Episode 18 - The Female American - Unca Eliza Winkfield

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Chapter seven. One of the company, terrified at Unka's appearance, runs to
the ship and make such a reportto the crew that they refused to take
them on board. By this time, the company, being pretty well satisfied
that I was immortal, which atfirst they doubted of, came up to
us and wished us joy on ourunexpected happy meeting. We thanked them,

(00:23):
and I assured them they need notbe under any uneasiness, for that they
were perfectly safe where they were.For, however extraordinary what they had heard
and seen might appear to them,the whole was the effect only of natural
causes. They were too mannerly tocontradict what I said, but I could
easily perceive that they did not believeme. However, I left them to

(00:45):
their suspicions for that time. Mycousin now briefly informed me that one of
the gentlemen in company, whom hecalled Captain Shore, the very day I
was left on this island, tookmy ship and the captain of it prisoner,
and had sent him to England tobe tried. That Captain Shore,
coming to England at my cousin's request, consented to bring him over in search

(01:08):
of me as he thought from theaccount that the captain had given him he
could find the island as he happilyhad. He added, the ship now
lies at anchor on the part ofthe island, behind the statue or whatever
it is, and if you please, I will conduct you on board,
for by this time they will expectus to dinner, and I reckon,

(01:30):
are not a little uneasy about whatmay have befallen us? For I suppose
our companion has made a dreadful report. I answered that I was entirely at
his disposal for a few hours.For a few hours, returned he briskly.
Why must my dear Unka and Iever part again? You talk strangely,
and once more make me almost doubtthe reality of what I see and

(01:53):
hear. Yes, we must partfor a little, answered I. But
I will soon satisfy you on thathead. But let us pass on.
I attend you. As we walkedalong, I told him that I had
come over on a visit to theisland that morning, and that at night
I was obliged to return back tothe island on which I had lived about

(02:13):
two years, or otherwise, myfriends there would be under great uneasiness at
my absence. Thus we went ontalking till we came to the shore.
When my cousin was greatly surprised atnot seeing the boat. I ordered the
boat, said he to wait forme here, And though mister Locke in
his fright might take it to goon board, he should have sent it

(02:35):
back, and there has been timeenough for its return, upon which Captain
Shore took a glass out of hispocket to look at the ship, which
rode at anchor some distance off.Bless me, said he of a sudden,
what do I see? They arepreparing to set sail shore. The
crew of not mutinied. He thencalled to them as loud as he could,

(02:57):
and waved his handkerchief. He thensaid, they made a signal that
they see me in a little time. After he saw the boat coming,
it soon appeared. But as itcame near to the shore, the sailors,
it seems, heard the music fromthe statue as the wind blew directly
off from the island. This,together with my tawny complexion and strange dress,

(03:20):
so terrified them that they stopped rowingand would come no nearer. When
one of the sailors said, misterLocke said, right this is certainly some
enchanted island, and I would notrow a stroke nearer if it was for
the king, nor I for Ihear the devil's bagpipes playing as loud as
thunder. Aye, And don't yousee that she devil there wrapped in gold.

(03:43):
I suppose she is the devil's wife, and this is their wedding day,
which makes her so fine and haveso much music. I don't fear
all the devils in hell, forI am a good Catholic. I've crossed
myself and prayed to Saint Patrick.But the devil shan't catch me ashore.
For all that I wish, thoughI had heard devil ships crown, gold
and gown, I would go nomore to see you fool. If you

(04:06):
had them in your hand, theywould all turn to dust. We were
obliged to hear this strange dialog beforeCaptain Shore could put in a word.
At last, with much ado,he made them hear him. But neither
threats nor fair words could prevail uponthem to come nearer the shore. Whilst
I stayed there, one of themsaid that mister Locke came on board in

(04:30):
a terrible fright, and said hehad seen a monster as tall as the
moon, that it talked and sunglouder than thunder, and that if he
had not run away, a shedevil would have run away with him.
And as one of our men wasrowing him back, they said, they
saw a hundred devils fly away withyou all into the air, whilst they
saw a great devil playing upon thebagpipes. And he said that for that

(04:54):
matter, he played much better thanhe had ever heard a scotchman in his
life. We there four called acouncil and had agreed to sail directly if
Captain Shore had not called to us. As soon as the sailor had done
talking, it told my cousin thatI would leave them, that they might
go on board their ship and tryto undeceive the crew, and that I

(05:15):
would meet him the next morning atthe steps. My cousin was much concerned
at this unexpected sudden separation, butit appeared absolutely necessary, and there was
no time for deliberation, for themen threatened every moment to row back to
the ship. End of Chapter seven