth century he had become Grand Inquisitor of Spain, and
in that capacity had devised machines of so fiendish a

(02:50:27):
nature that his brother inquisitors had held a council at
which it was conclusively proved that Don Diego was in
league with the devil, and it was furthermore decided that
for the welfare and safety of the state, it were
well that the Grand Inquisitor should leave the country and
take his hellish inventions elsewhere. For no man were he

(02:50:51):
Cardinal or the king's own self, was safe, as the
Don could kill without leaving wound or sign of poison
or other witness. In the same year as that in
which the council was held, Don Diego had left Spain
in a curious vessel of his own construction, that had

(02:51:12):
neither masked, nor sailed, nor galley. Save he took with
him the whole of his vast wealth. And such was
the dread that men had of him, that no one
made effort to deprive him of his ill gotten treasure.
His sole companion was a girl child reputed to be

(02:51:33):
his daughter, and thus he set off across the ocean.
The rest of his life is shrouded in some mystery,
and there is no absolute certainty as to his further movements.
Rumor hath it that he reached an island, presumably one
of the West Indies, where he landed and caused the

(02:51:54):
natives to build him a great castle. Also that as
soon as this was accomplished, he set to work to
depopulate the island by means of the same hellish inventions
that were the cause of his banishment. Such in brief
was the story of Don Diego Rorigas, whom I hold

(02:52:17):
to be identical with Silas Fordred's Dego Rodrick Hooves. And
seeing that Silas had but his memory and an imperfect
education to trust to. There is little to wonder at
in the fact that the hythe Seamen, should so misspell
what he had but read long months before. What makes

(02:52:40):
me further incline to an implicit belief in this theory
is that, among other marvels accredited to the Don was
the power of making permanent the reflection of a human
face in a mirror, a discovery somewhat akin to our
modern art of photography. This will account for the figure

(02:53:01):
behind the red silk curtain, doubtless a reproduction of the
Don's own features. The reappearance of this figure when Silas
was escaping to his ship with the diamonds was, no
doubt due to the Seamen's evil conscience, merely an hallucination
of an excited brain. Most of the others so called

(02:53:24):
marvels were skillfully constructed machines that any mechanical engineer of
the present day could double. That such was the case
is amply proved by the failure from rust and unuse
of the mechanism that worked the giant sword blade that
Silas encountered in the Great Hall. Further, I have little

(02:53:46):
doubt but that the Hag of the turret was the
identical girl child grown old, that accompanied Don Diego when
he left Spain. Naturally, Silas Fordred's saw in this bearded
old woman a witch and a sorceress, and most men
of his day, even those of birth and education, would

(02:54:09):
have arrived at a similar conclusion, especially after the episodes
that preceded the encounter. The hairy man Esaw was in
all probability an Aboriginal native one, or the child of
one that had escaped the dons clutches. I have only

(02:54:31):
to add that, in my humble opinion, it must have
been Don Diego Rodriguez and not Christopher Columbus that really
discovered America. End of the Appendix and end of The
Fearsome Island by Albert Kinross. Recording by Ruth Golding of

(02:54:54):
the sink Port of Hythe in Kent,